During his end-of-season news conference in January, Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier expressed his intention to have quarterback Tua Tagovailoa remain with the team for the long term and perform at a high level. However, despite ongoing contract extension discussions between Tagovailoa’s representatives and the Dolphins, Grier revealed on Wednesday that an agreement is not yet imminent, and talks will persist throughout the NFL Scouting Combine taking place this week.
“But you’ve seen over the last few years some of these other big deals have gone all the way into training camp,” Grier explained about the situation, according to Hal Habib of The Palm Beach Post. “Because they’re complicated deals to put together with the money and stuff people are talking about.”
Tagovailoa is expected to play in the 2024 season under the fifth-year option of his contract, which was exercised by the Dolphins last offseason before the unexpected salary-cap relief. The Dolphins have a chance to enhance their competitiveness in the coming years by signing Tagovailoa to a new contract and managing the salary cap effectively.
Before committing to a long-term deal, Grier has several considerations to weigh, particularly regarding guaranteeing Tagovailoa money beyond the upcoming season. Despite suffering reported concussions during the 2022 season, Tagovailoa completed every game in the recent campaign, including the playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Grier expressed confidence that Tagovailoa’s concussion history is not a cause for concern, citing the quarterback’s training in jiu-jitsu as a precautionary measure against head injuries.
According to Pro Football Reference, Tagovailoa ranked 10th in adjusted QBR (60.8), fifth in passer rating (101.1), and first in passing yards (4,624) among qualified players in the 2023 regular season. He threw 29 touchdowns but also had 14 interceptions over 17 games.
Considering Tagovailoa’s injury history, NFL writer Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated suggested that the Dolphins may desire a contract with built-in contingencies. However, it is likely that Tagovailoa’s camp would reject such a proposal, especially considering his previous contemplation of retirement last offseason.
