Tua Tagovailoa looked for the phrases to explain how he feels about his present contract scenario with the Miami Dolphins.
Pissed off? Involved?
“Not pissed off, however I am one other phrase,” Tagovailoa mentioned Tuesday on the Dolphins’ first day of necessary minicamp.
After a quick pause, Tagovailoa lifted his shoulders in a slight shrug.
“Simply eager to get one thing carried out,” he conceded, “That is it … Antsy is likely to be phrase.”
Tagovailoa is coming into the ultimate 12 months of his rookie deal and trying to be part of a number of different quarterbacks in his 2020 draft class who’ve signed profitable contracts. He’ll play on a $23.1 million fifth-year choice in 2024 if a deal will not be reached.
Dolphins supervisor Chris Grier desires to maintain Tagovailoa in Miami long-term.
“We have been in communication because the offseason started,” Grier mentioned in February. “Our aim is to try to get one thing carried out. … We’ll see. There isn’t a timeline on it. On the finish of the day, you know the way these offers get carried out. They’re difficult offers.”
Tagovailoa’s draftmates, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert and Jalen Hurts, all reset the quarterback market with their extensions final 12 months. Lions quarterback Jared Goff simply secured a four-year, $212 million contract in Could that can pay him $53 million a 12 months — across the quantity that Tagovailoa will probably get together with his new deal.
Tagovailoa mentioned there’s been progress made between his agent and the Dolphins, however he has paid consideration to different quarterback offers.
“I am not blind to individuals which can be in my place which can be getting paid,” mentioned Tagovailoa, the fifth total choose in 2020. “Am I involved about it? I am not involved about it, however there’s loads of dialogue that we have had that we simply try to maneuver that factor into the appropriate route the place we are able to each be completely happy.”
Tagovailoa is coming off his finest season, each statistically and health-wise.
He led the NFL with 4,624 yards passing in 2023, whereas additionally setting profession highs in completion price (69%) and landing passes (29). He additionally performed a whole season for the primary time in his profession as he bulked up his body final offseason to higher face up to the hits he takes on the sector. He began 17 video games after solely averaging 11 begins his first three seasons.
Can the Dolphins recover from the hump?
“I believe to count on the identical if no more progress inside your recreation from annually, I do not suppose is loopy,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel mentioned of Tagovailoa throughout OTAs. “I believe for us to count on simply as a lot if no more from 12 months 2 to 12 months 3 [in this system] could be very protected for our expectations, and I do know he feels the identical means, too.”
Tagovailoa confirmed as much as offseason exercises a lot thinner than he was final 12 months. He declined to specify how a lot weight he is misplaced however mentioned his aim is to increase performs extra within the pocket.
His teammates have observed his work and have vouched for him to get an extension.
“Tua ought to’ve been paid,” mentioned receiver Tyreek Hill. “I have been saying this all offseason. … Lots of people are evaluating the Jared Goff scenario. I really feel like Tua is meant to be up there with a few of these guys and previous a few of these guys.”
Hill’s Future
Hill’s agent Drew Rosenhaus mentioned he has been in communication with Miami’s entrance workplace this offseason because the NFL’s high receivers reset the market.
Minnesota receiver Justin Jefferson grew to become the most recent when he agreed on Monday to a four-year extension that is the richest contract within the NFL for a non-quarterback. Jefferson will get $110 million assured within the deal that is price as a lot as $140 million.
“I actually have a fluid line of communication with them,” Rosenhaus mentioned throughout an look on South Florida TV station WSVN, “and I’ve shared with them how Tyreek feels. … With out moving into any extra specifics, the Dolphins understand how we really feel.”
The Dolphins made Hill the highest-paid receiver in NFL historical past after they acquired him from Kansas Metropolis in 2022 and gave the three-time All-Professional large receiver a $120 million, four-year contract extension.
Ought to Tua sit out till the Dolphins lengthen him?
Hill’s annual wage of round $30 million makes him the fourth-highest paid receiver within the NFL. Jefferson leads the way in which with $35 million, Eagles receiver A.J. Brown makes $32 million and Amon-Ra St. Brown of the Lions makes $30 million.
Hill led the NFL in receiving yards final 12 months with 1,799 and had a league-high 13 landing catches. He indicated after Tuesday’s apply that he would love a brand new contract, however is letting his agent deal with the main points.
“His job is to be nice at that, and my job is to come back out right here and proceed to do no matter I can to assist this group win,” Hill mentioned. “Whether or not that is a restructure, regardless of the case could also be. We wish to be certain that it advantages each side, and I would like to have the ability to assist the group as a lot as I can.”
He added that his high precedence is ensuring he is in Miami for the remainder of his profession.
“I would like to have the ability to assist the group as a lot as I can,” Hill mentioned, “and clearly, we all know being grasping [doesn’t] assist the group.”
Reporting by The Related Press.
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