The indicators are all there. The information that the Dolphins will signal quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to his fifth-year contract extension is the newest thrilling indication they’re critical about making this Tremendous Bowl run, extra critical than they’ve been in years.
That is good things, Dolphins followers.
This isn’t a sequence of headline-grabbing, one-off transactions.
For the primary time in a very long time, we’re witnessing a official, rigorously crafted, well-thought-out championship pursuit. The Dolphins are attempting to win now, not two or three years from now, they usually have a grasp plan. That’s changing into extra clear with every conjoining transfer.
The Dolphins are positioning themselves financially (they’re releasing injury-slowed cornerback Byron Jones together with different strikes), mentally (Tagovailoa’s thoughts might be extra relaxed now that he doesn’t need to hearken to Tom Brady rumors), and bodily (Tagovailoa is taking jiu-jitsu) to make a Tremendous Bowl run.
There’s no assure it’ll work.
Heck, there’s no assure Tagovailoa stays wholesome subsequent season, or that the Dolphins make the playoffs.
This fifth-year extension would possibly transform a giant, greasy nothingburger.
I’m nonetheless not sure whether or not I’d give Tagovailoa (25 touchdowns, eight interceptions, league-leading 105.5 passer ranking in 2022) the fifth-year extension if I used to be in cost. I can see it each methods.
It is sensible to offer the fifth-year extension as a result of Tagovailoa is a undoubtedly proficient quarterback, and also you want a proficient quarterback. Plus, giving him the fifth-year extension additionally lets you use the franchise tag to maintain him in 2025, if mandatory.
Nonetheless, Tagovailoa has a concussion historical past, which is the No. 1 concern. And you may level to his less-than spectacular performances in essential late-season video games at San Francisco and the Los Angeles Chargers as causes to attend on the contract extension.
However take a step past Tagovailoa’s extension.
Recall how the Dolphins have been lining issues up – buying coach Mike McDaniel, vast receiver Tyreek Hill, left sort out Terron Armstead, edge rusher Bradley Chubb, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, and now awarding Tagovailoa’s fifth-year extension.
On the similar time there have been reported contract renegotiations with Hill, Armstead and Chubb to create extra money to get extra gamers to pursue a title.
That is the best-planned title run in additional than 20 years.
How does the Tagovailoa extension match into the plan?
Nicely, you’ve obtained him $23.1 million for 2024. That’s a cut price if he stays wholesome and performs in addition to he performed final season. It will get you one other yr at a reduction worth, thus releasing up cash to make different acquisitions.
Beginning quarterback salaries are ranging previous $40 million a yr.
The New York Giants simply gave quarterback Daniel Jones a four-year, $160 million cope with $82 million assured. New Orleans simply gave Derek Carr a four-year, $150 million cope with $100 million assured.
So locking in Tagovailoa now might be thought-about clever.
If Tagovailoa doesn’t keep wholesome?
You are taking your hit and re-group as greatest you'll be able to.
You would take consolation within the information you had been within the midst of executing one thing that was well designed as an alternative of a haphazard, piecemeal sequence of occasions, which typically appeared to be how the workforce was constructed up to now.
I’ll say this once more, the championship window is brief with this present core of gamers, in all probability two years. Some guys will get injured, some guys will depart through free company as a result of they’ll get extra elsewhere than the Dolphins can provide, and a few guys received’t carry out as much as expectations.
Maybe you will get a brand new core and hold it transferring, maybe not. No matter. That’s the long-range future.
That is about now, the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
The Dolphins have a plan.
With every day, and every week, you get slightly extra cause to suppose the Dolphins’ brass is making title-contending strikes, higher strikes than we’ve seen in years.
These are thrilling occasions, Dolphins followers.
()