In a move that reaffirms the franchise’s confidence in its quarterback, the Miami Dolphins are exercising Tua Tagovailoa’s fifth-year option, according to a league source Friday.
The decision locks in Tagovailoa through the 2024 season. The Dolphins had already said they were committed to Tagovailoa for the 2023 season, Tagovailoa’s fourth after being drafted at No. 5 in 2020.
Now on the fifth-year option, he is set to make $23.2 million in 2024, a figure that’s a bargain compared to many of the NFL’s high-priced quarterback contracts. The team can still decide to sign Tagovailoa to a long-term extension next offseason or, if it continues to go year to year with him, utilize the franchise tag in 2025.
In 2022, Tagovailoa led the league in passer rating (105.5) and yards per pass attempt (8.9). He threw a career-high 25 touchdowns to eight interceptions, completing 64.8% of passes for 3,548 yards.
The greater concern now, beyond his performance, is his durability. Tagovailoa missed 5 1/2 games last season, including Miami’s playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills, due to two separate stints in concussion protocol.
With all those factors in play, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier was not ready to declare the team was bound to pick up Tagovailoa’s fifth year when speaking to reporters last week at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.
“We’re still having all those conversations because there’s a lot of factors that go into that,” Grier said March 1. “Now that we’re finally finishing up the coaching staff, we’ll focus on some of these answers. Coming together, [coach Mike McDaniel] and I will sit and talk about it, as well as [owner Steve] Ross and [senior vice president of football and business administration] Brandon Shore. We’ll go through it, and we’ll make our decision then.”
Miami announced its final coaching staff for 2023 earlier Friday afternoon, and indeed, the Tua decision was made shortly thereafter.
The Dolphins have until a May 2 deadline to make the move official.
Although Grier was originally noncommittal when addressing the option for the left-handed passer, he spoke glowingly of Tagovailoa and his development in his third NFL season.
“He’s our quarterback, and he’s our quarterback here to be successful for a long time,” Grier said at the combine.
“Very excited for him. The strides he made this year with [McDaniel] and the offense, you guys have seen it. It was really exciting. And to see the work he’s put in that you guys don’t see at the facility and around, has been really incredible.”
Grier also noted that durability concerns would factor into any decision, but he added “it’s not something that’s going to make us afraid to do something long-term.”
The fifth-year option decision comes amid swirling rumors and even reports of the Dolphins exploring outside options at quarterback, despite Grier and McDaniel remaining adamant in their belief in Tagovailoa.
Any outside quarterback move Miami makes this offseason is likely to be for a veteran backup quarterback to compete with Skylar Thompson, heading into his second season, for No. 2 quarterback duties. Bringing back Teddy Bridgewater for that role is among options for the organization.
Free-agent negotiations begin Monday at noon, and free agents can sign with new teams starting Wednesday. The Dolphins have been clearing cap space, mostly by restructuring the contracts of wide receiver Tyreek Hill, tackle Terron Armstead and outside linebacker Bradley Chubb.
In building around Tagovailoa as its starting quarterback, Miami could be looking at free-agent upgrades at inside linebacker, cornerback, running back, tight end, possibly safety and on the offensive line.
Along with Tagovailoa, fellow Dolphins first-round picks of the 2020 draft in offensive lineman Austin Jackson and cornerback Noah Igbinoghene are eligible for fifth-year options on their rookie contracts, but Jackson and Igbinoghene — both who have underwhelmed in their first three seasons — are unlikely to receive them.
