Miami Dolphins pick up Tua Tagovailoa's fifth-year option in vote of confidence for QB
Tom Brady, Lamar Jackson or Aaron Rodgers won’t be the Miami Dolphins' quarterback in the near future, it seems.
Instead, the Dolphins took another step to reaffirm Tua Tagovailoa as the team’s starter .
The Dolphins have informed Tagovailoa they will be picking up his fifth-year option, a person with knowledge of the decision told USA TODAY Sports on Friday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the move had not yet been made official.
Tagovailoa, who will be guaranteed $23.2 million in 2024, has had to endure several quarterback rumors this offseason.
Among them:
• Brady potentially unretiring for the second time to play for the Dolphins, the team that was stripped of its first-round pick in this year's draft after the NFL determined the organization had made impermissible contract with both the quarterback and coach Sean Payton. Brady shot down those rumors himself.
• Jackson’s contract standoff with the Baltimore Ravens. The Dolphins indicated they won’t enter negotiations with the South Florida native, per multiple reports.
• Rodgers weighing his future. Instead, Rogers has met with the New York Jets this week.
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The Dolphins had until May 1 to pick up Tagovailoa’s fifth-year, but their decision to extend his contract could ease potential rumors during the rest of the offseason.
Tagovailoa was the No. 5 overall pick in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft.
Tagovailoa had a standout season in 2022 under first-year Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, but two reported concussions became the focus of his third NFL season.
Tagovailoa did not play in Miami’s final two regular-season games or a playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills to end the season due to his second reported concussion, which occurred on Christmas against the Green Bay Packers. He also missed two games due to his first, sustained during a Thursday night game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Tagovailoa’s 105.5 passer rating led all NFL quarterback last season. He completed 64.8% of his passes for 3,548 yards with 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions last season.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tua Tagovailoa's fifth-year option picked up by Miami Dolphins
