Tua Tagovailoa’s injury history making contract extension ‘complicated’: NFL insider

Tua Tagovailoa is now in the final year of his rookie deal with the Miami Dolphins. The quarterback is expected to sign a contract extension soon, but factors like his injury history have delayed the process.

Tagovailoa played all 17 regular-season games for the franchise last season, but in the two seasons prior, he missed eight games. Moreover, the concussions he suffered during the 2022–2023 NFL season were quite serious; otherwise, he would have signed a deal by now.

Senior NFL insider Adam Schefter, on the Pat McAfee Show, said that Tagovailoa is quite likely to sign a deal in the coming weeks, but due to his injury history, the details of his contracts could be more complicated than what other quarterbacks have signed. He said:

"The Dolphins have been very open about the fact that Tua is their guy into the future. But the question is, what is the number? And Pat you were talking about all the different numbers, right? What is the guarantee on Tua? What are you guaranteeing Tua, who's had an injury history?

"He just has had that. So, I think that that has to factor in and make that deal a little bit more complicated and layered and nuanced than some of these other deals..."

Since entering the NFL, Tagovailoa has missed games due to these injuries:

1. 2020: Thumb injury in practice - missed one game
2. 2021: Chest rib fracture - missed three games
3. 2021: Fracture in the finger of the right hand - missed one game
4. 2022: Multiple concussions - missed four games

The Dolphins quarterback reportedly trained Judo in the offseason prior to last season and didn't miss a single game in the entire campaign. Hopefully, he will be able to stay healthy and remain as the franchise's quarterback for years.

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Projecting Tua Tagovailoa's contract extension with the Dolphins

Tua Tagovailoa: New England Patriots v Miami Dolphins - Source: Getty

Ever since Mike McDaniels became the Miami Dolphins coach, Tua Tagovailoa has gotten better as a quarterback. He's coming off a season in which he threw for 4,624 yards, 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 17 games with a passer rating of 101.1.

There are still doubts about his ability to play well in cold weather games, mainly during the playoffs, but he has proved to the franchise that he is their guy.

A potential contract extension for Tua Tagovailoa will range between $50-53 million in annual average value. Jared Goff signed a four-year, $212 million extension with the Detroit Lions, and the Dolphins quarterback could get a similar deal.

Goff will get $170 million in guaranteed money as part of his new deal, but the guaranteed amount will likely be less in Tagovailoa's deal. If the Alabama product stays healthy in the coming years, he will set himself up for another big extension around 2027-2028, which could net him above $250 million in guaranteed money.

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If you use any of the above quotes, please credit the Pat McAfee Show and H/T Sportskeeda.