Tua Tagovailoa believes he’ll reach long-term deal with Dolphins
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa won’t be a free agent for at least one more season, but no contract situation is under more scrutiny in Miami this offseason than his.
Tagovailoa, 25, is set to play the final year of his rookie contract in 2024 but is eligible for an extension. At the Dolphins’ end-of-season news conference, general manager Chris Grier said “the goal is to have him here long term playing at a high level.”
Tagovailoa, speaking in Orlando for his first Pro Bowl appearance, told reporters that he thinks both sides will reach an agreement on a long-term deal.
“I believe that will happen,” he told The Palm Beach Post. “... “I’m gonna let, you know, my agents, Chris, [head coach] Mike [McDaniel], let those guys talk about that and let them move forward accordingly.”
Top-of-market extensions for quarterbacks now exceed $50 million but Grier wouldn’t commit to a specific range for a potential extension.
Tagovailoa was eligible for a new deal last offseason but the team opted to table discussions after he missed five games in the 2022 season because of a pair of diagnosed concussions.
In 2023, he led the NFL with a career-high 4,624 passing yards and his 29 passing touchdowns were also the most he’s thrown in a season. Tagovailoa is a finalist for the Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year Award after playing in every game for the first time in his career and leading Miami to the playoffs.
“My main goal this year was to play, you know, 17-plus games and I was able to accomplish that goal and just very fortunate that I was able to do that and very happy too,” Tagovailoa said.
Armstead still mulling retirement
On locker cleanout day, Armstead hinted that he could be considering retirement after another injury-hampered season. At the Pro Bowl, Armstead told The Post that retirement is still a possibility but he won’t “prolong the process at all. I’m just taking time to get away from the game and let my body heal — and then.”
Armstead, who turns 33 in July, just completed his 11th season and the second year of a five-year, $75 million contract he signed in the 2022 offseason. He missed seven games because of injury in 2023 and has missed 11 games since joining Miami. Armstead has never played the entirety of a season, which he said is a goal of his.
“I love the game. I love the game,” Armstead said on locker cleanout day. “As an artist once said, the moment you stop having fun with it, I’ll be done with it. I’m having a blast. I love what we’re building. I’m chasing a ring. That’s the only reason I’m playing football.”
Armstead, a five-time Pro Bowler has three years and $40 million left on his contract but only $5 million is currently guaranteed. He said the Dolphins have not given him a timeline to make a decision.
Ravens assistant still in the running for Dolphins DC job
While Miami has seen a pair of candidates for its defensive coordinator opening — the Buffalo Bills’ Bobby Babich and the Los Angeles Rams’ Chris Shula — remain with their current teams and get promotions to coordinator, at least one candidate is still being considered — and possibly the favorite.
NFL reporter Aaron Wilson reported that Weaver is emerging as the frontrunner and is ultimately expected to land the position.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh told reporters on Friday that assistant head coach/defensive line coach Anthony Weaver is “still involved with the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator job.” When Mike MacDonald left his job as Baltimore’s defensive coordinator to become the Seattle Seahawks head coach, Weaver was floated as a possible replacement. But Harbaugh on Thursday promoted inside linebackers coach Zach Orr to defensive coordinator.
Harbaugh, though, spoke glowingly about Weaver, who served as the Texans defensive coordinator in 2020 and interviewed for multiple head-coaching spots this cycle.
“If he gets that job, I’ll be happy for him if he takes the job,” Harbaugh said. “I don’t know if he’ll even take it if he gets offered. But he’s involved in that job. ... He’ll be a great head coach. He didn’t get hired this cycle and great coaches got hired but some day some people are going to look back and they’re going to say, ‘Man we had a chance to hire Anthony Weaver.’ I guarantee you that. They’re going to see they missed their chance. And the next time around, somebody’s not going to miss their chance.”
This story was originally published February 2, 2024 at 2:56 PM.
