Mike McDaniel Comments On Tua Tagovailoa’s Absence From OTAs

(Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

It’s OTA season, as teams around the NFL are getting their mostly finalized rosters onto the field together for the first time to figure out who will make the final cut and also to develop chemistry with the new guys in town.

One player who was notably absent from Miami Dolphins camp so far is quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and head coach Mike McDaniel has shared his thoughts on his quarterback’s whereabouts, per Marcel Louis-Jacques.

McDaniel met with the media and confirmed that Tua was absent for at least a portion of the team’s offseason program (though he did eventually show up on Monday) but declined to comment on whether it was a contract-related issue, though he added: “However things play out, as long as we’re communicating then we have a fighting chance, and it’s been a good exercise for our relationship this offseason.”

Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel confirms QB Tua Tagovailoa was absent for at least a portion of the team’s offseason program.

Declined to comment on whether it was contract related but said there’s been positive communication between both sides pic.twitter.com/6FslH1VTxW

— Marcel Louis-Jacques (@Marcel_LJ) May 21, 2024

There’s not a lot to read into here, and it’s hard to imagine this is anything other than either a contract-related no-show, or it’s just nothing at all and Tagovailoa simply didn’t show up because he didn’t need to.

He appears to still be in communication with McDaniel, and coach doesn’t have any issues with how the situation has been going.

Tagovailoa is scheduled to play this upcoming season on the fifth-year option of his rookie deal for roughly $23.1 million and is currently engaged in negotiations with the team on a long-term deal.

Other quarterbacks such as Kirk Cousins and Jared Goff have gotten $180 million and $212 million respectively this offseason, so there is a benchmark for what Tua’s contract might look like.

Spoiler alert: it’s a big bag.

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