Adam Schefter: Tua Tagovailoa returned to full practice shortly before contract extension

One of the biggest quarterback contract dominos fell Friday in Miami. Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins agreed to a long-awaited contract extension, which became the richest in franchise history.

Talks between Tagovailoa and the Dolphins went on for some time, and the former Alabama star noted it’s a “business” during minicamp. It led to a four-year, $212.4 million deal with $167 million in guarantees, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Friday.

But there was perhaps a signal that something was coming down the line after the Dolphins opened training camp this week. Schefter said he wasn’t a full participant to start – but that changed Friday.

“This was the deal that they have been trying to get done,” Schefter said on NFL Live. “Tua didn’t really practice the first two days, and the sign that something was up may have come earlier today when Tua was a full participant in practice.

“And a short time later, the richest deal in Dolphins franchise history is agreed to. Tua and the Dolphins get their agreement done.”

Putting Tua Tagovailoa’s deal in perspective

The negotiations between Tagovailoa and Miami took a few turns as the quarterback market took some big shifts and may have “spooked” the franchise. Two major contracts – Jared Goff’s huge $212 million contract with the Lions and Trevor Lawrence’s landmark deal with the Jaguars, tied him for the league’s highest-paid player at $55 million – came together while Tagovailoa worked through his future.

While he’s not making the type of money Lawrence or Joe Burrow will make, Schefter pointed out the significance of the richest deal in Dolphins history. To put it in perspective, Tagovailoa’s annual salary will be more than Dan Marino made during his Hall of Fame career in Miami.

“The deal that the Miami Dolphins and Tua Tagovailoa have been trying work out has been agreed to,” Schefter said. “A four-year, $212.4 million extension – $167 million in guaranteed money, and that makes Tua’s average annual salary $51.3 million per year.

“Do you know what Dan Marino’s career earnings with the Dolphins were? $51 million. Tua beats that on average in a single year.”

Tagovailoa put together the biggest year of his career in Miami, throwing for 4,624 yards and 29 touchdowns to make his first career Pro Bowl. The Dolphins made a case as the NFL’s fastest team with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle at receiver along with Devon Achane and Raheem Mostert at running back, and Tagoaviloa ran the show at quarterback. The Dolphins previously picked up Tagovailoa’s fifth-year option, valued at $23.2 million, according to Spotrac.