After six up-and-down years with the Dolphins, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will likely exit Miami in the near future. Releasing or trading Tagovailoa would put the Dolphins in position to add another veteran passer this offseason.
Packers backup Malik Willis is a rumored target, but the Dolphins are at a disadvantage in cap space (a projected $3.18MM, per OverTheCap) compared to other teams that may chase him. Rams reserve Jimmy Garoppolo, who should come at a much lower price than Willis, is also a name to watch for the Dolphins, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.
The 34-year-old Garoppolo spent the past two seasons behind 2025 MVP winner Matthew Stafford in Los Angeles. After starting one game in 2024, Garoppolo didn’t attempt a pass in three appearances last season. A crack at playing time in Miami, where Garoppolo would presumably compete with 2025 seventh-rounder Quinn Ewers, may entice the 12-year veteran.
Since beginning his career as a Patriots second-rounder in 2014, Garoppolo – once considered the heir apparent to Tom Brady – has played for four teams and accumulated 64 starts. His most recent attempt as a full-time starter came with the 2023 Raiders, who erred in handing him a three-year, $67.5MM deal in free agency that March. Eight months later, after Garoppolo performed poorly over six starts, the Raiders benched him for Aidan O’Connell in November. They released Garoppolo during the ensuing offseason.
Garoppolo’s Las Vegas stint did not go according to plan, but he was in position to land his expensive contract after enjoying success with the 49ers from 2017-22. In 2019, a career year, Garoppolo completed 69.1% of passes and threw for 3,978 yards, 27 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The 49ers went 13-3 in the regular season and advanced to Super Bowl LIV, but they lost 31-20 to the Chiefs.
As PFR’s Sam Robinson noted in his Dolphins Offseason Outlook, new head coach Jeff Hafley and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik overlapped with Garoppolo in San Francisco. As the defensive backs coach from 2016-18, Hafley was on the other side of the ball. But Slowik worked closely with Garoppolo as an offensive assistant/pass-game specialist/pass-game coordinator from 2019-22. If the Dolphins are merely looking for an inexpensive stopgap to replace Tagovailoa, we could see Garoppolo reunite with Hafley and Slowik in 2026.
I mean, if your goal is to completely tank it’s a great move.
Also a great move if you want him to get hurt at some point in the season and need to go to your backup.
‘…Since beginning his career as a Patriots second-rounder in 2014, Garoppolo – once considered the heir apparent to Tom Brady …’ That ole Billy just running circles around other GM’s(?). Joke of a coach.
Garoppolo almost won a Super Bowl and had great success in San Francisco I think bill was right that he was a good QB
Bridge tank leash with a new regime it makes more sense than keeping Tua tbh. Best case scenario they suck get tons of cap next year and a chance to nab either Arch or Dante to build around.
It doesn’t make more sense. If they keep Tua (even if he holds a clipboard all year), it’s $43 million less to keep him. Give Ewers a shot next season and it seems like it will be virtually impossible for them not to end up with the first pick next year and they can take Arch Manning. That 43 million will allow them to actually go out and buy a few long-term pieces.
Jimmy had success in Slowiks system tho back in SanFran. Also he’s held clipboards past few years he’s dirt cheap and a low risk option. Multiple reports have Tua being dropped if no trade partner comes up. My comment stands. Makes sense.
Whether they sign him or not to play two quarters before he suffers a season-ending injury, dismissing 43 million dollars simply to rid yourself of Tua makes no sense on any level. Cut him next year. He’s an odd guy, but he’s not a cancer and if nothing else, maybe he comes to camp in better shape, knowing he’s auditioning for free agency next year……… All of the scenarios suck. A third grader would have been a better GM than Grier.
Yeah but they don’t want him bro lmao how else I got to say it?
Tua has no future with Miami. He lost the locker room. Keeping him to “save” 43 million is not wise. It’s a sunk cost. It’s not like cutting him next year won’t have dead cap money. Still going to be 40+. This is going to be a lean year, might as well rip the band aid off now and live in salary cap hell while you tank.
Exactly @I give no fox
sbmcintosh36@gmail.com where you getting the 43 from?
Its 99.2 depending on realease date,they can take all this year or split over 2 ,theres zero chance of trade cuz they’d have to pick in cash due to salary this year.
Who plays the other 10 games?
I know you’re probably being funny but I see this as a legitimate statement. Glass jimmy. I think k he’s better off being Stanford’s back up again.
Should mention that the contract was voided.
Jimmy G, Quinn Ewers and Skylar Thompson would make for an outstanding QB room in Miami 🙂
Bro, I can offer as much as Jimmy G at this point. I can help the dolphins go 0-17 at a fraction of the cost.
As long as his body doesnt break down he should be a good bridge QB and if he’s good enough he could be traded mid season to give Ewers a look
Might not be a bad addition at the right price. But, at this stage of his career, I would not want to rely on him to be more than a high level back up.
Fun fact, Jimmy G is currently 9th all time in passer rating. He’s right above Tom Brady.
this is just dumb. u wanna cut cap n do a soft reset let Ewers start the entire season see what he has . he did pretty well behind that OL last few games. See what he’s got it can’t hurt especially when QBs are expensive and ur up against the cap . keep Tua to save money then when a QB goes down trade em for something and eat most of the money. I just see all this dumb rumors about oh Miami gonna get this QB or they should get this guy . if they really want homegrown talent use Ewers for an entire season
Lots of pretty p*rnstars for Jimmy to date in Miami
I don’t think they can afford him after cutting Tua, their best option will probably be Ewers, and keep Zach Wilson behind him. The most starts Garoppolo has made in a season was 16 in 2019, and 15 in 2021, & he’s 43-21 as a starter since being drafted in 2014. Statistically speaking, he puts up good numbers, but he can’t be counted on to last a full season.
I really don’t understand this take. The Dolphins’ top on-field need is a long-term answer at quarterback — GM Jeff Hafley has essentially said as much. Any snap JG takes is a snap that could have been spent evaluating a younger player. Maybe I’m way off, but saying “JG understands Slowik’s system” is totally misreading what’s going on in Miami.
Now watch, they’ll probably sign him tonight.