Dolphins Rumors: Tua Tagovailoa to 'Quickly' Land New Contract After NFL Super Bowl

The Miami Dolphins and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa reportedly hope to reach a long-term contract extension "quickly" this offseason.

Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported neither side wants contract talks lingering into training camp and want to avoid a potential distraction. Tagovailoa is set to make $23.2 million in 2024 while playing out the fifth-year option on his rookie contract.

The Dolphins face an interesting conundrum with Tagovailoa given the fact he's earned a contract that makes him one of the NFL's highest-paid players but few would rank him among the league's best quarterbacks. Tagovailoa threw for 4,624 yards and 29 touchdowns this season but also threw 14 interceptions and continued a pattern of struggling against elite competition.

The Dolphins offense folded in their matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Wild Card Round , with Tagovailoa completing just 20 of his 39 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown against an interception. He also threw four interceptions in consecutive losses to the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills that cost Miami an AFC East championship.

The Dolphins were 1-5 overall in games against playoff teams. It's a pattern that has been evident throughout Tagovailoa's career and is arguably worth mentioning in contract talks from Miami's perspective.

If Tagovailoa's representation pushes for a deal that would pay him upwards of $55 million per season—the going rate for a superstar quarterback—it may be fair to wonder if the Dolphins should let next season play out and then use the franchise tag in 2025. That strategy would give them more time to assess Tagovailoa's performance in high-leverage situations and determine whether he's good enough to lead them to a Super Bowl.

That said, the odds of that happening is low. The demand for quality quarterback play is through the roof, and Tagovailoa would have no shortage of big-money offers if he were to reach free agency. Look for a deal to get done this offseason. Whether it ultimately proves to be the correct decision is another question entirely.