3 reasons why Dolphins will rue picking up Tua Tagovailoa's fifth-year option
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa received good news this morning. The team has picked up his fifth-year option for the 2024 season.
Tua will be on the books to get paid $23.2 million for next season. He became the first member of the 2020 first-round class to receive the fifth-year option.
The Dolphins are committed to Tua as their long-term option at quarterback and showed that by picking up the option. They will likely not pursue any other quarterbacks that have come up in rumors, such as Tom Brady, Lamar Jackson, Aaron Rodgers, etc.
The #Dolphins have informed QB Tua Tagovailoa they’re picking up his fifth-year option, sources say. Once executed, Tagovailoa will be guaranteed $23.2 million for the 2024 season.
Another indication Miami is confident Tagovailoa will be their quarterback for a long time. https://t.co/lZtSQxrbgQ
Last week, Dolphins GM Chris Grier said that despite Tua Tagovailoa's injuries, he wasn't afraid to do anything long-term with the QB.
“I mean, I can’t lie and say no, but it’s not something that it’s gonna make us afraid to do something long-term at all. The one thing he’s had, he’s been banged up, but he always comes back and bounces back and plays hard and performs. Excited for his future."
He showed that he's true to his word by picking up Tua's option. In three seasons, the quarterback has compiled a 21-13 record.
He's thrown for 8,015 yards, 52 touchdowns, 307 rushing yards, and six touchdowns. He's progressed each season since his rookie year, but it may come back to haunt the team, extending the pick of his fifth-year option.
Here are three reasons why picking up Tua Tagovailoa's fifth-year option might not be the right move for the Dolphins:
#1 - Injury prone
Tua Tagovailoa is very injury prone. He suffered three concussions last season and four games because of it.
All three of his concussions were from brutal injuries, especially the one he suffered on Thursday night vs. the Bengals. He's been training at Jiu Jitsu this off-season to help him learn how to fall.
#2 - Tua Tagovailoa hasn't played a full season or in the playoffs
Due to injuries, Tua is yet to play a full season in the NFL. He started nine games in his rookie season, making his debut in Week 6 after Ryan Fitzpatrick was benched.
In his second season, he was placed on injured reserve on September 25, 2021, following an injury to his ribs. He missed five games as a result.
This past season, he missed four games due to concussions, including the season finale and the playoffs for the team. Tua is yet to step onto the field for a playoff game in his career.
#3 - Tua is yet to make a Pro Bowl or All-Pro team
While he has progressed in each of the three seasons he's been in the NFL, Tua Tagovailoa is yet to make a Pro Bowl or All-Pro team.
Quarterback Justin Herbert, who was drafted in the same class as Tua, won the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2020 and went to the Pro Bowl in 2021.
Joe Burrow, who was the number one quarterback and pick in the same draft class, made the Pro Bowl last season and led the Bengals to the Super Bowl in the 2021-22 season.
Both Herbert and Burrow have done much more than Tua, yet Tua was the first of the trio to get his options picked up.