Tua Tagovailoa admitted this spring that he is rising impatient over contract negotiations with the Miami Dolphins. One purpose for the holdup on a possible long-term deal: The Dolphins have but to supply the Professional Bowl quarterback a deal similar to extensions lately signed by the Detroit Lions’ Jared Goff and Jacksonville Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence, in keeping with ESPN.
“That is sophisticated,” Jeff Darlington reported on “NFL Stay” this week. “I am not saying that it will not get performed … however proper now there’s 5 phrases which can be looming over this contract negotiation, and so they’re the phrases that got here out of Tua’s mouth: ‘The market is the market.’ … Proper now, the Dolphins aren’t providing the contract that’s the market worth, primarily based on these different offers that have been performed. … We’re to not panic level simply but … (However the Dolphins) aren’t within the Jared Goff and Trevor Lawrence ballpark.”
For reference, Goff signed a four-year, $212 million extension (averaging $53 million per yr) with the Lions in Might. Lawrence then landed a five-year, $275 million deal (averaging $55 million per yr) with the Jaguars earlier this month. Solely the Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow earns as a lot or extra per season, reportedly prompting personal discussions amongst NFL homeowners about the opportunity of a future quarterback wage cap.
Tagovailoa, who led the NFL in passing yards in 2023, is due $23 million in 2024, the ultimate season of his rookie contract. He was out and in of Miami’s voluntary offseason programming earlier than reporting for necessary minicamp, although he would not verify earliert his month if his absences have been contract-related. Tagovailoa did communicate clearly about his need to “get one thing performed” on the contract entrance, nonetheless.
“I am not blind to the folks which can be in my place which can be getting paid,” Tagovailoa advised reporters at minicamp. “Am I involved about it? I am not involved about it. However there’s a whole lot of dialogue that we have had that we’re simply attempting to maneuver that factor into the precise path the place we are able to each be completely happy. … I feel there’s been a whole lot of progress at this level, from the place we began. Now, you may ask the opposite query: Why aren’t we seeing an settlement? … I will let you know one factor: The market is the market.”
Drafted fifth total by the Dolphins in 2020, Tagovailoa has lately been one of many NFL’s most efficient passers when wholesome, garnering MVP consideration in every of the final two seasons. He is appeared in only one profession postseason recreation, nonetheless, and struggled extra in opposition to playoff-level opponents in 2023, one yr after lacking 4 weeks as a consequence of a number of concussions.
