Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier wants quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with the team long term, following a first round playoff exit.
It was a disappointing end for the former Alabama quarterback and his teammates. After missing out on the No. 2 seed and a division title, the Dolphins fell to the Kansas City Chiefs and looked dismal on offense.
But none of that swayed Grier in a different quarterback direction. The team wants Tagovailoa.
“We’ve had conversations,” Grier told reporters, via the team’s official transcript. “Like we said, we wouldn’t talk throughout the season in terms of contract stuff, but we’ve stayed in touch with his agent and had good conversations throughout the year. We never talk about money or anything, just good conversations about where he is and the relationship with (head coach) Mike (McDaniel) and the team here and everything he’s done. So the goal is to have him here long-term playing at a high level.
“That’s always the goal and we’ll continue to communicate with him through the offseason here. Like we’ve always said in the past, you guys know me, we don’t really talk in the media through all that stuff, so we’ll just keep all those talks internal and with his reps.”
Tagovailoa saw improved play this year, but it was still a bit of a rollercoaster ride. Head coach Mike McDaniel still believes in his quarterback though.
“I just want to see him make sure the curve continues to be exponential in his growth,” McDaniel said. “We’ve seen at every stretch of the way him improving. That doesn’t mean it’s void of a result that isn’t desired. But what we’ve seen is him learn from all the things that he goes through. I think that’s the one thing that I can say in my two years of experience with him, is he’s as good of a learner as I’ve ever seen.
“Take jiu-jitsu, or throwing left-handed, or etc. I think that’s what I want to see, is that continued thirst to find different ways, while maintaining and growing your confidence, to always create new edges in your game …”
The future would seem Tagovailoa would be there for the long term. But he has yet to sign a long term contract.
Coming near the end of his rookie deal, 2024 might be the year where he has to truly prove it, make a run in the playoffs, etc.
Tagovailoa has the makings of a franchise quarterback in Miami according to Grier and McDaniel. The question is, will he take the next step?
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