The indicators are all there. The information that the Dolphins will signal quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to his fifth-year contract extension is the most recent thrilling indication they’re critical about making this Super Bowl run, extra critical than they’ve been in years.
This is nice stuff, 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 reputable, rigorously crafted, well-thought-out championship pursuit. The Dolphins are attempting to win now, not two or three years from now, and so they 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 comfortable now that he doesn’t need to hearken to Tom Brady rumors), and bodily (Tagovailoa is taking jiu-jitsu) to make a Super 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 change into a giant, greasy nothingburger.
I’m nonetheless uncertain whether or not I’d give Tagovailoa (25 touchdowns, eight interceptions, league-leading 105.5 passer score in 2022) the fifth-year extension if I used to be in cost. I can see it each methods.
It is smart to present the fifth-year extension as a result of Tagovailoa is a positively 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 essential.
However, Tagovailoa has a concussion historical past, which is the No. 1 concern. And you could possibly 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.
But take a step past Tagovailoa’s extension.
Recall how the Dolphins have been lining issues up – buying coach Mike McDaniel, broad receiver Tyreek Hill, left sort out Terron Armstead, edge rusher Bradley Chubb, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, and now awarding Tagovailoa’s fifth-year extension.
At the identical time there have been reported contract renegotiations with Hill, Armstead and Chubb to create more cash to get extra gamers to pursue a title.
This is the best-planned title run in additional than 20 years.
How does the Tagovailoa extension match into the plan?
Well, you’ve bought him $23.1 million for 2024. That’s a discount if he stays wholesome and performs in addition to he performed final season. It will get you one other 12 months at a reduction worth, thus liberating up cash to make different acquisitions.
Starting quarterback salaries are ranging previous $40 million a 12 months.
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 of clever.
If Tagovailoa doesn’t keep wholesome?
You take your hit and re-group as finest you may.
You might take consolation within the information you have been within the midst of executing one thing that was well designed as a substitute of a haphazard, piecemeal sequence of occasions, which typically appeared to be how the staff 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 by way of free company as a result of they’ll get extra elsewhere than the Dolphins can provide, and a few guys gained’t carry out as much as expectations.
Perhaps you will get a brand new core and preserve it transferring, maybe not. Whatever. That’s the long-range future.
This is about now, the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
The Dolphins have a plan.
With every day, and every week, you get a bit of extra motive to suppose the Dolphins’ brass is making title-contending strikes, higher strikes than we’ve seen in years.
These are thrilling occasions, Dolphins followers.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com