The Miami Dolphins just turned heads faster than a Tyreek Hill deep route. They’ve locked up quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with a whopping 4-year, $212.4 million extension, making him the third-highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. But while Dolphins fans might be doing the wave, NFL analyst Nick Wright is throwing a yellow flag on the play.

On “First Things First” today, Wright didn’t sugarcoat his take. “Yeah, I think it’s a mistake,” he said, his words landing like a poorly thrown pass. Wright’s beef? He thinks the Fins just handed the Maserati’s key to a guy who might only be able to drive a Prius.

“I think there’s a ceiling on their team with him as the quarterback,” Wright explained, painting a picture of a team potentially stuck in neutral. He even threw some shade at Tua’s abilities, suggesting he’s more of a “bus rider” than a “bus driver” in Miami’s high-octane offense. “The curve is now removed,” Wright added, implying that Tua must now prove he’s a “force multiplier” for the team.

Wright didn’t stop there. He dug into the Dolphins’ not-so-distant past, reminding viewers of the team’s previous quarterback shopping sprees. “We know the owner is not in love with Tua,” he pointed out. “The owner tampered with Tom Brady to try to replace Tua, tried to go get Deshaun Watson.” This history makes the sudden all-in bet on Tua more puzzling than a Mike McDaniel trick play.

But here’s where the plot thickens faster than Miami humidity. While Wright sees storm clouds, others are basking in the South Beach sunshine. Greg Jennings, former NFL wide receiver, offered a different take on the same show. “I don’t mind it,” Jennings said, cool as a cucumber. He highlighted the magic trio of Tua, McDaniel, and Tyreek Hill. “When he got Tyreek Hill and he partnered and paired his talents and ability with his head coach, it makes it work,” Jennings explained, painting a picture of offensive harmony.

The potential pitfalls of the Tua Tagovailoa deal

Let’s dive deeper into Wright’s concerns. Tua’s injury history is indeed concerning. Despite playing all 17 games in 2023, his previous concussion issues were so severe he considered hanging up his cleats for good. This makes the $167 million in guarantees look riskier than a fourth-down conversion attempt.

But hold your horses before you write off Tua. The numbers tell a different story, one that might make even Nick Wright raise an eyebrow. The QB led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards in 2023, tossing 29 touchdowns with a razor-sharp 69.3% completion rate. He even snagged his first Pro Bowl nod, proving he can hang with the big boys.

Remember that Ravens game in September 2022? The 26-year-old lit up the scoreboard like a pinball machine, throwing for a career-high 469 yards and six touchdowns. He channeled his inner Dan Marino, becoming only the second Dolphins QB to hit the 400-yard, five-touchdown mark in a single game.

“We need to see you beat these upper echelon teams when it counts, when it matters the most, “Damien Woody maintained on ESPN’s First Take in June. The quarterback’s huge match capabilities are still under scrutiny as his records stand at 0-1 during the playoffs.

This is worth mentioning because Tua is only twenty-six and has a lot of growing up to do. This might be a “wise move for both parties,” given CBS Sports’ comments considering the potential of Tua and rapidly inflating quarterback market.

The Dolphins are wagering that Tua isn’t just a fair-weather quarterback. They are hoping he will be their hurricane leader, taking them to the glory land of Super Bowl glory. Whether this $212.4 million bet pans out or makes Miami look like they backed the wrong horse down at Gulfstream Park, only time will tell.