Dolphins Rumors: Tua Tagovailoa Got 'at Least 1 Contract Offer' amid Holdout in OTAs

The Miami Dolphins reportedly made quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at least one contract offer that was rejected as the two sides seek a long-term agreement.

"He has missed some OTA time, I've confirmed, and really it could depend on how negotiations go with his contract as to whether he starts to show up or is there full time," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said Sunday on SportsCenter. "They have had contract talks, preliminary talks. I'm told that the Dolphins have made at least one contract offer but we know how these things go; the offer apparently hasn't been good enough or he'd probably be there full time. So, the market is pretty set. We saw Jared Goff, $50-plus million a year, that's going to apply to Tua and Trevor Lawrence."

Tagovailoa is set to make $23.1 million next season in the final year of his rookie contract. While that salary is nothing to scoff at, it's less than half of what Tagovailoa will likely make on an annual basis with his next deal.

The $50 million figure seems to be the benchmark for high-quality starting quarterbacks in the current market. Joe Burrow, Jared Goff, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts have each inked deals worth $50 million annually over the last two offseasons. While Tagovailoa is considered a step down from four of those five quarterbacks, he and Goff are generally of the same tier.

Tagovailoa led the NFL last season with 4,624 passing yards and 29 touchdowns against 14 interceptions while leading the Dolphins to the playoffs. Goff, meanwhile, threw for 4,575 yards and 30 touchdowns against 12 picks. Tagovailoa's interception percentage was a little higher, but otherwise they're two peas of the same pod—down to the fact both have glaring flaws.

Goff was a completely different quarterback indoors vs. outdoors. He looked like one of the NFL's best quarterbacks while playing in a controlled environment but was pedestrian outside.

Tagovailoa's issues have largely come against elite competition. The Dolphins went 1-5 in games against playoff teams during the 2023 regular season, and Tagovailoa threw four interceptions in losses to the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills that cost Miami the AFC East in 2023.

It's fair to wonder whether paying $50 million to someone of Tagovailoa's good-but-not-great caliber is a great use of cap space, but Miami has no viable replacement.

Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN reported the Dolphins are expected to attempt to use contract bonuses as protection in their offers. That could lead to protracted negotiations, as it's unlikely Tagovailoa or his agent will be willing to accept any deal that does not come with significant guarantees.

If the Dolphins are unwilling to offer long-term guarantees, Tagovailoa may be better off playing on the franchise tag in 2025 and 2026 to maximize his earnings. We've seen Dak Prescott and Kirk Cousins both use the franchise tag game to their advantage in the past.