Tua Tagovailoa’s contract details: What was the Dolphins QB’s salary and how many years did he have left?

The Miami Dolphins have announced that they are moving in a different direction and are parting ways with Tua Tagovailoa. A tough decision for Miami after they agreed to a four-year deal with Tua Tagovailoa back in July 2024.

It’s unclear at the moment where Tagovailoa could land or who could be the next QB1 for the Dolphins.

The Hawaiian-born QB was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and has been the Dolphins’ starter since 2021. He made his first Pro Bowl appearance in 2023 and led the league for passing yards across the regular season.

That performance has pushed the Dolphins to secure his services with a bumper deal that put him on par with some of NFL’s highest earners. The four-year contract extension was a package worth up to $212 million, with $167.2 million in guaranteed money.

The deal gave Tagovailoa an average annual salary of $53.1 million, with a $42 million signing bonus.

The Dolphins are still in the hunt to make the 2025 NFL playoffs. The team has come together and regrouped after a rough 1-6 start to the season.

Who are the highest-paid quarterbacks in NFL?

Tagovailoa’s contract put him firmly among the top earners in the league.

However in terms of total contract value, all of those names are dwarfed by Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes. Still only 28 years old, Mahomes is targeting a fourth Super Bowl ring with the Chiefs this season, a historic third triumph.

In 2020, shortly after being named Most Valuable Player at Super LIV, Mahomes signed a huge ten-year contract with the Chiefs to tie his future to the franchise. Mahomes’ deal is worth $450 million in guaranteed money but could reach as high as $503 million once the signing on fee and potential bonus payments are considered. The Chiefs look well-placed to become one of the league’s great dynasties, and Mahomes will be a key part of any success.

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