Dolphins will exercise Tua Tagovailoa’s fifth-year option

Miami Dolphins v San Francisco 49ers
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The Dolphins are committing to Tua Tagovailoa through at least the 2024 season.

According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Media, the Dolphins have informed Tagovailoa that they’re picking up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract.

That means Tagovailoa will have a guaranteed salary of just over $23 million in 2024.

The No. 5 overall pick of the 2020 draft, Tagovailoa excelled in his first season under head coach Mike McDaniel in 2022. He completed 64.8 percent of his passes for 3,548 yards with 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He led the league among qualified players in passer rating (105.5), yards per attempt (8.9), and yards per completion (13.7).

But Tagovailoa missed several games due to concussions. He ended up playing 13 regular-season games, including the last two games of the regular season and Miami’s postseason loss to Buffalo. Tagovailoa reportedly did not clear concussion protocol until Feb. 1.

Tagovailoa has been working on jiu-jitsu to help him learn to avoid head injuries when falling.

Tagovailoa has compiled a 21-13 record as a starter through three seasons. In 36 total appearances, he’s completed 65.7 percent of his passes for 8,015 yards with 52 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. He’s also rushed for six TDs.

59 responses to “Dolphins will exercise Tua Tagovailoa’s fifth-year option

  1. I like how people and the media twist things to fit their narrative. Tua did not even start the concussion protocol to get cleared until after the Super Bowl. Then he was cleared immediately.

  2. Miami has learned from the mistakes of New York. It’s better to have a $23M back-up then to let a QB get into and play on the final year of their contract.

  3. I’m not sure what to make of this. The Dolphins handled things poorly in 2022. They and Tua seem hell bent on continuing down the chosen path. I don’t trust the Dolphins handling this situation and the NFL hasn’t been any better in their role as overseer of the Dolphins. I don’t wish harm on Tua… I’m just scared for him.

  4. Ouch!!!

    They’re so bad, they have to restructure a half dozen contracts just to do this.

    LOL!

    Grier is awful.

  5. newjerichoman says:
    March 10, 2023 at 2:45 pm
    Miami has learned from the mistakes of New York. It’s better to have a $23M back-up then to let a QB get into and play on the final year of their contract.
    ———————
    With their salary cap situation the way it was, they couldn’t afford a $23million backup if Daniel Jones didn’t improve last year.

  6. Why??? So they can pay him a full years worth of salary when he inevitably ends up on the shelf on IR 4-6 weeks into the season, it’s amazing to me how many teams love wasting money opposed to just admitting u made a mistake. Just draft his replacement n move on dudes a bust everyone knows that except your average Dolphins fan.

  7. Great decision by Miami. And looking forward to all the naysayers mid season admit they were wrong about Tua as he puts together a great season. Just like he did for the first 11 games of 2022. Remember everyone saying he was in the MVP conversation. How quickly the media and others change a narrative without the facts. Look at his stats, he is a winner and will take Miami deep into the playoffs this upcoming season. Just remember folks to circle back and admit you were wrong to bash him.

  8. Shaun Boos says:
    March 10, 2023 at 2:44 pm
    I like how people and the media twist things to fit their narrative. Tua did not even start the concussion protocol to get cleared until after the Super Bowl. Then he was cleared immediately.

    ___________________

    Now let’s wait on the next Dolphins rumor so the fans and media can dump on the Dolphins again.

  9. newjerichoman says:
    March 10, 2023 at 2:45 pm
    Miami has learned from the mistakes of New York. It’s better to have a $23M back-up then to let a QB get into and play on the final year of their contract.
    ————————————————————————————

    All NY did was double down on a mistake. Daboll got Jones to play avg caliber ball by turning him into a glorified fullback taking the ball out of his hands and highlighting what he’s above average at which is running the ball, still a well below average passer and NY doubled down on that mistake and paid Daniel Jones $40M in YR. If Miami is copying NY they’re in trouble.

  10. Grier is awful.

    You mean like Mac Jones and NKeal Harry kind of awful….asking for a friend ?

  11. If Tua gets concussed again, a very aged Brady will be there to the rescue. Right Dolphin fans?

  12. Mama & Daddy just jumped up and screamed Mahalo! Mele Kalikimaka!!! Chevy Chase.🤣😂 🌴🏝🌞

  13. Skol Vikes says:
    March 10, 2023 at 2:48 pm
    I told you TB12 wasn’t going there. No way no how. Total media hype.

    ————–

    Unless he’s being dealt (under the tag) as a 1 year prove it rental, but I am trying to figure out what team that would be, who would want to take on such a risk and waste a year to see if his concussion issues won’t be a problem.

    It’s too much money for him to not be a starter elsewhere, so yeah, the whole Brady to Miami talk was nothing but a bunch of garbage.

  14. hawkkiller says:
    . . . it’s amazing to me how many teams love wasting money opposed to just admitting u made a mistake.
    ==

    Says the fan of a team that just threw a fortune at Kyler freaking Murray.
    Admit you made a mistake? Right.

