With a contract extension potentially coming up for Tua Tagovailoa, the Hawaiian southpaw may be in for a major payday. As much of the league pays close attention to the quarterback’s status in 2024, one NFL executive predicted that the reigning passing yards leader could see upwards of $55 million in his next deal.
Tagovailoa, 26, just completed his fourth year in the NFL with a fifth-year option left on his rookie contract with the Miami Dolphins. Should the two sides not come to terms in the 2024 offseason, Tagovailoa will be a free agent the following summer but eligible to be franchise-tagged.
NFL Executive Predicts $55 Million Contract Extension for Tua Tagovailoa
As one of the only quarterbacks from the 2020 NFL Draft yet to sign a second contract, Tua Tagovailoa has reportedly engaged in conversations with the Miami Dolphins during the 2024 offseason. In a conversation with ESPN, an anonymous NFL executive says he believes the Pro Bowler may be in line for over $50 million depending on where conversations lead.
“Miami has struggled since [Dan] Marino to get a quarterback, right?… If I’m the agent [of Tagovailoa], I get it. It’s just walking that line. Where do you come in? Is it 50 [million]? Is it 55 [million]?… If the agent’s at 58 million and [the front office is] at 55 million, go get it done.”
As of 2024, Tagovailoa is reportedly represented by agent Ryan Williams of Athletes First.
With a career year in 2023, Tagovailoa reached career-high numbers in nearly every major category with 4,624 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, 69.3 completion percentage.
Per Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN, the Dolphins fully believe in Tagovailoa and see their quarterback further ascending his game, thus wanting to reward their former No. 5 overall draft pick. However, the primary concern for the front office remains Tagovailoa’s availability, with the Hawaiian missing multiple games in each of his first three seasons with the team.
Dolphins Looking for Bonus Incentives in Contract Extension
In a report from Marcel Louis-Jacques, an unnamed source within the NFL told the ESPN reporter that Miami is likely to include bonus incentives in Tua Tagovailoa’s upcoming contract extension to protect themselves in the event of another injury to their signal caller.
Bonus incentives are a common inclusion in professional sports, only paying the subjective player should they reach a certain number of games played, wins, touchdowns thrown, etc. Should this be the case, Tagovailoa could still see up to $50 million total but would be required to stay healthy for another season to see his full purse.
Once considered a generational prospect while at Alabama, Tagovailoa’s injury concerns began circulating during his NCAA days when the Heisman Trophy frontrunner dislocated his hip in his final year with the Crimson Tide. He would be replaced in the starting lineup by Mac Jones and forgo his final year of collegiate eligibility to enter the 2020 NFL Draft.
The 2023 NFL season was the first that the 26-year-old played in every game as a professional without issue. Overall, Tagovailoa has only played two full seasons of football since joining Nick Saban at Alabama in 2016, as he spent his freshman season with the team as a backup to star quarterback Jalen Hurts.
About the Author
Jaren Kawada is a freelance sports writer from Indianapolis, Indiana with a strong passion for MMA and sports betting. Kawada has also written for Sportskeeda MMA, FanSided MMA, and BetSided as a combat sports analyst.
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