Is Miami Truly 100 percent Committed to Tua?
Syndication: Palm Beach Post
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at times has looked like a player who can win and lead the team back to the promised land but other times it has looked like maybe he’s not the answer. A combination of questionable decisions on the field and injuries have really made some wonder if the team should actually try to move on from the former Alabama Crimson Tide standout. This offseason the Dolphins management has made it clear they are 100 percent committed to Tua, but are they? Let’s look at some reasons why the Dolphins could be thinking about moving on, even if reports are saying otherwise.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Darlington, the Dolphins are 100 percent committed to Tagovailoa.
Tagovailoa is set to make a little over $23 million for the 2024 season, but after this year he’s going to be a free agent, unless the Dolphins sign him to an extension. With the draft fast approaching, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier has made it clear that the team hasn’t thought about drafting a quarterback in the first round on Thursday.
“We’re very happy with Tua,” Grier told reporters. All conversations of drafting a quarterback early can subside, as the general manager reassured that that’s not in store for the Dolphins. “[A quarterback] is not something I’m looking at in the first round. That’s not something we’ve talked about,” Grier explained.
Even though Grier is saying the right things, there are still a few reasons why the Dolphins could be deciding to move on from Tagovailoa sooner rather than later.
Injury Concerns
Injury concerns have to be the biggest issue for Tua, and why the Dolphins might not be willing to pay out a contract that could pay north of $50 million per year. During the 2022 season, Tagovailoa suffered multiple concussions and even the Dolphins quarterback admitted that he thought about retiring.
“I considered it for a time, having sat down with my family, having sat down with my wife, and having those kinds of conversations, but it will be hard for me to walk away from this game with how old I am,” the 25-year-old told reporters.
“I always dreamed of playing as long as I could to where my son knew exactly what he was watching his dad do. It’s my health. It’s my body. I feel like this is what’s best for me and my family. I love the game of football, if I didn’t, I would have quit a long time [ago].”
Even though concussions weren’t a concern during the 2023 season, it still has to be a concern long term. If the Dolphins were to offer a contract that has $200 million guaranteed, and injuries pop up during the 2024 season, the Dolphins would be on the hook for a ton of money, for a guy who isn’t playing.
Even if he is playing though, there still has to be some questions about if Tagovailoa is the answer under center. Tua had the best season of his career during the 2024 season completing 69.3 percent of his passes for 4,624 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. In the last game of the regular season though, when the Dolphins needed him most, and a chance to win the AFC East, Tagovailoa folded under the pressure throwing for only 173 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Wild Card round it didn’t get any better as Tagovailoa threw for only 199 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. When the lights have shined brightest in games, time after time, Tua hasn’t played up to expectations, and that has to be in the back of the head of the Dolphins.
The front office and coaching staff can be saying all the right things, but at least some decision-makers have to be tempted by the thought of moving on from Tagovailoa, especially if the reports are true that he could be looking at such a big payday. With so much money going under center, there is no doubt that the offense would have to lose some playmakers, which could also have a negative effect on the Dolphins’ offense going forward. Maybe Tua does end up leading the Dolphins to the promised land, but that only happens if the front office isn’t lying about their intentions with their starting quarterback.
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