After securing his long-awaited contract extension with the Miami Dolphins, the stress’s on for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to ship when it issues most.
On Friday, the 26-year-old agreed to a four-year, $212.4M cope with Miami, the richest contract in workforce historical past, as first reported by NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport. Tagovailoa turns into the seventh quarterback to affix the $50 million per 12 months membership and the third-highest-paid participant annually within the NFL.
Though he led the league in passing yards final season (4,624) en path to incomes his first profession Professional Bowl choice, Tagovailoa’s extension is an enormous danger for the Dolphins. There is no denying that Tagovailoa is likely one of the extra productive quarterbacks within the league. Nevertheless, he is set to be paid like one of many NFL’s elite passers regardless of not having proved that he truly is one.
Whereas he silenced among the criticism surrounding his sturdiness, which adopted him early in his profession by enjoying in all of Miami’s 18 video games final season, Tagovailoa nonetheless hasn’t proven he can excel in significant video games.
In 2023, Tagovailoa led the Dolphins to an 11-6 regular-season file, however his play various tremendously relying on the extent of competitors. Towards groups with a dropping file final season, Miami went 10-1, in comparison with its 1-6 mark when dealing with profitable groups, together with playoffs. As per CBS Sports activities’ Jeff Kerr, the high-powered Miami offense, which averaged 29.2 factors final season, scored simply 16.1 factors per recreation in its seven conferences with playoff groups.
Soccer often is the final workforce sport, however Tagovailoa’s lackluster efficiency late final season contributed considerably to Miami’s failure to clinch the AFC East title in addition to its one-and-done playoff exit.
Throughout his remaining three video games final season — a stretch throughout which Miami went 0-3 and posted a -63 level differential — Tagovailoa threw for simply 609 yards, 4 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. In every contest, Tagovailoa was outplayed by his counterparts, Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Kansas Metropolis’s Patrick Mahomes.
Usually, there is not any disgrace in dropping to the NFL’s high three quarterbacks, however once you’re making extra money than them, which Tagovailoa is, you are anticipated to supply when the stakes are the very best.
Certain, accidents performed a task in Miami’s late-season collapse, however Tagovailoa’s struggles weren’t an outlier. In December and January video games all through his profession, Tagovailoa is barely 10-11 as a starter, throwing with 25 touchdowns and 19 interceptions over that span.
Contemplating he has arguably the league’s high vast receiver duo in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, a superb play-caller in HC Mike McDaniel and a dominant working recreation on his aspect, Tagovailoa’s shortcomings are all of the extra regarding.
He might have a high quarterback wage, however Tagovailoa nonetheless has to show he is worthy of being thought of as one. If he does not, the Dolphins are doomed to be mired in mediocrity for the foreseeable future.