FEBRUARY 16: The Dolphins’ preference remains a trade at this time, NFL insider Jordan Schultz confirms. He adds the team does not want this situation to “drag too long,” so a decision could be coming shortly. It could very well include a release in the absence of a market on the trade front.
FEBRUARY 13: As the new league year is fast approaching, the Dolphins have been working desperately to figure out a way out of the corner they’ve painted themselves into. As it’s been reported recently that Miami is nearing a decision on the future of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, it appears one option may be getting taken away from the team. 
According to SportsBoom’s Jason La Canfora, there is “no trade market” for Tagovailoa. All conversation from both the Dolphins and Tagovailoa concerning the future has revolved around the idea of a trade. At season’s end, Tagovailoa made it known that he would welcome a fresh start elsewhere, while the team made it known their hope was to trade him.
Our most recent update before this indicated that the Dolphins were still focused on the trade route for Tagovailoa’s exit, and they expressed a willingness to eat some of money owed to the quarterback in order to make it happen.
Just before the 2024 NFL season, Miami made the move to sign Tagovailoa to an extension following a season in which he led the NFL in passing yards while starting every game of the season for the first (and only) time in his career. In the wake of several other record-breaking contracts at the position, the Dolphins agreed to a four-year, $212.4MM deal with over $167.17MM in guaranteed money. Since then, Tagovailoa has missed a combined nine games in two seasons and, after averaging over 260 yards per game in three straight seasons, saw his average yards per game plummet to 190 this year.
We knew that Tagovailoa’s benching this year, combined with his huge contract and injury history, made a trade difficult, forcing the Dolphins to offer up the possibility of throwing in some offsetting cash. Per La Canfora, though, Tagovailoa isn’t a difficult trade piece; he’s a non-starter. Backed by input from several top NFL executives, La Canfora seems to indicate that teams in the league are already so turned off by Tagovailoa’s poor play and frequent concussions that they’re not even willing to take him on at a reduced rate.
La Canfora included a series of quotes from said executives, with several not limiting themselves to the language of polite society. One general manager simply told La Canfora, “They’re (screwed).” He went on to call the contract untradeable, saying that, even with Miami “willing to eat a (boat)load of” Tagovailoa’s contract, they “just don’t see a market for him.”
Another top exec relayed to La Canfora a “four-pronged” list of reasons Tagovailoa and the Dolphins were stuck with each other. It started with Tagovailoa’s inability to effectively push the ball down the field and make plays consistently anymore. It then moved to perceived leadership issues with concerns that he couldn’t move a locker room and comes off as ingenuine. The third prong called his concussion history alone “a no-go for a lot of teams,” and the fourth ended by calling his deal a “terrible…contract that nobody wants to touch.”
If Miami is unable to trade Tagovailoa, they will then be forced with the new decision of whether to cut him or keep him. In keeping him, the Dolphins would be retaining perhaps the most expensive backup quarterback in the NFL. As they attempt to obtain a new, young option at the position this offseason with which to move forward, Tagovailoa’s continued presence could also create uncertainty and doubt in the locker room. Cutting the 27-year-old, though, would shoulder the Dolphins with $99.2MM in dead money without providing any cap savings. Cutting him now would lock that money in for the 2026 season alone, whereas the best-case scenario would see the team designate him as a post-June 1 cut, allowing them to split that $99.2MM over two seasons — still a dire result.
Essentially, though the Dolphins seem to believe they’re making a decision between three options, the rest of the league appears to have limited them to two. Miami will need to figure out how best to work around the massive contract obligations that remain tied to Tagovailoa as they attempt to move on to a new era of quarterback.
You don’t say. A highly paid poor performer who is 1 concussion away from retiring doesn’t have a market. Absolute shocker.
Same could be said about Kyler; subbing in leg injuries instead of concussion.
And there hasn’t been a market for the midget the last 2 years they’ve been trying to trade him.
He should have retired 1 concussion ago.
Yeah that’s fair.
As a Dolphins fan the concussions arent even the biggest issue with Tua anymore. His hip is becoming a problem for him. Accuracy and velocity issues, cant run, cant change direction- and we are stuck with his contract…Chris Grier should be arrested.
A meh to bad QB with a history of concussions making a ton of money. And there’s no trade interest? Shocker.
You get the feeling that that Grier and the Dolphins wanted Tua to become a top flite QB and hoped that paying him like one would make it come true.
That’s delusional thinking — and a great way for the executive to wind up fired.
