Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins Engaged in Contract Extension Talks, HC Mike McDaniel Says

As the Miami Dolphins enter a big offseason with a lot of notable roster decisions to make, the main priority will likely be Tua Tagovailoa's contract as he prepares to enter the final season of his rookie contract.

Head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters he is "very encouraged" by how talks are progressing between Tagovailoa and the organization:

" Both his representation and our organization are hard at work. Those timelines are impossible to predict. My main concern this offseason has been communicating what Tua needs from his head coach and his offensive coaching staff, which is what things can we identify to continue the progression of your game the same way that we have since Day One."

Signing Tagovailoa to an extension would allow the Dolphins to lower his cap number for next season. They have work to do to get cap compliant, as they are currently $28.5 million over the salary cap before free agency and the draft.

Tagovailoa had the best season of his career in 2023. He led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards, tied for fifth with 29 touchdown passes and ranked fifth with a 69.3 completion percentage.

The most encouraging part of Tagovailoa's performance was his durability. He started every game in a season for the first time since 2018 when he was a sophomore at Alabama.

There was a decline in how Tagovailoa played as the season went one. He threw for 2,416 yards with 18 touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 70.4 completion percentage from Weeks 1-8.

Over the final nine games of the regular season, he threw for 2,208 yards, 11 touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 68.2 completion percentage.

Miami's three-game stretch to end the season, including the playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, are not going to be on Tagovailoa's highlight reel. He threw five interceptions in those games, all losses.

The Dolphins had two drives against the Chiefs that gained more than 30 yards. Their last nine drives in that game resulted in three punts, three turnovers on downs, the end of the first half and the end of the game.

General manager Chris Grier told reporters during the end-of-season press conference on Jan. 15 the goal was to have Tagovailoa "here long term playing at a high level" and they would "continue to communicate with him through the offseason here."

Tagovailoa has a 19-11 record as Miami's starter over the past two seasons since McDaniel arrived. The Dolphins have made the playoffs in both years, though he wasn't able to play in the 2022 AFC Wild Card Game against the Buffalo Bills due to a concussion.

Miami exercised the fifth year in Tagovailoa's rookie contract last offseason. His $23.2 million salary in 2024 is fully guaranteed.