He wants to win games and championships, but what he saw this offseason has brought Tua Tagovailoa a new aspiration.
Justin Herbert and Jalen Hurts were in the same quarterback draft class as Tagovailoa in 2020. The Los Angeles Chargers selected Herbert at No. 6 overall while Hurts went in the second round to the Philadelphia Eagles. Both signed massive contract extensions of over $200 million. Hurts, who took the Eagles to Super Bowl LVII, inked a five-year contract worth $255 million.
RELATED: Mike McDaniel equates Tua Tagovailoa’s growth to learning a foreign language and now “owns the language”
Herbert, who has yet to win a playoff game, signed a five-year deal worth $262.5 million.
Tagovailoa, the No. 5 overall pick from the 2020 draft, is in his fourth season. The Miami Dolphins picked up his fifth-year option and hope he can stay healthy. Multiple concussions affected the native Hawaiian in 2022, despite his strong start to the season.
Mike McDaniel, the head coach of the Dolphins, sees marquee things from Tagovailoa in the fall.
The former Alabama quarterback knows Miami’s offense has the potential to be scary good. He is proud of Hurts, Herbert, and the quarterback market, but it gives Tagovailoa something to work harder towards.
#Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa praises Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts on their new mega deals. He’s in Year 4, agreed to 5th year option.
“It’s really good for the quarterback market. It gets me excited. It gets me going.”
Tua added: “For me, this is something I need to work for.” pic.twitter.com/iL63QV9Wm7
— Safid Deen 💯💯💯💯 (@Safid_Deen) July 26, 2023
“It gets me excited. It gets me going,” Tagovailoa said about Hurts and Herbert getting paid. “They got what they deserved, and I am happy for them.”
RELATED: Watch: Tua Tagovailoa explains new tattoo sleeve that embodies Samoan culture
Tagovailoa wants to prove his worth to himself. His day to get paid will come; however, he wants to earn it. He has not talked about any contract extensions since the Dolphins picked up his fifth-year option. Tagovailoa told Dolphins’ reporters at training camp he is not worried about it. His focus is on leading Miami’s offense to new heights in the league under Coach McDaniel.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
