Lamar Jackson again linked with Dolphins amid Tagovailoa uncertainty

Whispers around the possibility of the Miami Dolphins replacing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson refuse to go away.

"It seems plain to me the Dolphins are delaying their Tagovailoa decision as close to the May 1 deadline as possible waiting for movement in the Jackson/Baltimore stalemate," Miami Herald columnist Greg Cote wrote on Thursday. "And that’s smart. As I wrote recently, you can be pro-Tua, as I have been and still am, and still believe Jackson is a generational talent and franchise-changer you must pursue."

Cote offered his take as rumors continue to burn bright, sparked in large part by the fact that Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier have made it known they're not yet ready to pick up the fifth-year option attached to Tagovailoa's rookie contract or sign him to a long-term contract. 

Miami has until May 1 to decide on the aforementioned option. The Dolphins declining it would put Tagovailoa on track to reach free agency in March of 2024. 

Health concerns figure to be a major part of the organization's internal discussions. Tagovailoa suffered at least two known concussions this past season and missed Miami's final three games, including the playoffs, while moored in the concussion protocol through the entire month of January. He has a history of injuries — and notable ones — dating back to at least his college time with Alabama.

There is no indication the Ravens and Jackson are close to signing the type of fully guaranteed contract the 2019 NFL Most Valuable Player allegedly wants. It's widely believed he's looking to better the fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million deal Deshaun Watson received from the Cleveland Browns last offseason. 

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio and NFL insider Jason La Canfora are among in-the-know individuals who have linked Jackson with the Dolphins this winter. Florio wrote on Jan. 18 that "some believe that Jackson would like to return to his hometown of Miami and play for the Dolphins" and also that the Ravens could use the non-exclusive franchise tag to retain the signal-caller's rights. That would allow a team such as Miami to sign Jackson to an offer sheet, while the Ravens would reap a pair of first-round picks should they opt not to sign and match.

"He would command a financial windfall to equal or surpass the highest-paid QBs, with most or all of it guaranteed," Cote added about Jackson. "Not to mention those two first-round picks. I’d still do it, as I recently wrote. Others agree."