Dolphins GM wants Tua in Miami long-term; McDaniel on play-calling

MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins’ biggest decision this offseason surrounds what they will do with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

Tagovailoa just completed his fourth NFL season and earned Pro Bowl recognition for the first time after leading the NFL in passing yards. Questions, however, still remain after his play left a lot to be desired during the final stretch of the season, including Saturday night’s 26-7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs that led to an elimination.

The quarterback is under contract for the 2024 season, on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, which the team exercised last offseason. Miami can reach an agreement on a long-term contract or play it out year to year, with the option of even placing him on the franchise tag after his fifth season.

“The goal is to have him here, long-term, playing at a high level,” general manager Chris Grier said Monday at a season wrap news conference.

Top quarterbacks to earn contract extensions last season — Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow, Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts and Los Angeles Chargers’ Justin Herbert — are above $50 million in average annual salary.

If the Dolphins offer Tagovailoa a long-term deal, are they open to put him in that category or do they offer a more modest deal?

Grier was not willing to discuss money Monday, however.

“We’ll just keep our conversations (private) working with him,” the GM said. “And I think everything will be productive, and we’ll see what happens.”

He noted conversations with his agent throughout the season about things other than his contract.

Coach Mike McDaniel said he just wants to see continued improvement from Tagovailoa, who completed 69.3 percent of passes for 4,624 yards, 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

“I just want to see him make sure the curve continues to be exponential in his growth,” McDaniel said. “We’ve seen, at every stretch of the way, him improving. That doesn’t mean it’s void of a result that isn’t desired, but what we’ve seen is him learn from all the things that he goes through. I think that’s the one thing that I can say, in my two years of experience with him, is he’s as good of a learner as I’ve ever seen.”

McDaniel’s play-calling

McDaniel, an offensive-minded head coach, has been criticized externally for questionable play-calling throughout his tenure over two seasons.

It’s something he will take a look at this offseason, even with the possibility of delegating it to his offensive coordinator.

“The way I look at it is nothing is off the table ever,” McDaniel said. “To just say, well, that’s the way we’ve done it, that’s not a good enough reason to me. I think we failed to reach our goals this season. Play-calling wouldn’t live outside that.”

The coach wants to take his time with any decision, though.

“The important part of right after the season is to make sure that you’re not making your judgments based upon the emotion of the rollercoaster ride that you just went on,” he said. “I think you have to critically assess by slowly evaluating everything. … We’ll see what it actually means as we press forward.”

This story will be updated.