Dolphins' Tua amid extension talks: 'I'm not blind' to QBs getting paid
Tua Tagovailoa wants to see progress when it comes to contract negotiations with the Miami Dolphins and admits he's aware of what other quarterbacks around the league are earning.
"Not frustrated. I'm another word," Tagovailoa told reporters when asked about the status of a possible extension, including the Sun Sentinel's Chris Perkins. "Just wanting to get something done. That's it."
He clarified that he's not pissed off with the ongoing negotiations, describing the situation as "a nature of the beast."
Tagovailoa is set to earn close to $23.2 million in the fifth year of his rookie contract. The 26-year-old will be eligible to be an unrestricted free agent at the start of the new league year in 2025. Miami could place the franchise tag on its star signal-caller after the 2024 season to prevent him from hitting the market.
The Hawaii native isn't the only quarterback in line for an extension this offseason. Dak Prescott, Jordan Love, and Trevor Lawrence are also awaiting extensions. Kirk Cousins and Jared Goff landed new deals this spring with average annual salaries north of $45 million, and the evolving market for quarterbacks isn't lost on Tagovailoa.
"I'm not blind to people in my position that are getting paid," Tagovailoa said, per the Miami Herald's Omar Kelly. "Am I concerned about it? I'm not concerned about it. But there's a lot of discussion that we've had. We're just trying to move that thing in the right direction where we both can be happy."
He added: "But then again it's not in my control. It's up to both sides meeting in the middle."
Tagovailoa looks noticeably slimmer this offseason and told reporters that he lost weight to be more nimble and extend plays ahead of his fifth season in the league. The Alabama product passed for a career-high 4,624 yards last season along with 29 touchdowns and a 69.3% completion rate.
Star receiver Tyreek Hill is among those who believe Tagovailoa the QB deserves a big payday.
"Tua should've been paid," Hill said, according to NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe.
Hill hinted that he could also could be in the market for a new deal, as his annual salary of $30 million, which once topped all wideouts, has been eclipsed by Amon-Ra St. Brown, A.J. Brown, and Justin Jefferson since the end of the 2023 season. The eight-time Pro Bowl receiver said that he will let his agent handle the contract situation.