NFL Trade Rumors: Miami Dolphins Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa Skipping Workouts in Pursuit of Extension

The Miami Dolphins are in a delicate situation with their quarterback. According to CBS Sports insider Jonathan Jones, Tua Tagovailoa has skipped most voluntary team workouts this offseason and could be absent for the team's upcoming organized team activities as he pursues a long-term extension.

Sources to @NFLonCBS: Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa has skipped the majority of voluntary offseason work as a long-term extension with Miami has yet to materialize https://t.co/gOAEprUsm5
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) May 17, 2024

Tagovailoa is entering the fifth-year option portion of his rookie contract and is set to earn $23.171 million this season. He's due for unrestricted free agency next offseason, and applying the franchise tag in 2025 could cost the Dolphins approximately $42.5 million per overthecap. An extension could theoretically lower his cap hits for both seasons.

After two underwhelming years to start his career, Tagovailoa's production has exploded in head coach Mike McDaniel's offense: Tagovailoa led the league in passer rating in 2022 and passing yards in 2023. The Dolphins even scored 29.3 points per game last season, second most in the league.

That success doesn't necessarily mean extending Tagovailoa is an easy decision. He suffered a series of frightening concussions in 2022 that cost him four games, and he fell on his face in his first playoff appearance, a 26-7 first-round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this year. It's still unclear if Tagovailoa is an elite quarterback or merely the beneficiary of McDaniel's system and the otherworldly talents of All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill (106.3 receiving yards per game since 2022).

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff recently signed a four-year, $212 million extension, and Tagovailoa could command a similar number. That's a massive investment, and if the Dolphins aren't sure Tagovailoa is one of the very best quarterbacks in the league, that deal could hamstring their Super Bowl aspirations down the line. Still, it's unlikely the Dolphins can land a better quarterback, so extending Tagovailoa is probably their best and only option, even if it caps their potential.