The Miami Dolphins reportedly are picking up the fifth-year option on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s contract.
The move will pay Tagovailoa a guaranteed $23.2 million for the 2024 season, keeping him under contract with the team for at least two more seasons (2023 and 2024).
The #Dolphins have informed QB Tua Tagovailoa they’re picking up his fifth-year option, sources say. Once executed, Tagovailoa will be guaranteed $23.2 million for the 2024 season.
Another indication Miami is confident Tagovailoa will be their quarterback for a long time. pic.twitter.com/lZtSQxrbgQ
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 10, 2023
This is yet another show of support for Tagovailoa from the Dolphins organization after the former first-round pick had the best season of his career in the 2022 campaign.
Miami drafted Tagovailoa with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The team clearly knows how valuable he is, and it doesn’t want to risk losing him following the 2023 season.
By picking up the fifth-year option on Tagovailoa, the Dolphins get an extra season to see him in Mike McDaniel’s offense after he was hired as the team’s head coach prior to last season.
While injuries derailed Tagovialoa’s 2022 season, he did post his best statistical season in the NFL.
The signal-caller threw for 3,548 yards, 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 13 games during the regular season. Tagovailoa also led the NFL in yards gained per pass attempt and yards gained per pass completion, taking advantage of the additions of star receiver Tyreek Hill and veteran offensive lineman Terron Armstead to bolster the team’s offense.
The only concern with Tagovailoa is the fact that he suffered two concussions in the 2022 season. The first came in Week 4 against the Cincinnati Bengals, and the second was in Week 16 against the Green Bay Packers.
The second concussion knocked Tagovailoa out for the remainder of the 2022 season.
Despite that, the Dolphins remain confident that he can continue to play at a high level, and they are certainly hopeful he will avoid any more head injuries in the future.
With Tagovailoa locked in for the next two seasons, the Dolphins are hoping to make a major leap after making the playoffs in the 2022 campaign. Miami finished the regular season with a 9-8 record, but it was 8-5 in the 13 games that Tagovailoa started.
The University of Alabama product has appeared in 36 games (34 starts) for the Dolphins since being drafted in 2020.
The Dolphins have a 21-13 record in the games that Tagovaila starts, and that shows just how important he is to the team’s success.
The team deciding to pick up the option should put to rest any rumors about the it making a change at quarterback this offseason.
