The Dolphins and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa are getting closer to the end of his rookie contract.
It remains to be seen when and when a new agreement will be reached.
It’s not an issue of whether Tua deserves a second contract. He has. The difficulty is how to structure it and how much money to put into it.
So, where does Tua fall into the NFL quarterback hierarchy?
Joe Burrow (No. 1) and Justin Herbert (No. 6) are the other two players picked in the top six in 2020, with annual salaries of $55 million and $52.5 million, respectively. If Tua, the fifth choice that year, wants to split the difference between the two, that will not happen.
The difficulty is determining the right amount and the appropriate guarantees. He will earn $23.17 million this year. He deserves a lot more. But, how much more?
It all depends on what the team will pay and what the athlete will take. Does he want Kirk Cousins’ deal, which has a $100 million guarantee over the first three years and an average salary of $45 million? Does he want more?
At what point will the Dolphins declare that he wants too much? They may tag him for 2025. They may tag him for 2026. They can ask him to prove it one year at a time before making a long-term commitment.
This exercise includes the question of whether the Dolphins believe they can find someone else to run the offense as effectively as Tua, if not better. It’s not popular among Tua supporters to say this, yet it could be true. The Dolphins may be able to find an alternative that is significantly less expensive than Tua’s bottom line.
Perhaps allowing Tua to become a free agent is the best way to establish his value. Yes, the Falcons paid a large sum for Cousins. Would another team make a significant offer for Tua if he was available for signing?
Perhaps someone would. He is a popular player. Many teams could do (and are doing) worse.
It’s a difficult subject. Tua has been good. He is yet to be genuinely great. He is yet to win a playoff game.
Nonetheless, he remained healthy for the entire 2023 season, during when most quarterbacks were injured. He led the league in passing yardage.
Yes, it is a difficult subject. And the Dolphins may eventually have to make a painful decision.
