NFL Exec on Tua Tagovailoa: 'He Is at the Level of QB That Is Hard to Commit to'

The Miami Dolphins face a dilemma when it comes to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, one NFL executive believes.

Per The Athletic's Mike Sando, an NFL executive believes the Dolphins have a tough decision to make on whether they want to commit to Tagovailoa. While he has been a consistently good quarterback, he has also shown his limitations.

"He is at the level of quarterback that is hard to commit to," the executive said. "But it becomes really tricky when you start betting against your quarterback like that."

According to Sando, the Dolphins have three main options when it comes to Tagovailoa's future. The first would be to trade him and sign Minnesota Vikings' quarterback Kirk Cousins, all but confirming Miami does not have faith in Tagovailoa helping them win a championship. Cousins will be a free agent in March.

Another option, which Sando calls the "most logical" one, would be to let Tagovailoa play out the fifth-year option in his contract. In this scenario, the Dolphins wouldn't have to commit to Tagovailoa long term, but could evaluate his play after another season.

The third option for the Dolphins would be to extend Tagovailoa's contract, putting their faith in the fourth-year quarterback.

Tagovailoa has shown health concerns through his first few years in the league, but he managed to play his first full season in 2023. While his health might not be as much of a concern moving forward, Tagovailoa has still struggled in crucial moments. He has a 2-4 starting record against playoff teams under head coach Mike McDaniel, and he faltered in Miami's wild-card matchup against the Chiefs on Saturday. In the frigid game at Arrowhead Stadium, Tagovailoa had 199 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception.

The Dolphins have a big decision to make this offseason, and whatever they decide is likely to have some kind of impact on their future.