Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa Expects New Contract After Pro Bowl Start amid Negotiations

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa believes that he will land a contract extension with his team this offseason.

"I believe that will happen, but I'm gonna let my agents, gonna let you know Chris [Grier], Mike [McDaniel], let those guys talk about that and let them move forward accordingly," Tagovailoa told Pro Football Network's Adam Beasley on Friday before Pro Bowl practice.

Tagovailoa, the AFC's starting quarterback in this year's Pro Bowl Flag Football game, also told ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques that there's been talks between the two sides.

"There's been communication," he told Louis-Jacques. "I think the thing with that right now is I'm just letting the team talk to my agent and let them work that out."

As of now, Tagovailoa has one year left on his rookie deal after the Dolphins exercised his fifth-year option in 2023.

Miami could conceivably let Tagovailoa's rookie contract play out and place the franchise tag on him in 2025 and 2026. But it's clear the two sides want to get something done long-term.

"...So the goal is to have him here long-term playing at a high level," Dolphins GM Chris Grier told reporters in part during his end-of-season press conference. "That's always the goal and we'll continue to communicate with him through the offseason here.

Tagovailoa has enjoyed great success in the past two years under head coach Mike McDaniel.

In 2022, the former Alabama star led the NFL in yards per attempt and quarterback rating.

In 2023, his 4,624 passing yards were No. 1 in the league. Miami finished this season with 496 points, good enough for second in the NFL.

At this point, it appears to be a matter of when and not if something gets done between the two sides. Tagovailoa's certainly fared well enough in recent years to earn a long-term contract extension, and the question is how much and for how long.