A major reason for the explosive resurgence of the Miami Dolphins has been the excellent play of Tua Tagovailoa. Despite injuries remaining a concern for the pass-friendly quarterback, he has been thoroughly consistent in his short stints in the league. However, his journey to the top of stardom began at the collegiate level.
Tuanigamanuolepola Donny “Tua” Tagovailoa spent the majority of his true freshman year as a backup to Jalen Hurts for Alabma. However, the College Football Playoff National Championship is where he first made his mark. After coming on as a replacement in the second half, he was sensational in leading the team to victory, even bagging the Offensive MVP award. The next year, he truly came into his own.
During his sophomore season, Tagovailoa would truly explode onto the scene. En route to a generational season, he would bag almost all major team selections, including First-team All-SEC, Consensus All-America, and SEC Offensive Player of the Year. Further, his award collection quickly grew multifold, earning the Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp Award. Already a lock for the NFL, Tagovailoa unfortunately lost momentum due to multiple injuries in his final year. When he proceeded to the professional level, he was already the NCAA leader in passing yards per attempt and passing efficiency rating.
After coming in as a backup to Ryan Fitzpatrick, he would take over the starter’s role midway through the year. However, it wouldn’t take long for him to truly take over. With back-to-back Rookie of the Week performances, he signaled his arrival. His rookie season would end up being the Dolphins’ fourth consecutive playoff miss. His sophomore year would lead the team down the same path, although he enjoyed a decent season overall.
His third year is when Tagovailoa truly took off. Whether it was efficiency, yardage, or attempts, he was sensational in every category. Due to the new weapons in the form of Tyreek Hill and others, a reformed offense was the key to unlocking Tagovailoa’s game. As a result, the team was finally able to break their playoff curse and reach the summit. However, Tagovailoa wasn’t along for the ride. Due to multiple injuries and an eventual concussion, he wasn’t a part of the active squad come playoff time. However, he still finished the year as the league leader in passer rating and average.
After his selection by the Miami Dolphins with the fifth-overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Tagovailoa would sign a 4-year rookie-scale contract with the team on May 11, 2020. So far, he’s under that same payroll with the team picking up his fifth-year player option in the offseason.
Tua Tagovailoa Contract Breakdown
Here is a breakdown of Tua Tagovailoa’s current four-year deal with the Miami Dolphins:
| Contract | Signing Bonus | Average Salary | GTD at Sign | Total GTD |
| 4 yr(s) / $30,275,438 | $19,578,500 | $7,568,860 | $30,275,438 | $30,275,438 |
| Year | Base Salary | Signing Bonus | Cap Hit | Dead Cap | Yearly Cash |
| 2020 | $610,000 | $4,894,625 | $5,504,625 | $30,275,438 | $20,250,979 |
| 2021 | $780,000 | $4,894,625 | $6,880,781 | $24,770,813 | $1,986,156 |
| 2022 | $895,000 | $4,894,625 | $8,256,938 | $17,890,032 | $3,362,313 |
| 2023 | $1,010,000 | $4,894,625 | $9,633,094 | $32,804,094 | $4,738,469 |
Tua Tagovailoa getting paid For Contract
Tagovailoa’s current contract is earning him just a touch over $7.5 million annually, on average. Due to his brilliant positioning as a top-five draft pick, his contract is among the better ones in the league for a rookie, with the total coming in at $30,275,438 over the 4 years.
Tua Tagovailoa make Money in a minute
At his current pace, he is making just a little more than $14 per minute, each day, totaling a little more than $7.5 million per year. Tagovailoa’s contract with the Miami Dolphins is among the cheaper ones in the NFL currently, due to its rookie scale. Given his play compared to the other quarterbacks and the stark difference in salary, it might be the single best bargain in the league.
Tua Tagovailoa’s Contract is Guarantee
As typical for high-draft rookie contracts, the entirety of the $30,275,428 sum is guaranteed to Tagovailoa. Due to his injury history, it was vital for him to secure such a deal, should his career go off-track. However, despite a few nip-and-tucks here and there, he’s overall been relatively consistent. As a result, he finds himself on the verge of a giant contract extension once his optional fifth year runs out.
Terms of Tua Tagovailoa’s Contract
The contract clauses for Tagovailoa’s contract were kept at a minimum, as is typical for most rookie contracts. While the entire sum is guaranteed, as is typical for rookie contracts, the deal even has a potential option for a fifth-year which the Dolphins readily picked up. Further, roster bonuses that are paid during training camp were guaranteed but did account for a portion of the total $30,275,438 sum.
FAQs
A. Tua Tagovailoa signed a 4-year rookie contract worth $30,275,438 with the Miami Dolphins in 2020 and earns $ 7.5 million annually on average.
A. This year, Tua Tagovailoa is slated to earn $1,010,000 in base salary along with an additional roster bonus worth $3,728,469.
A. Tua Tagovailoa recently got married to Annah Gore, his partner since his days in Alabama.
A. Currently, Tua Tagovailoa is in year 4 and has shown steady improvement each year.