  15. I think its also because of how he has been treated within the organization. First, they went for Watson then Brady, then mishandled his concussion injuries. They are paying him for past and future indemnity.

  16. Mark my words! The Dolphins will build up the OL and Tua will be a top 10 Qb for many years to come!

  17. I hope it works out.You can’t deny that he played pretty well when available.Get the offensive line shored up.Get the secondary fixed and let’s see what happens

  18. I thought Mike McDaniel was smarter than this. Maybe his ego is telling him, again, that he can fix this. Apparently some of Shanahan’s hubris rubbed off on him.

  19. Somewhat surprising, given his track record, but not a move I’d beat the Dolphins up for making. The kid has all of the physical skills you could desire in a QB and hasn’t been the reason for their defeats.
    On the flip-side, his availability has been a problem and he also hasn’t been the reason for their victories. He has yet to show that ‘It’ factor that all the greats have. He has yet to master his craft to such a degree that he can elevate his teammates and be a factor that the opponent has to seriously game plan against.
    Has it stands his career tracks is headed towards ‘bridge starter’ at best. This move gives him two years to prove otherwise.

  20. While vaccines have been a fairly controversial topic of late, I think we can all agree on this: judo ain’t the antidote for CTE.

  21. LOL to all the speculation. You do realize that this is cheap money for the production he gave in 2022? And it’s for 2024. So they could still pursue TB12 for 2023. Or not. The 5th year option can also be torn up for a longer term deal. Anyone hating on Miami for this doesn’t know football…

  22. Wow so many fans worried about miami dolphins fans and our front office, I’m touched but maybe you should take a look at your own pathetic team and tell me who is closer to a superbowl….

  23. Dolphins fans dont care about other teams and their fans. But fans of other teams are consumed by their fear of what The Dolphins are building.

  24. Jets, Bills, and Patriots fans read and comment on Miami Dolphins news before reading news on their own on team.

  25. Good move. Now PFF can quit artificially driving the narrative that the Dolphins don’t want Tua.

  26. If there are no other reasonable options to get another QB at the moment (TB isn’t going to unretire and Jimmy G is not a reasonable option), then you give him another year and see how it goes. Not giving him the 5th year option puts you in a Daniel Jones situation, giving a lot more money to a guy you may not be sure about.

  27. With Tom Brady on his way to the Dolphins, Tua will have a year of rehab. Good for Tua.

  28. Giving him the 5th year option designation doesn’t mean he’s on their roster in 2024. He can still be traded or cut without any financial commitment by Miami.

  29. Seems reasonable for both sides. 23mil is peanuts for a starter. After the 24 season they can cut bait or tag him if he works out. Much better deal than 230mil guaranteed for 5 years.

  30. ghjjf says:
    March 10, 2023 at 2:52 pm
    The rest of the AFC East is celebrating this news!

    ————

    Except the pats. He’s 4 0 against them. But you know. Just facts.

  31. I have tears of joy in my eyes as I say “thats my quarterback!”
    Now all we need is bubble-wrap!

  32. It’s a good move. If he gets anymore concussions he’ll probably have to retire. If not they aren’t in a position to upgrade anytime soon

  33. Good for Miami. Dude’s a winner. That’s all he does. Everyone hates to admit it, but Miami is a good team with Tua at qb.

  34. MIA got a whiff of what happened with NYG declining DJ’s 5th year and decided to hedge their bets.

    Can’t say I blame them. Tua has flashed some great games. The last thing you want is for him to go beast mode in 2023 and make you regret every decision you made up to that point.

  35. The Tua haters can’t criticize his ability to play, so now they switched to his durability. How amazingly stupid they are. So geniuses, what do you recommend the Dolphins do? They don’t have draft capital to make a trade, so try again. What is more concerning is who they go after to be his backup.

  36. As a Bills fan I know Tua is a more than formidable QB to have to face…that being said the anti-Tua crowd that repeatedly club Miami over the head like a baby seal are either worried for their particular team facing him or envious – maybe both🤔 I figured they would pick up the 5th year option as long as he hadn’t suffered a long term injury (apparently) & Miami has definitely committed to him thru 2024 but that can always change in an instant. I still believe he’s one blow to the head away from serious injury but that’s my opinion & if the Fish can build a durable & capable Offensive Line Tua should excel this coming season.

  37. Tua needs to take the year off.

    Concussion expert Dr. Mark Allen says “even if you do recover and walk away with no long-term symptoms, it isn’t without consequence: You will always be more susceptible to another concussion than someone who hasn’t had one, particularly during the first year after your concussion. It takes less force to sustain a repeat concussion within a year of the previous concussion and it’s likely to take more time to resolve. Repeated sub-concussive jarring or shaking to the head can contribute to this situation as well. Many people (especially athletes) who have had one concussion go on to have more. With every concussion, your chance of developing long-term symptoms (post-concussion syndrome) increases.”

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