Ex-Eagles scout takes issue with Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa's $212,400,000 extension - "Is he even that good?"
Last week, the Miami Dolphins extended Tua Tagovailoa to a $212,400,000 contract, making him one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league, earning $53.1 million annually. While it has been well received in the NFL world, this extension also did not sit right among many in the NFL world.
Former Philadelphia Eagles scout John Middlekauff was one of them. Speaking on 'The Colin Cowherd Podcast,' he took issue with Tua's contract extension. Middlekauff believes that the Dolphins paying $170 million in guaranteed money is "insane" for a quarterback of his caliber. [From 1:19 mark onwards]
"That contract to me is jaw dropping. I think most people that have watched him play go that's crazy. That's insane. Because you have no shot to beat any of the top quarterbacks who are all in your conference."
Middlekauff continued, explaining that there's a huge difference between Josh Allen and Tua Tagovailoa, with the former quarterback being more reliable come crunch time than the latter.
"Why can't we find some middle ground? ... Now we've got to the point of like, well you just got to make this much. Why? Why couldn't you just offer him Daniel Jones money? Like $90 million guaranteed. Cut that guarantee and half. Who are you bidding against?"
Middlekauff continued, breaking down Tua's game. He argued that the Dolphins quarterback has a weak arm and doesn't perform in cold weather, deeper into the season when it's crucial to collect the wins. He thinks that the Dolphins made a huge mistake.
"The problem is he's six feet tall. And he's got a weak arm. So he doesn't translate to the winter. Well he plays in the division with cold weather teams. I get investing in him. And if you would have said hey, they signed him to a three-year, $100 million deal and they guaranteed every penny, I kind of get it. But to pay him enormous money I think is insane."
Dolphins are much better with Tua Tagovailoa as their QB
Tua Tagovailoa is coming off the best season of his NFL career. The Miami Dolphins quarterback led the league in passing, throwing for 4,624 yards, 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, with a passer rating of 101.1.
There were concerns about his injury history heading into the 2023 NFL season. But Tua stayed healthy and played all 17 NFL games. While he had a great regular season, the Dolphins QB struggled in the 26-7 Wildcard round loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Dolphins have built a solid roster around Tua, giving him the offensive weapons required to elevate the team. He has improved every single year in his NFL career. With the genius mind of head coach Mike McDaniel, Tua can reach greater heights and will hope to deliver a Super Bowl to the city of Miami.