The Miami Dolphins are reportedly ready to commit to Tua Tagovailoa as their long-term option under center.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported the Dolphins "appear dedicated" to inking their Pro Bowl quarterback to an extension sooner rather than later.
Tagovailoa is coming off by far the best season of his NFL career, throwing for a league-high 4,624 yards and 29 touchdowns against 14 interceptions in 2023. He was named to his first Pro Bowl team a year after being the NFL leader in passer rating.
In two years playing under Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, Tagovailoa has proven himself as a quick decision maker and accurate passer who puts the ball in position for his receivers to make big plays.
Still, questions remain about Tagovailoa's performance against elite competition. The Dolphins went 1-5 against playoff teams during the regular season, and their offense stalled in a Wild Card Round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Tagovailoa threw for 199 yards while completing 20 of 39 pass attempts, good for a QBR if just 15.3.
Miami has quickly developed a reputation as a team that gets off to hot starts, only to whimper to the finish. The Dolphins lost Tagovailoa's last four starts in the 2022 season and are 2-8 over the last two seasons with him under center in December and January.
Given the fact Tagovailoa's contract demands will likely bottom out at $45 million per season and could top more than $50 million annually, it's fair to question the investment. But Miami is built to win now, and the front office isn't going to be able to find a better option under center anytime soon.
It's a risky but necessary investment.
