Terron Armstead comes to Tua Tagovailoa’s defense while discussing his contract situation

Miami Dolphins tackle Terron Armstead recently weighed in on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s current contract situation with Miami and emphasized how important the signal-caller will be in order for the team to achieve its future goals.

Armstead played for Tagovailoa’s Dolphins in each of the last two seasons after spending an extended period of time with the New Orleans Saints, who drafted him with the No. 75 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.

After appearing in 13 games during the 2022 regular season, his maiden season with the Dolphins, the 32-year-old played in just 10 of Miami’s 17 contests in the 2023 regular season.

Tagovailoa is entering the fifth and final year of his rookie contract, which he signed after getting drafted with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. At this moment in time, he is set to hit unrestricted free agency after the upcoming 2024 campaign comes to a close.

Late last month, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler went on the record as saying Tagovailoa’s current contract situation is “complicated.”

“This one’s complicated, because Miami is dedicated to doing it,” Fowler said. “They want to sign him long-term, they’ve had talks. I believe, and my sense is, that they’re at least in the ballpark. But that recent deals from Jared Goff, Trevor Lawrence at $55 million a year does complicate the situation.”

A report also surfaced back in June that the Dolphins are likely using a franchise tag as leverage in contract negotiations with the 26-year-old.

“Using the franchise tag to retain Tagovailoa in 2025 is an option, one that will cost Miami something in the neighborhood of $43 million in real salary, and cap space,” wrote Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald. “That’s certainly doable for all parties, and is likely being used as negotiating leverage by both camps.”

While Tagovailoa has yet to lead the Dolphins to a playoff victory since joining the team, his stats during the 2023 regular season suggest that he was one of the top players at his position in the NFL.

After missing multiple games in each of his first three seasons in the NFL, he managed to avoid the injury bug in his fourth season, as he suited up in every one of Miami’s 17 regular-season contests.

Tagovailoa ended the regular season with a league-high 4,624 passing yards as well as 29 passing touchdowns while averaging a whopping 272.0 passing yards per contest.

The youngster also totaled the third-most total passing yards in a single season in the history of the Dolphins franchise during his fourth season in the pros.

Dolphins fans are surely hoping that Tagovailoa and the Dolphins will be able to come to an agreement on a contract extension in the near future.