Tua Tagovailoa Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Insiders hints Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa will earn massive extension

By Clark Dalton | Last updated 11/29/23

Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is playing some of the best football of his career and giving the Dolphins something to think about as he enters the final year of his contract this offseason.

"The Dolphins made a big fuss about picking his 2024 fifth-year option when there were plenty of questions about the wisdom of that decision," wrote ESPN's Dan Graziano. "If he makes it through this season healthy and the Dolphins make a playoff run, they're probably going to have to tear up that $23 million he's scheduled to make in 2024 and get him signed to a long-term extension."

Tagovailoa — who suffered multiple concussions in 2022 — has yet to miss a game this season and is generating outstanding numbers. He's third in the league in passing TDs (22), completion percentage (69.8) and fourth in passer rating (103.7).

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The Dolphins (8-3) are first in the AFC East, and as of Wednesday, they're tied with the Dallas Cowboys for the fifth-best odds of winning the Super Bowl (+1000).

Per Spotrac, Tagovailoa's market value is a six-year deal worth $50.2M annually, a lot for a QB who has had some durability issues and has yet to win a playoff game. The Dolphins can't afford to extend him, either. Spotrac projects they will be $37.2M over the cap in 2024.

However, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler noted Miami might view "Tagovailoa and head coach Mike McDaniel as a long-term partnership." In two seasons under McDaniel, the 25-year-old has posted the league's best passer rating (105.5).

If McDaniel and Tagovailoa lead the Dolphins on a deep postseason run, there is no question the organization should keep the tandem together and extend the former first-round pick.

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