After wrapping up his 2023 campaign with a league-high 4,624 passing yards and a starting spot on the AFC Pro Bowl roster, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has proven himself as the Miami Dolphins quarterback of the future. In a league where top-tier quarterbacks aren’t easy to come by, the Dolphins are expected to secure their guy with a long-term contract. Of course, that’s always easier said than done.
Quarterback prices have been rapidly increasing around the league, with Cincinnati Bengals’ signal-caller Joe Burrow leading the pack at a whopping $55 million per year. Justin Herbert and Lamar Jackson follow with $52.5 million and $52 million, respectively. Although the Dolphins have made significant moves to clear up cap space, it’s hard to say if they’re willing to dish out that type of money, especially without the evidence of a playoff win under Tagovailoa.
The head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, Kyle Shanahan, has built quite the coaching tree. One of his products is Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. That makes Shanahan’s comment about McDaniel’s starting quarterback all the more intriguing.
“Each year is a different experience. Mike’s had two good seasons, both last year getting in the playoffs and the year before. I mean doing that is a hell of a job by Mike. I know they’re trying to get their quarterback situated, and they have a hell of a team. I know they changed coaches. They’re just putting it together each year and trying to have the best team they can with whatever situation they’re in,” Shanahan told reporters at the NFL annual owners meetings.
It can be assumed that Shanahan is referencing Tagovailoa’s contract and not the chance that the Dolphins would pursue another quarterback. That being said, the Dolphins have been linked to Michael Penix Jr., quarterback out of the University of Washington.
If we know one thing is true, it’s that McDaniel has loyalty to Tagovailoa. The two have built a close bond over the past two years, and the Dolphins head coach has faith that the former Alabama quarterback is the team’s leader. At the owners meetings, McDaniel confirmed that a deal is in the works. In the meantime, he doesn’t expect Tagovailoa to hold out on team activities.
‘’I do expect him to be in OTAs because of my working relationship with Tua. For two years, I’ve watched Tua gain some unbelievable residuals towards the season in that process. It’s part of the reason Tua is who he is, because he’s always learning, never staying the same, and always working on his craft,” McDaniel said.
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