Tua Tagovailoa went through the 2023 NFL season healthy enough to start every game for the Dolphins. His reward in the 2024 offseason was being extended long-term and getting paid along with the league’s highest-paid quarterbacks.
Tagovailoa led the league in passing yards (4,624) last season while playing in all 17 games. In his first season under offensive-minded coach Mike McDaniel in 2022, Tagovailoa led all QBs in yards per attempt (8.9) and passer rating (105.5).
With stats like that and key chemistry with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, the big-play wide receivers in McDaniel’s system, it was an easy choice to keep Tagovailoa for a while as a franchise QB, especially with the team also going 11-6 and making the playoff again.
Tagovailoa was one of several top QBs who got paid on new contracts this summer, and the Dolphins also took care of extensions for Hill, Waddle, and cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
Here’s looking at the worth of Tagovailoa’s contract in relation to the highest-paid QBs, as well as how much Miami is investing in other stars.
MORE: NFL Week 2 Power Rankings | NFL Week 2 picks | NFL Week 2 picks against the spread
Tua Tagovailoa contract details
Tagovailoa’s new deal is for four years with a total value of $ 212 million. His average annual salary is $ 53.1 million. He got a $ 42 million signing bonus and $ 93.171 million guaranteed at signing. Tagovailoa’s total guaranteed money is $ 167.171 million.
With the structure of that contract, the Dolphins are absorbing only a $ 9.525 million cap hit for 2024 before that balloons over the next four seasons through 2028.
Why did the Dolphins and Tagovailoa agree on a four-year deal?
Patrick Mahomes (10 years) and Josh Allen (6 years) got anomalous QB contracts in terms of length. Most of the recent extended QBs, including Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence, and Justin Herbert, got five-year deals.
But three QBs along with Tagovailoa — Dak Prescott, Jordan Love, and Jared Goff —were able to knock down their next contract lengths to four years. Teams push for five years to secure a player longer, but most QBs prefer to have fewer years before going back to be extended again at the top of the market.
With that, Tagovailoa did see a lesser overall contract value along with sub-$ 200 million guaranteed money. However, he also has more flexibility to break the bank earlier if he raises his play.
WEEK 2 FANTASY RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Highest paid NFL QBs: Tua Tagovailoa’s contract ranking
The three key parameters with which to compare and contrast salaries are average annual salary, total value, and guaranteed money. Here’s where Tagovailoa stands in each category with his new contract.
Average annual salary
- 1. Dak Prescott, Cowboys ($ 60 million)
- 2. Joe Burrow, Bengals ($ 55 million)
- 2. Jordan Love, Packers ($ 55 million)
- 2. Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars ($ 55 million)
- 5. Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins ($ 53.1 million)
Total contract value
- 1. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs ($ 450 million)
- 2. Joe Burrow, Bengals ($ 275 million)
- 2. Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars ($ 275 million)
- 4. Justin Herbert, Chargers ($ 262.5 million)
- 5. Lamar Jackson, Ravens ($ 260 million)
- 6. Josh Allen, Bills ($ 258.034 million)
- 7. Jalen Hurts, Eagles ($ 255 million)
- 8. Dak Prescott, Cowboys ($ 240 million)
- 9. Kyler Murray, Cardinals ($ 230.5 million)
- 10. Deshaun Watson, Browns ($ 230 million)
- 11. Jordan Love, Packers ($ 220 million)
- 12. Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins ($ 212.4 million)
Total guaranteed money
- 1. Dak Prescott, Cowboys ($ 231 million)
- 2. Deshaun Watson, Browns ($ 230 million)
- 3. Joe Burrow, Bengals ($ 219 million)
- 4. Justin Herbert, Chargers ($ 218.738 million)
- 5. Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars ($ 200 million)
- 6. Lamar Jackson, Ravens ($ 185 million)
- 7. Jalen Hurts, Eagles $ 179.399 million
- 8. Jared Goff, Lions ($ 170,611 million
- 9. Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins ($ 167.171 million)
The fact that Tagovailoa and Love were close with their four-year contracts is no surprise, as the same representation negotiated both deals with the Dolphins and Packers, respectively. Tagovailoa also is not far behind 2020 first-round draftmates Burrow and Hebert.
How Tua Tagovailoa’s contract compares to other Dolphins
Tagovailoa is the highest-paid Dolphin and should be thrilled that Hill and Waddle have new deals. Hill, 30, is signed through 2026, and both Waddle and Ramsey, like Tagovailoa, are signed through 2028.
Here’s looking at how much more Tagovailoa makes than his best teammates:
| Player | Position | AAV | Total value | Guaranteed |
| Tua Tagovailoa | QB | $ 53.1M | 4 yrs, $ 212M | $ 161.171M |
| Tyreek Hill | WR | $ 30M | 3 yrs, $ 90M | $ 59M |
| Jaylen Waddle | WR | $ 28.25M | 3 yrs, $ 84.75M | $ 76M |
| Jalen Ramsey | CB | $ 24.1M | 3 yrs, $ 72.3M | $ 24.235M |
| Bradley Chubb | EDGE | $ 22M | 5 yrs, $ 110M | $ 53.21M |
Tua Tagovailoa’s effect on Dolphins’ salary cap
Through all those contracts, including Tagovailoa’s $ 9.525 million, the redone deals have left the Dolphins with a little more than $ 7 million under the cap for 2024. Tagovailoa will count $ 39.446 million vs. the cap in 2025 when the Dolphins are, for now, $ 4 million under the cap.
The Dolphins can afford those five stars, and a constant expansion of the NFL-wide salary cap will help them afford more. The bottom line is Tagovailoa needs Hill and Waddle to live up to his deal, and he won’t need to worry about either leaving for when he needs them most in his upcoming prime.
