DOLPHINS SIGN QB TUA TAGOVAILOA TO FOUR-YEAR, $212.4 MILLION DEAL, THE RICHEST IN FRANCHISE HISTORY
The Miami Dolphins have reached an extension agreement with franchise quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, as first reported on Friday evening by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.
The new deal is a four-year, $212.4 million extension, which would put Tagovailoa at $53.1 million in annual average pay, making him the second-highest paid quarterback in the NFL. Only Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, Jacksonville Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence and Green Bay Packers’ Jordan Love, who agreed to an extension of his own just hours later, currently earn more on a yearly basis.
The deal, done by David Mulugheta of Athletes First, also includes $167 million in total guarantees and is the richest contract in Miami Dolphins franchise history. As per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, postseason incentives including Tua’s own playoff performances and playoff wins could take the deal up to $55.35 million in annual average pay.
Tagovailoa broke the news himself on social media via a video released by GOAT Farm Media, an entity for exclusive athlete content. “What’s up guys, Tua here, I’ve got some breaking news for you guys although I never break any news. This is the first time for me,” said the Dolphins quarterback. “Just wanted to say that I agreed to a contract extension with the Miami Dolphins.”
“I just wanted to give a big shout out to [Miami Dolphins’ owner] Mr. Ross. I want to thank [General Manager] Chris Grier, [Senior VP, Football & Business Administration] Brandon Shore for working endlessly on this deal. I want to thank [Head Coach] Mike McDaniel for believing in me. I want to thank all my other coaches as well.”
“I also want to give a big shout out to my teammates for believing in me, for also supporting me throughout this process. And then I also want to thank the fans as well. Fins up.”
Tua has been a partial participant at Dolphins training camp this week but was essentially a “full hold-in” on Friday as he waited for the deal to get done. The 26-year-old was not seen practicing or doing any team drills during Friday’s sessions. He, however, did some individual work and is believed to have taken part in all off-field football activities, including meetings and film sessions, similar to Packers’ Jordan Love.
The 2020 fifth overall pick has had an up and down career but established himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the league last year. After a scary 2022 season in which he suffered three concussions, Tua played all 18 games for the Miami Dolphins last season, including the postseason.
A pivotal player for the franchise and their recent success, Tua led all NFL quarterbacks in the regular season with 4,624 passing yards last year, becoming the first Miami Dolphins quarterback to lead the league in passing yards since Dan Marino in 1992. He also threw for a career-high 29 touchdowns. The Miami Dolphins are 7–9 (0.438) in games they’ve played without Tua and boast a 32–19 (0.628) record with him as the starter.
Under head coach Mike McDaniel in the past two seasons, the team’s offense has also put up 27.6 points per game with Tua compared to just 16.3 points per game in four games that the left-handed quarterback missed with injury. Second-string and third-string quarterbacks Teddy Bridgewater and Skylar Thompson had two starts each in those four games in 2022.
After an uncertain two-year period of back and forth negotiations between the player and the team, Tagovailoa is now signed and locked down. Tua was headed into the fifth year option of his rookie contract this season but is now tied down to Magic City through the 2028 season. The 2017 CFP National Champion is expected to be a full participant for the Dolphins’ practice on Saturday.