Mike McDaniel provides update on Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins contract negotiations

Count Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa as another quarterback likely to land a contract with some eye-popping numbers. Sides are negotiating. Everyone wants him to stay.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel provided an update to the media this week as the NFL Combine kicks off in Indianapolis

“Both his representation and our organization are hard at work,” McDaniel said at his media availability in Indy. “Those timelines are impossible to predict. My main concern this offseason has been communicating what Tua needs from his head coach and his offensive coaching staff, which is what things can we identify to continue the progression of your game the same way that we have since Day One.”

He added: “My belief has always been strong from Day 1 in Tua. It’s stronger than it was the first day I met him. And that’s because of that relationship, where I’m focused, which is continuing to provide the coaching so he can continue to evolve his game as he has since the second that I started talking to him.“

Miami QB did not miss a game last season

Tagovailoa did take a significant step last season. After all, he didn’t suffer a concussion after working the entire off season to train his body on how to absorb a big hit. The Dolphins already had agreed to pick up Tagovailoa’s fifth-year option off his rookie contract. Miami selected Tua in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

So he’s set to make a fully guaranteed $23 million this season, if nothing changes. And it’ll be the end of his contract with the Dolphins, again, if nothing changes. Miami still is $29 million over the salary cap. And they’re made some major cuts to trim costs, which includes cutting Xavien Howard and Emmanuel Ogbah last week. They will need more cuts to get under the cap by March 13, the start of a new business year in the NFL.

Will Dolphins reset QB market with Tua negotiations?

The Dolphins indicated they are #TeamTua all the way. But keeping him will cost a chunk of change. Every time a major quarterback negotiates a new deal or extension, the market resets. Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert and Lamar Jackson reset the quarterback pay a year ago. Coincidentally, Burrow and Herbert both were first round selections in the 2020 draft.

Chris Grier, the Dolphins’ GM, said last month that “the goal is to have [Tagovailoa] here long term playing at a high level.”

He did that last year, throwing for an NFL best 4,624 yads. His 29 touchdowns also were a career high. And here’s why the Dolphins are most excited. He didn’t miss a game because of an injury. Durability had been a major question.