Tua Tagovailoa’s contract situation sparked plenty of drama in 2024, with many questioning whether the Miami Dolphins should commit big money given his health concerns. Ultimately, Miami showed faith in their quarterback, signing him to a blockbuster deal despite the outside noise.
Miami Dolphins, Tua Tagovailoa Land on 4-Year Extension
Tagovailoa signed a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension in July 2024. However, the figure that truly stands out is the guaranteed money, an impressive $167 million locked in.
This structure ensures that Tagovailoa remains under contract through the 2028 season and all but guarantees his presence on the roster at least through 2027. If the reported contract details are accurate, nearly every year of the deal, aside from the final one, is heavily secured.
“I just wanted to say I agreed to a contract extension with the Miami Dolphins,” Tagovailoa said on Instagram. “I want to give a big shoutout to [Dolphins owner Stephen] Ross. I want to thank Chris Grier, Brandon Shore for working endlessly on this deal.
“I want to thank Mike McDaniel for believing in me. I want to thank all my other coaches as well.”
Tagovailoa also thanked his teammates “for believing in me, for also supporting me throughout this process.”
BREAKING: Tua Tagovailoa has agreed to the largest 4-year extension in NFL history worth $212.4M / $167M Guaranteed 🚨#StraightFromTheSource#GoatFarmMedia pic.twitter.com/FPUTFylBLa
— G.O.A.T. Farm Sports (@GOATfarmmedia)
At the time of signing, Tagovailoa became the NFL’s third-highest-paid player on an average annual value basis, trailing only Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals and Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Both quarterbacks secured lucrative extensions within the previous 12 months, each worth $55 million annually.
The agreement ends an at-times contentious negotiation that dragged on for more than a year.
Tagovailoa had staged a hold-in for the first two days of the Dolphins’ minicamp, practicing some on Wednesday but not at all on Thursday, as a leverage play to get this deal past the finish line.
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After a tough 2024 campaign, Tagovailoa now gets ready for a massive season of his career. If the Dolphins fail to make the playoffs in 2025, both he and his head coach could be shipped out of Miami.
Tagovailoa’s Fantasy Outlook
PFSN’s Kyle Soppe wrote this about Tagovailoa’s fantasy outlook ahead of Week 1:
The knock on this Miami offense has nothing to do with the talent on their roster and everything to do with who is available for kickoff.
So, yes, I am intrigued by the idea of rolling out as many Dolphins as possible now, while they are still available. In a DFS setting, I don’t mind the move.
The quick-strike Miami attack can look unstoppable at times, though it tends to thrive more against aggressive defenses.
