Miami Dolphins to pick up Tua Tagovailoa's fifth-year option, create $28.5 million in cap space
The Dolphins have been expressing loyalty toward quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, and now, they’re proving it.
The Dolphins informed Tagovailoa they plan to pick up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, meaning he’ll be tied to them through the 2024 season, a league source confirmed Friday.
Tagovailoa is due to make at least $23.1 million in 2024 and receive $9.5 million next season.
Because of Tagovailoa’s injury history, including multiple concussions in 2022, the club could have waited to see if Tagovailoa could exhibit durability next season. But doing so could have forced them down a road requiring them to use their franchise tag on him in 2024. Overthecap.com projects the quarterback franchise tag in ’24 to be $41 million — a jump from $32 million in 2023.
After teetering at more than $16 million over the salary cap early this week, the Dolphins now have $28.57 million in space, according to overthecap.com. That means the Dolphins have the ninth-most cap space in the NFL.
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This was achieved by restructuring the contracts of left tackle Terron Armstead and receiver Tyreek Hill. A significant amount of the available space already is somewhat spoken for. The Dolphins had no running backs under contract until they re-signed Salvon Ahmed Friday. They likely will enter free agency next week seeking help at a number of positions, including tight end, cornerback, linebacker, backup quarterback and offensive line.
They’ll also need space to sign their five draftees, provided no more trades involving picks occur.
As recently as two weeks ago, general manager Chris Grier and coach Mike McDaniel said the club was still in discussions on whether to pick up Tagovailoa’s fifth-year option or possibly offer a long-term extension. But they also have said they prefer to stick with Tagovailoa.
“You just kind of make the decisions that are best for the organization and the team,” Grier said. “So there are always factors as a quarterback. That’s the position that everyone talks about. But for us, you just try and remove emotion and try and make good, sound, smart decisions, and hopefully it’s the right one.”
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Grier may have tipped his hand when he added to reporters, “We’re very excited for him. The strides he made this year and with Mike and the offense, you guys have been here and seen it.”
Tagovailoa led the NFL with a 105.5 passer rating in 2022. He completed 259-of-400 passes for 3,548 yards, 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He was 8-5 as a starting quarterback. Concussions caused him to miss four regular-season games and the wild-card loss in Buffalo.
“Both parties really want him to play at a very high level for a long time for the Miami Dolphins,” McDaniel said.
Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at hhabib@pbpost.com and followed on Twitter @gunnerhal.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Tua Tagovailoa fifth-year option picked up by Miami Dolphins
