With the hiring of head coach Mike McDaniel in 2022, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa took off, morphing into one of the best passers in the AFC. Tagovailoa started his professional career as the fifth overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft but struggled across his first two seasons. However, he has thrown for 8,172 yards, 54 touchdowns, and 22 picks since 2022 and will now enter the final year of his rookie deal next fall.
Tagovailoa and Miami remain locked into contract talks, with the 26-year-old destined for free agency if a deal does not come to fruition by next offseason. Tagovailoa will enter the 2024 campaign as the 31st highest-paid quarterback, and he still operates under his rookie deal. On Thursday, a day after participating in most team activities, Tagovailoa did not participate in any training camp drills amid contract negotiations.
Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa: Absent From Day 2 of Training Camp
Tua Tagovailoa knows his worth, and it’s not being the 31st highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. Tagovailoa, like most impending free agents at the quarterback position, is seeking a new, lucrative contract with their current employer. Tagovailoa’s contract situation was undoubtedly a talking point entering training camp. Still, now the signal-caller has missed a day’s worth of field activity while waiting for a new deal.
🚨 BREAKING: Tua Tagovailoa was present but did not take part in practice today (@WPBF_Yianni) #GoFins pic.twitter.com/0OYF1VRm3R
— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) July 25, 2024
According to Miami Herald columnist Omar Kelly, Tagovailoa was present on day two of training camp but did not take part in practice. Thursday marks the second straight day the Alabama product threw no passes during the team’s 11-on-11 session. Tagovailoa also declined participation in 11-on-11 sessions during the mandatory minicamp. Tagovailoa is not the only signal-passer in recent memory to pressure his franchise’s brass to land a new deal. Fellow youngsters Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts, and Jordan Love have all received or are close to receiving long-term deals near the end of their rookie contract. Per Spotrac, Tagovailoa has a market value of four years, $210 million.
Tagovailoa: Stellar 2023 Season
Last season, in the fourth year of his rookie deal, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards. He also threw for a career-best 29 touchdown passes while playing 17 games for the first time in four seasons. However, the left-hander struggled in harsh conditions during the postseason, going 20-of-39 for 199 yards, a touchdown, and a pick in a road loss against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Meanwhile, Tagovailoa led the NFL in yards per attempt, yards per completion, and rating in 2022. The Miami Dolphins will again return the dynamic receiving duo of Tyreek Hill and Jalen Waddle next season. Hill earned MVP votes last year after a 119-catch, 1,799-yard campaign while finishing with 1,000 receiving yards for the third straight season.
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