Tua Tagovailoa sends clear message about his contract situation

Jan 9, 2022; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) reacts after running with the football for a first down against the New England Patriots during the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Tua Tagovailoa reported to mandatory minicamp with the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday, which is an indication that he is not planning to hold out for a new deal. The quarterback did, however, send a clear message about his contract situation.

While he was speaking with reporters after practice, Tagovailoa was asked if he is concerned about negotiations with the Dolphins and whether he has kept an eye on the contracts his peers have signed.

“I’m not blind to people that are in my position that are getting paid,” Tagovailoa said. “Am I concerned about it? I’m not concerned about it, but there’s a lot of discussions that we’ve had that we’re trying to move that thing in the right direction where we can both be happy.”

Tagovailoa was then asked specifically about the extension Jared Goff signed with the Detroit Lions, which will pay Goff an average of $53 million per year.

“I’ll tell you one thing: the market is the market,” Tagovailoa said. “If we didn’t have a market, then none of that would matter. It would just be an organizational thing. It didn’t matter if that guy got paid that, because it’s up to the organization. So, that’s what I would say. The market is the market. That’s it.”

#Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa expressed frustration that a multi-year extension hasn’t gotten done.

“The market is the market,” Tua said. pic.twitter.com/KMH2NLByNC

— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) June 4, 2024

Tagovailoa is entering the final year of his rookie contract. He is set to make $23.1 million. There are currently five quarterbacks — Joe Burrow, Goff, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts — who make more than $50 million per year on an average annual basis. Tagovailoa has played at an MVP level under Mike McDaniel when healthy and led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards last season. There is little chance he is going to accept less than $50 million given where the QB market is at.

The Dolphins recently signed Jaylen Waddle to an extension, and Tagovailoa is not the only remaining star player who wants a new deal from the team.