MIAMI GARDENS – The Miami Dolphins accomplished the second day of coaching camp, however there was one huge distinction from the primary day. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa didn’t throw in any drills, 7 on 7’s or 11 on 11’s.
This “hold-in” by the Dolphins quarterback comes amid a contract dispute between the quarterback and the workforce. Though the Dolphins and Tagovailoa’s agent are in negotiations and nonetheless in each day contact, they don’t seem to be near selecting a deal.
One other report suggests the Dolphins haven’t “supplied market worth” within the vary of the Jared Goff and Trevor Lawrence offers.
With Tagovailoa not collaborating within the second day of coaching camp, each side of the desk are actually starting to flex their leverage muscle tissues and checking to see if the opposite aspect blinks first. It’s about to get messy.
Get It Completed Now
At first of the offseason, most speculated that Tagovailoa and the Dolphins would get a contract labored out within the neighborhood of the $50 million vary, however circumstances took a flip when the wage cap virtually doubled in share of progress over the yearly common.
Chris Kouffman alluded to this on X and defined what it now seemed like for each side.
I’ve written a lot on right here in regards to the Tua Tagovailoa contract state of affairs and I don’t need to rehash the identical arguments. However proper now what I need to give attention to is the 14% rise in wage cap that stunned everybody (together with groups) and its follow-on results. This has solely simply begun.…
— Chris Kouffman (@ckparrot) July 25, 2024
What does this imply for the Dolphins and Tagovailoa? It means the Tagovailoa isn’t going to accept what was beforehand considered a great deal firstly of the offseason, and he has each proper to really feel this fashion.
Groups normally wish to get their franchise quarterbacks carried out early. The longer you wait, the extra you’ll find yourself paying. Jerry Jones may attest to that with the Dak Prescott deal in 2021.
What Are The Choices
There are a few methods this might play out for the Dolphins.
Possibility 1: Pay Tagovailoa round $55 million yearly with related ensures to the Trevor Lawrence deal. With this feature, your franchise quarterback is completely satisfied and centered on the season.
You could be rolling the cube on his well being, however each quarterback within the league is one play from being injured. That’s simply the character of the place. You may additionally be overpaying proper now, however in a couple of years, this deal will find yourself getting older like a tremendous wine.
Possibility 2: Let Tagovailoa play out his fifth-year possibility. The issue with this play is that if he places up related numbers and will get a playoff win, you’re caught in the identical state of affairs however worse.
The wage cap will preserve going up, and there’s no assure it’ll be nearer to 7% somewhat than the 13% bounce from 2023 to 2024, as Kouffman referred to. This time subsequent 12 months, $55 million turns into the ground of the deal as an alternative of the candy spot.
By then, Jordan Love could have his deal, and different high quarterbacks could search for new offers in comparison with what was made this offseason. The Dolphins may very well be paying nearer to $60 million yearly subsequent 12 months, and that’ll be even more durable to abdomen.
Possibility 3: Dolphins dig of their heels and determine that Taopvailoa shouldn’t be price $55+ million yearly with excessive assured cash. They play out the season with a pissed off quarterback who’s incentivized to do what he can to remain wholesome. 2024 is a hit-or-miss season, a roll of the cube.
After that, they might hit him with a franchise tag or transition tag and hope nobody bids towards them, as Omar Kelly stated, or make him outright accessible after this 12 months.
With that possibility, they’d be shedding the most effective quarterback they’ve had in 25 years, ranging from scratch at crucial place.
There’s at all times an opportunity a quarterback comes accessible that would match simply in addition to Matt Stafford did with the Los Angeles Rams or hit on a late choose just like the San Fransisco 49ers did with Brock Purdy, however these are exceptions to the rule.
What’s The Transfer
The transfer is to chew the bullet and pay Tua Tagovailoa. Get this deal carried out now. There’s sufficient proof that he’s a franchise quarterback who can lead the workforce for the foreseeable future.
He’s nonetheless younger and getting higher yearly. He has the backing of the workforce and the teaching employees. He’s this workforce’s chief, and depending on him when it equates to successful.
Roll this cube on him, look again in a couple of years, and know you saved some cash in your franchise quarterback earlier than inflation hits the quarterback place once more subsequent 12 months.
Tell us within the feedback for those who suppose the Dolphins ought to pay him an identical deal to Trevor Lawrence or if they need to preserve enjoying hardball.
