Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey recently uploaded a picture to Instagram of him playing golf with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, and written out on Ramsey’s scorecard was seemingly a hint to the Dolphins organization to sign the signal-caller to a contract extension.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported earlier this month that the Dolphins have “gotten the ball rolling” regarding an extension for the 26-year-old.
“I’m told that negotiations have begun in earnest,” Fowler said. “The Dolphins have at least gotten the ball rolling. Typically, what happens is team makes the contract offer, the player counters and then they go from there and see if they can find a sweet spot. So, the next three months will be crucial. My sense is this has not graduated to something that’s imminent, but the Dolphins are pretty committed to this. Their actions this offseason say that they’re going to pay him.”
Tagovailoa has just one year remaining on his current contract. He is set to make over $23 million in the upcoming 2024 season, but will then hit unrestricted free agency if he and the Dolphins can’t come to an agreement on a new deal.
His play during the 2023 regular season suggests that it may take a hefty sum of money from the Dolphins to ink him to a long-term deal. After all, Tagovailoa’s passing numbers were arguably as gaudy as any quarterback’s in the NFL.
The signal-caller totaled a league-high 4,624 passing yards to go along with 29 passing touchdowns and 222 first downs passing across 17 games played (all starts) in his fourth season in the NFL.
The last three quarterbacks to lead the league in passing yards before him were Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady and Deshaun Watson. While Watson has been hampered by controversy and injury troubles in recent seasons, Mahomes and Brady are considered to be two of the best players at their position in the history of the sport.
But one glaring thing missing from Tagovailoa’s resume at this juncture is playoff success. He has yet to lead the Dolphins to a win in the playoffs since getting drafted by the team in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Back in January, Tagovailoa and the Dolphins lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs, and the 6-foot-1 quarterback didn’t perform at the top of his game, considering he totaled just 199 passing yards, one passing touchdown and one interception in a game the Dolphins lost by a score of 26-7.
