NFL exec suggests Dolphins can't offer Tua Tagovailoa an extension this offseason

It appears some within the NFL would think twice about offering Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa a significant contract extension this offseason. 

"You can't tie the money to a player you're not sure can stay healthy," an unnamed AFC executive told ESPN's Elizabeth Merrill and Marcel Louis-Jacques for a piece published Wednesday. "If he didn't have the medical history, maybe you think harder about doing something. The concussion dynamic is harder to figure out since I'm not sure his medical on that." 

Tagovailoa experienced a scary-looking injury playing against the Buffalo Bills in September and later admitted he didn't "remember much" about certain events linked with the concussion he suffered during the Week 4 "Thursday Night Football" matchup at the Cincinnati Bengals. Most recently, Tagovailoa entered the concussion protocol after Miami's loss to the Green Bay Packers on Christmas Day. He hasn't played since, and Louis-Jacques mentioned that Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed Wednesday the signal-caller has been ruled out for this Sunday's wild-card postseason game at the Bills. 

Tagovailoa became a revelation playing under McDaniel, Miami's first-year coach, thanks in part to the Dolphins acquiring star wide receiver Tyreek Hill from the Kansas City Chiefs last offseason. Per ESPN, Tagovailoa enters the playoffs leading the NFL among qualified quarterbacks with a 105.5 passer rating and ranked third with a 68.5 total QBR. He's still tied for eighth with 25 touchdown passes even though he played in just 13 regular-season games. 

"The Dolphins are in a tough spot, because he's a good player but a lot like Kirk Cousins (of the Minnesota Vikings)," the AFC exec added about Tagovailoa. "If you give him good football players, he's going to be productive. If you ask him to go win a game and put a team on his back, that's asking a lot."

A first-round pick from the 2020 NFL Draft, Tagovailoa will be eligible for an extension following this season but already has a worrisome injury history. Miami has until May to decline or exercise the fifth-year option attached to his rookie contract.