The Miami Dolphins are in the Tua business long-term.
The Fins and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa agreed to a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension with $167.1 million guaranteed, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported on Friday, per sources informed of the deal. Miami announced the deal on Sunday morning.
The $53.1 million-per-year new-money extension is the second-largest four-year agreement in NFL history, coming in a shade over Jared Goff's $53 million pact and just behind the $55 million per year on Jordan Love's four-year contract and Joe Burrow's and Trevor Lawrence's five-year contracts.
Per Rapoport, the deal includes incentives based on playoff wins and performance that can take his pay up to $55.35 million per year, for what would be a maximum total value of $221.4 million.
Tagovailoa partially participated in the first couple of days of training camp but was full-bore during Friday's session, indicating negotiations were on the move.
The former No. 5 overall pick was entering the fifth and final year of his rookie contract. The extension keeps him under contract in Miami through the 2028 campaign.
Despite outside questions about Tua's future in Miami, general manager Chris Grier and the coaching staff never wavered in their hopes of locking down the former Alabama lefty to a long-term, big-money deal.
Since Mike McDaniel took over in Miami, Tagovailoa has taken off. In the past two years, the 26-year-old has ranked second in the NFL in pass yards per attempt (8.5) and passer rating (102.9), fourth in total passing yards (8,172) and fifth in passing TDs (54).
The Dolphins have scored 27.6 points per game with the southpaw as the starter and 16.3 PPG in four games that Tagovailoa missed with injury in the last two seasons (two starts each from Skylar Thompson and Teddy Bridgewater).
Injuries clouded Tua's first three seasons as he missed time each campaign, including multiple concussions. In 2023, he showcased his promise and ability to stay healthy, leading the NFL with 4,624 passing yards while playing all 17 games.
With the contract questions in the rearview, Tagovailoa, McDaniel and the rest of the Dolphins' explosive offense can focus on making more magic in 2024.
