Von Miller Backs “Double-Dipping” as Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa Linked to $2.6M Moves

Kyler Murray was selected No. 1 in the 2019 NFL Draft, while Tua Tagovailoa was picked No.5 in 2020. The two top picks will, however, be making the league’s veteran minimum in 2026. While the slide in fortunes is partially due to their lackluster performances, it’s also a result of their former teams releasing them while still owing them gobs of money.

Yes, the two veterans essentially find themselves “double-dipping” when it comes to collecting an NFL paycheck. And according to Von Miller, there’s nothing wrong with that in the slightest.

“There’s no rule against double-dipping,” Miller prefaced during his most recent podcast.

“Double dip. You’re still getting paid $36 million? Who cares? Go sign another $40-million deal with whoever it is. That’s just how it goes. The owners are going to do it, why do we gotta take a step back just because?” added Miller, who lauded Murray’s move to Minnesota.

According to Miller, not only was signing with the Vikings a smart move for the quarterback in terms of earnings, but it may also prove to be his best opportunity at revitalizing his career. He believes that J.J. McCarthy doesn’t present much of a threat to anyone, let alone other veteran quarterbacks.

“Kyler is going to win that starting job easily,” predicted the former Super Bowl winner.

“You don’t bring in a guy like Kyler just to have him sit,” Miller continued. “He’s dynamic. He can run, he can throw, he changes the complexion of the offense.”

The only thing that Miller doesn’t like about the signing is that Murray took the league minimum. “Sign for $15. Sign for $20,” he encouraged before joking that “it’s got to be some type of corruption going on in this too, cause Tua did the same thing.”

Of course, the truth is that the low rate of pay has more to do with the fact that neither Murray nor Tagovailoa has won more games than they have lost in the past two years. Throw in the fact that they also both averaged a 2% interception percentage on their passes in that same time span, and it becomes apparent why teams weren’t champing at the bit to pay them anything other than the league veteran minimum.

There’s certainly something to be said for Miller’s point about players needing to extract as much capital from the league as they can for as long as they can. But in this situation, it’s more about market demands and contractual context, rather than any perceived discrepancy in employee pay.