Dolphins GM offers update on Tua Tagovailoa contract talks

Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier made it known during his end-of-season news conference in January that his goal was to have quarterback Tua Tagovailoa "here long-term and playing at a high level." 

While Grier told reporters on Wednesday that contract extension talks with Tagovailoa's camp will continue through the NFL Scouting Combine held this week, the two sides seemingly aren't all that close to putting pen to paper on an agreement. 

"But you've seen over the last few years some of these other big deals have gone all the way into training camp," Grier explained about the situation, according to Hal Habib of The Palm Beach Post. "Because they’re complicated deals to put together with the money and stuff people are talking about."

Tagovailoa remains on track to play in 2024 on the fifth-year option of his contract that was picked up last offseason long before teams learned a salary-cap explosion would give them some unexpected financial relief this spring. 

Signing Tagovailoa sooner than later and kicking significant cap hits down the road could help the Dolphins compete for more than playoff berths over the next few years. 

Grier has plenty to think about before the club guarantees the signal-caller any money beyond next season. 

Tagovailoa started every game, including the playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, during this past campaign after he suffered a minimum of two reported concussions during the 2022 season. 

Per Habib, Grier said on Wednesday that "the team is satisfied Tagovailoa’s concussion history shouldn’t be a concern" after the 25-year-old spent time training in jiu-jitsu in an attempt to avoid head injuries. 

The Pro Football Reference website shows that Tagovailoa finished the 2023 regular season ranked 10th among qualified players with a 60.8 adjusted QBR, fifth with a 101.1 passer rating and first with 4,624 passing yards. He recorded 29 passing touchdowns over 17 games, but he also tossed 14 interceptions. 

NFL writer Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated suggested earlier this month the Dolphins probably want Tagovailoa "to sign a deal that has outs built into it" because of his injury history. 

It's assumed Tagovailoa's camp would reject such a proposal after he considered retiring last offseason.