Joining Trevor Lawrence as a summer 2024 extension recipient yet to justify his contract, Tua Tagovailoa has gone through an up-and-down stretch since the ink dried on his megadeal. The high-priced Dolphins quarterback remains in place as the team’s starter, but rumors about his future have created some uncertainty.
Rumblings about the southpaw being benched surfaced after GM Chris Grier‘s exit, and that report indicated uncertainty about whether the polarizing quarterback would be back in Miami for 2026. The guarantees the Dolphins authorized in the July 2024 deal may ensure the former top-five pick receives one more chance.
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Tagovailoa “doesn’t have the best reputation around the league,” per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, who points to the Dolphins needing to pay down a significant amount of the QB’s 2026 compensation to facilitate a viable trade. Two anonymous personnel staffers point to Tagovailoa receiving one more chance in Miami, via Jones, with one noting Mike McDaniel remaining in place would give the QB a better shot to stick around.
Like Lawrence, Tagovailoa’s 2026 compensation is fully guaranteed. The Dolphins owe him $54MM next year, complicating a deal. That payment came after back-to-back seasons with Tua finishing in the top five in passer rating and top 10 in QBR. Concussion issues marred Tagovailoa’s breakout 2022 slate and resurfaced soon after he signed his four-year, $212.4MM extension. The Dolphins losing Tyreek Hill to a severe knee injury hurt their offense this season, and Tagovailoa ranks 24th in QBR.
Tua also took heat for criticizing teammates for meeting attendance this season, and although the QB apologized for making that public, Jones notes that contributed to his perception around the NFL. The Dolphins responded to Grier’s firing with a convincing win over the Bills, buying McDaniel more time. They have cleaned house in the front office, however, moving on from two top Grier lieutenants (in co-player personnel directors Adam Engroff and Anthony Hunt). This further muddies the situation for the McDaniel-Tagovailoa partnership, though the QB’s injury history and perception within the league would limit his trade value.
Some QB-needy teams would undoubtedly look into Tagovailoa due to the sample quality play when healthy under McDaniel, but his series of concussions and struggles over the past two seasons would complicate a trade. If the Dolphins do retain the 2020 draftee in 2026 and fire McDaniel, some candidates could certainly express hesitation about the job.
Stephen Ross keeping McDaniel for another season is probably contingent on a strong finish, but it would also mean tying the Grier hire to another GM. As we discussed in a recent Trade Rumors Front Office post, incongruent timelines for HCs and GMs have proven to be a shaky recipe in recent years. But a 2027 Tua separation would be easier for Miami. No guaranteed money is in place for the Alabama alum beyond 2026, and the Dolphins would take on a relatively manageable $31.8MM dead money hit with a 2027 trade or release.
Tagovailoa became the centerpiece of Grier’s rebuild, and the Dolphins have enjoyed some success during his tenure. McDaniel oversaw the first instance of back-to-back playoff berths for the franchise since the team made five straight berths from 1997-2001. But the team has hit a wall. It remains uncertain if McDaniel can do anything to save his job this season, though the Buffalo upset moving the team to 3-7 assuredly helped the talented play-caller’s cause.
It’s kind of obvious. Cutting Tua would cost them more money and the Dolphins are already over the cap for next year.
They can designate him a post June 1st cut. Cut or trade several players that have no future with the team to free up around 50 million in cap space. Chubb, Hill, Ingold, Fitzpatrick, Sanders, Westbrook-Ikhine, Dodson, and Jackson should either cut or traded. Subtracting the 11 million over the cap from cutting Tua and the around 12 million they were already over the cap they would have around 25 million to sign their draft class, UDFAs and potentially a few 3rd tier low cost veteran free agents. Since only the first 51 highest paid players on the roster count against the cap during the off-season and preseason they can easily fill the roster with cheaper players. The Dolphins should have not been a big time player in free agency even with Tua on the roster. The team should be rebuilding/retooling with younger players
This team will not be competing for anything in 2026. Might as well take the hit and don’t screw up your draft position in 2027 by starting Tua to win a couple extra meaningless games. They need to set themselves up to take one of the top QBs in 2027.
Dolphins won their Super Bowl on Sunday
Do you wanna be the one who tells Dan Marino he still don’t get no ring? 🙂
You beat the big bad Bills once and every thing in the past is washed away. It really makes no sense to cut him though. I don’t think they’ll be any better in the next few years, may as well try and draft his replacement this offseason and let whoever that is take over at some point next season should things go the way they likely will.
wtf wants that contract or that baggage
Buckaroo, let me guess…..who else, the Jets
Let Tua ride for two more years eat the money and draft his replacement either next year or 2027. Rebuild and reboot. Simple
Yes you rebuld and plan on drafting his replacement in 2027 but you do not keep him on the roster unless the coach agrees to keep him on the bench. Start either Ewers or another young QB. They better not allow Tua to start so the team can win a few meaningless games and hurt their draft position in 2027.
Tua finally beat Buffalo and can still be viable if the team can improve in all phases. The right coaches have to come in.
Until his next concussion. The last one was self-inflicted…
Haha … he would need many more before he calls it quits … the coaches would have to shelve him if there are at least 2 more. We will see …
Achane beat Buffalo. Tua just didn’t screw up lol
If they can pull off a win against Patriots next time they play, that would be something.
“Dolphins Likely To Retain Tua Tagovailoa For 2026?”
“Dolphins Unlikely To Be Able To Get Rid Of Tua Tagovailoa For 2026?”
They can get rid of him, Plenty of moves they can make to free up more than enough cap space to cover the 22 million they would be over the cap by making him a post June 1st cut. While also having enough cap to sign their draft picks, 20+ UDFAS and a few cheaper 3rd tier or street free agents.
It may seem unlikely for those who care about winning meaningless games. Anyone with a clue knows this team is not going to seriously compete for anything in 2026. Who cares if they win 3 games or 8 games. Neither gets you into the playoffs. At least when you only win 3 games you get your pick of QBs in what looks like a strong draft. People saying it’s impossible are full of crap.