Tua ‘not blind’ to QB deals but ‘not concerned’

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said he’s confident he and the team will reach an extension before the start of the regular season, although the process has taken longer than expected.

Speaking to the media after the Dolphins’ first day of mandatory minicamp Tuesday, a noticeably terse Tagovailoa said he has taken note of the recent contracts other NFL quarterbacks have received, although he stopped short of admitting concern about any offers the team has made.

“I’m not blind to people that are in my position, who are getting paid,” he said. “Am I concerned about it? I’m not concerned about it, but there’s a lot of discussion that we’ve had. We’re just trying to move that thing in the right direction to where everyone can be happy.”

Tagovailoa enters the final year of his rookie contract in 2024 and has been entrenched in negotiations with the Dolphins this offseason on a long-term extension that should make him the highest-paid player in franchise history.

Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said in February that they would ideally reach an agreement before the season begins in September, a timeline which Tagovailoa agreed with Tuesday.

“I think there’s been a lot of progress at this point, from where we started there’s been a lot of progress,” he said. “You can ask the other question of, ‘Why aren’t we seeing an agreement?’ Well, that’s the tough part about it. That’s why it’s business.”

Tagovailoa led the NFL in passing yards last season and was named the AFC’s starting quarterback at the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career. He also set career highs in passing yards, passing touchdowns and games played. It was an ideal response after the 2022 season when he suffered two documented concussions and missed five games, including a playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills.

To better prepare his body for a full season of punishment, the former No. 5 pick bulked up to 238 pounds last offseason before cutting down to 225 pounds during training camp. He also took part in a customized breakfall jiu-jitsu program to learn how to fall without hitting the back of his head on the ground — which caused both his concussions in 2022.

Tagovailoa was visibly slimmer — or “svelte” as coach Mike McDaniel described — and confirmed he had cut weight during the offseason, although he declined to specify how many pounds he has dropped. He said the weight loss has helped with his mobility and ability to extend plays, which was an area McDaniel hinted he could improve on after the 2023 season.

After addressing his durability concerns in 2023, Tagovailoa’s teammates believe he has earned his payday.

“Tua should’ve been paid, man. I’ve been saying this all offseason,” wide receiver Tyreek Hill said. “I know we’ve got a great front office … and they’re going to get it done. Obviously, a lot of people are comparing the Jared Goff situation, but I feel like Tua is supposed to be up there with some of these guys and passing those guys. Just understanding his story and the progression of how he’s getting better each year and how he’s carrying this offense, it’s crazy.

“He’s going to continue to get better, but I feel like when you get a new contract, they’re not paying you for what you did, they’re paying you — it’s almost like an investment of what you’re going to do in the future. So, he’s continually getting better, he’s gradually getting better each and every year.”

Front office sources who spoke with ESPN predicted Tagovailoa’s extension will look similar to the one Justin Herbert signed with the Los Angeles Chargers last offseason — a five-year deal worth $262.5 million with up to $193.7 million in guaranteed money. The Detroit Lions signed Goff to a four-year extension worth $212 million and an average annual value of $53 million — the second-highest AAV in NFL history.

Hill, meanwhile, commented on his own contract in the wake of Justin Jefferson‘s four-year, $140 million contract extension with the Minnesota Vikings. Hill is signed through 2026 but has no guaranteed money remaining on his deal after the 2024 season.

Hill said he’s going to let agent Drew Rosenhaus handle talks with the team and said he’s happy to be in Miami and wants to help the team however he can.

“Being greedy ain’t going to help the team,” he said.

Tagovailoa was keenly aware of his peers’ contract numbers and seemed intent to match or surpass them.

“I’ll tell you one thing — the market is the market,” he said. “If we didn’t have the market, then none of that would matter. It would just be an organizational thing. It wouldn’t matter if this guy got paid that, because it’s up to the organization. So that’s what I would say, the market is the market.”

Although he skipped at least a portion of the Dolphins’ offseason program and voluntary organized team activities, he was present for mandatory minicamp, avoiding any fine. He did not fully participate, however, sitting out of 11-on-11 drills while taking part in 7-on-7 drills.

Tagovailoa said frustration wasn’t the right word to describe how he feels about a lack of an agreement at this point in the offseason but agreed that “antsy” was a more accurate representation.

“Just want to get something done,” he said. “That’s it.”