Is Jared Goff’s deal with the Lions already starting to look like a bargain? Maybe not completely but his average value has been surpassed again, this time by Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported Friday the Dolphins signed Tagovailoa to a four-year extension worth $212.4 million. That works out to an average of $53.1 million per year on the new money. That’s $100,000 more per year than Goff, who is getting $53 million per year on his new $212 million deal. So Tagovailoa’s deal ends up being near identical to that of Goff’s, at least at face value.
This was a deal the Dolphins were likely going to do all throughout, but there are certainly some questions about the deal, at least in terms of recent success compared to Goff. Tagovailoa has yet to win a playoff game while Goff has taken the Los Angeles Rams to the Super Bowl and nearly took the Lions there last season. Goff is now 4-4 in his postseason career with eight touchdowns and just two interceptions. Tagovailoa lost his playoff debut last season against the Kansas City Chiefs — Skylar Thompson started in place of an injured Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater two seasons ago — going 20-of-39 for 199 yards with one touchdown and one interception in Miami’s 26-7 loss to the eventual Super Bowl LVIII champions.
Goff has settled in with the Lions and become more steady while Tagovailoa’s career has been a roller coaster to this point. When’s he on, he can really be on. But there are times he can be really off as well.
Goff is now fourth in the league in average annual value. Joe Burrow and Trevor Lawrence are tied at $55 million per year. Also keep in mind Dak Prescott and Jordan Love are still waiting in the wings for their next contract and Brock Purdy isn’t too far behind. Goff will likely soon fall out of the top five. The Lions were smart to get that deal done when they did.
