The 2-7 Dolphins have parted ways with longtime general manager Chris Grier and are already looking ahead to next season. As part of their evaluation process, the ‘Fins could consider benching starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (video link).
There were rumblings to that effect last month, but Tagovailoa responded with his best outing of the season in a 34-10 win over the Falcons. Unfortunately, he submitted a mediocre performance in Thursday night’s loss to the Ravens, and it now appears a demotion is on the table, with Rapoport saying the southpaw is “playing to keep his job.”
Following Grier’s departure, head coach Mike McDaniel – who was considered the savior of Tagovailoa’s career not too long ago – was said to be safe through at least the end of the 2025 campaign. Subsequent reports from Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) and Rapoport echo the notion that owner Stephen Ross still believes in McDaniel and wants him on the sidelines for the long haul.
But Tagovailoa almost certainly represents McDaniel’s best chance to keep his job. After all, the other passers on the roster are Zach Wilson – one of the biggest draft busts in recent history – and seventh-round rookie Quinn Ewers. Rapoport describes Ewers as “impressive,” but after briefly overtaking Wilson for Miami’s QB2 role, the Texas product has been relegated back to the third position on the depth chart.
There could be some value in seeing what Ewers has to offer, though it would be hard for an outsider to see the same value in having Wilson take the reins. Still, if Tagovailoa keeps throwing interceptions – he presently leads the league with 11 picks – it appears McDaniel could consider a switch (if that does happen, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald suggests McDaniel should make sure Ross would not hold any ensuing offensive struggles against him).
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, meanwhile, believes the Dolphins are likely to part ways with McDaniel at season’s end. In Florio’s estimation, Tagovailoa’s contract situation – he is due $54MM in guaranteed money in 2026 – could make the Miami HC post less attractive to top coaching candidates, unless the Dolphins perform poorly enough to assure themselves of one of the top QB prospects in next year’s draft class.
Rapoport suggests the most viable option for the Dolphins with respect to Tagovailoa is to pay down some of the money he is owed in order to facilitate an offseason trade to a club with a need for a bridge passer. A pre-June 1 release is impossible due to the dead money hit it would generate, and even a post-June 1 release would be problematic from a cap standpoint. Of course, Miami could simply keep Tagovailoa as its starter (or possible bridge) and hope he can return to the form that earned him his $53.1MM/year deal in the first place.
“A bridge passer” … haha. Yes, Tua is having a tough year but he is tougher than many people think. He will rebound, whether with this team or another. They have to pay him even in 2026, might as well let him play through the slump. Ewers could get some game experience as well.
Cornelius Ryan would have referred to Tua as “A Bridge Too Far” passer 🙂
Tough year? Tough career
Having Tyreek Hill made Tua’s stats look alot better. While they’ve shown they can move the ball without Hill, they just aren’t a complete offense. Too many mistakes. That 4th and 1 play before halftime throwing the ball to the 5’9 Archane vs 6’4 Hamilton said it all.
How unbelievably hilarious would it be if Zach Wilson was given a starting opportunity and turned into geno/darnold/baker etc!
Zach MILFson turning into a competent QB down there is so absurd that it actually makes sense. Having the eyes of the type of women he loves the most on him could do wonders.
The Broncos showed how to get rid of an overpaid QB, even with the huge dead money anchor. It wasn’t pretty. And the new guy you bring in has to be damn good. Unfortunately for the Dolphins, Dan Marino 2.0 probably isn’t out there.
Uh, Dan Marino didn’t win the Dolphins any championships. Stephen Ross has the front office searching for an Earl Morrall 2.0
Good Earl Morrall callback, but I think they’d take Marino 2.0 and worry about the rest later
helps the process when five of the six broncos wins are against some of the worse defenses in the league
What good is benching him when they’re stuck with him for at least two more seasons with that contract. May as well sink the ship this year and boost their draft position. The backup may do better…
A lot of could.