McDaniel addresses Tua’s fifth-year option
INDIANAPOLIS — With quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s pending fifth-year option on his contract one of the predominant storylines of the Miami Dolphins’ 2023 offseason, the team will take its time with the decision.
There is a May 1 deadline for NFL teams to decide on whether to pick up fifth-year options for their members of the 2020 draft class, putting Miami two months removed from a decision.
“We’re probably best served to utilize the time,” McDaniel said Tuesday during his press conference at the NFL scouting combine. “This is something that [general manager Chris Grier] and I have been working through and will continue to work through.”
The Dolphins already have Tagovailoa locked in for the 2023 season, his fourth, on his rookie contract. Should the organization pick up the fifth year, it would commit to Tagovailoa for the 2024 season, as well, at a $23.1 million figure. That number is less than what the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Chargers are looking at with fellow quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert based on the other two qualifying for a Pro Bowl within their first three seasons.
After Tagovailoa led the NFL in quarterback rating (105.5) and yards per attempt (8.9) and put up career highs with 25 passing touchdowns and 3,548 yards, his play in Year 3 seems to warrant the fifth year. The greater question is his health after, again not completing a full season — this time due to multiple concussions sidelining him 5 ½ games.
“Like any other player, you factor in every variable,” McDaniel said. “One thing that, when you’re talking about those types of decisions, I think it’s important to recognize that we have a congruence of interest by the Dolphins and the player, Tua, that we both parties really want him to play at a very high level for a long time for the Miami Dolphins.
“What’s the best way to really engineer that or to help manifest that? Well, those are the things that we’re kind of weighing in terms of the various options.”
McDaniel also clarified the martial art Tagovailoa is practicing this offseason to better protect himself from blows to the head. He noted that Tagovailoa mistakenly mentioned judo when he meant jiu-jitsu in an interview this offseason.
McDaniel addressed a story that popped up over the past weekend with cornerback Byron Jones tweeting he can’t run or jump after missing the 2022 season and firing off apparently accusatory remarks about the treatment he received in rehabbing from lower left leg surgery in March 2022.
“I know it’s a tough situation from a competitor that loves to play the game of football. The one thing I’ll say is, throughout the process, Byron’s been able to be the conductor of the train. The Dolphins organization, the entire training staff and the medical department has supported him at every turn.”
In part, Jones tweeted: “DO NOT take the pills they give you. DO NOT take the injections they give you. If you absolutely must, consult an outside doctor to learn the long-term implications.”
Jones also followed with another tweet referring to his NFL career in the past tense, possibly suggesting he’s done playing football.
McDaniel said Jones never expressed any concern about the care he was receiving in rehab to him.
“He feels the way he feels, and as a leader of professional athletes, I empathize with how everyone truly feels,” McDaniel said. “All I can do is support.”
McDaniel touched on the type of impact new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio can make.
“Vic is one of one, in my opinion, of creating and innovating and sustaining high-quality defense,” he said. “I think all players on defense will benefit from it. I know myself included, I’ll benefit from the process of being able to work with him on a daily basis and tap into his infinite wisdom.”
Elsewhere on the coaching staff, while solidifying publicly for the first time this offseason that Danny Crossman is being retained as special teams coordinator, McDaniel made his first remarks about the switch from Matt Applebaum to Butch Barry as offensive line coach this offseason.
He said, under the previous structure, offensive coordinator
Frank Smith had to pull away from the duties of his position to focus on the line, leading McDaniel to then have to handle some coordinator tasks. He hopes the switch stops the trickle-down effect.
Following one season of the marriage between tight end Mike Gesicki and McDaniel’s offense, Gesicki is now a free agent upon completion of his franchise-tag season in 2022. McDaniel is not saying it’s over between Gesicki and the Dolphins just yet.
“There is always a spot for good players,” he said. “I think that Mike has earned the opportunity to test the market, and I very much encourage that. … For him to have that opportunity to go earn, we very much encourage that. However, we are not in the business of saying no to good players. I wouldn’t close that door at all.”
McDaniel has all his running backs entering free agency this offseason. It could provide a brand new look in the backfield or a chance to bring back players that have familiarity with McDaniel, like Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr.
“First and foremost, from the running back position on our team, you need a team player that’s willing to do whatever it takes to win,” McDaniel said. “We have good players surrounding the running back position. So you gotta be willing to pass-block and do things off the ball. I think there’s many different types of running backs that can excel in this offense, given whatever their skill sets are. So, to me, I just want team-oriented guys that enjoy getting the ball, fighting for yardage and trying to win football games.”
Along with breaking down variables in decisions surrounding Tagovailoa as the team’s starter, McDaniel touched on Skylar Thompson’s chances at earning a backup quarterback role after holding down the third-string job last season behind Tagovailoa and veteran backup Teddy Bridgewater.
“When you assess Skylar’s as a rookie, he did a lot of things to deserve to be in competition and to have an open mind to him winning the backup quarterback role,” McDaniel said. “I was happy with what Skylar was able to do under the pretense that he’s going to continue to get better.”