To be fair, Tua was coming off a couple of pretty good seasons, albeit with concussions. Teams are in a situation where they don’t want to let a quarterback go and see him flourish somewhere else. Houston is in the same situation with Stroud right now. He’s gonna want a 50 plus per year deal
Deerhunter:
Yeah, quarterbacks are at such a premium that mistakes are definitely going to be made along the way. Very expensive mistakes.
Tua was coming off a couple of good seasons because of McDaniels. A scheme QB with injury issues is a huge risk.
His good seasons came with Tyreek. Take Tyreek away and now Tua isn’t very good. Some of the reasons in the article sound about right; can’t motivate a locker room, and can’t consistently drive the ball down the field. Tua just doesn’t have that fire or passion to excel and win.
I think that people are overstating how bad Tua is. He was bad last year, but so was Miami as a whole. I don’t think that he’s great, but he definitely can be more capable than he was last year. He really didn’t seem to care, but then again, neither did the rest of the team. I don’t think that the contract at the time was completely reckless; the mistakes came in not building a competitive team as a whole and capitalizing on the short period of momentum that Miami had before spiraling. Tua was a part of that, but not the primary cause.
That’s the knock on him too, though. Tua’s not going to elevate the team, he’s going to follow the trend or example set. If the team is lagging, Tua will, too. I’m not surprised that the market is non-existent with the circumstances the way they are. That being said, I don’t think that there’s no interest at all in Tua; there’s no interest at that price. If Miami cuts him, a number of teams will try to sign him. They’re just not going to give up anything of value for a bloated contract and iffy, injured player whose ceiling isn’t top tier. Let Miami eat the contract, and sign him later if you want him. That’s what will happen.
Ak185:
They couldn’t cut him until next off-season at the earliest. The dead cap hit is astronomical if they cut him now.
Oh yeah, it doesn’t have to be this year. I think that the Dolphins’ only option is to keep him right now. Could they just eat it, Denver style? Sure. But if they do it next year, teams will wait. They’re not taking on that deal right now, but they’ll take on Tua at a much less expensive rate.
Nah, not at all. They had a yiung qb coming off a very good season at the end of his rookie contract (just when most qbs really start to figure it out)
Their options were pay him, and hope it was a step up the ladder, and not the peak. Or you let hom walk, with no viable replacement, and hope someone better becomes available.
The 2nd is a terrible option, so teams eat it, give rhw deal, and hope for the best
It’s the same process that got Daniel Jones, Kirk Cousins (multiple times), geno smoth, Jared golf, and dozens of other mediocre qbs paid over the years
somekat:
Some contracts are more odious than others though and this Tua contract is terrible
They’re delusional if they ever believed there would be on in the first place. Who would want to take on that contract with his injury issues, and provide *any* value back in return?
Tua’s washed, he’s shown that with his play.
What the first word you think of when you mention his name?
Begins with a C.
Sad…but
He’s done.
Hawk Tua. Sorry, Chalk Tua.
Probably the biggest winner in here is tua. He can remain making a boatload of cash and not actually take the field where he’ll likely have his head cracked.
Poor dude! He needs to hang it up.
He’s the exact opposite of poor
Texans added a 2nd rd pick to get osweilers contract off the books? Wouldve taken a 1st and 2nd to move tua’s.
If Aaron Rodgers retires the Steelers could probably get Tua and a first round pick back for free
He can’t play in cold so that will be a no
He can’t play in warmth either.
Booohooo
Awe, poor Tua … you guys act like he will retire soon and count his money. This guy is tough no matter what, and will still try to play good football. Nobody knows how he will respond or if he can regain his accurate ability but he wont just go quietly. Backup or not, some team will give him a chance and we will see how he responds. He had a tough year but he is far from done.
Found Tua’s burner, y’all!
Seemed to have a couple of good seasons then turned, wonder if the concussions have affected his ‘processing’ causing him to be slower at recognition and adjusting. As if his eyes can’t cipher what’s happening on defense and his reactions are dulled.
I could be wrong yet I’d think others that followed Miami might have noticed
As someone who has had 5 diagnosed concussions (and pretty sure at least 2 others that werent) I can tell you there is no way his processing hasn’t been affected in some way. It’s just not possible. It may not be an all the time thing but it definitely is an issue at some times. I would be absolutely flabbergasted if it wasn’t.
I have an issue with it at times and I’m NOT (I know, shocker) playing the hardest position in sports at the highest level.
Evolution of an Overpaid Player: Too busy spending $, reduce workouts during offseason, underperformance, prone to injury, released by team, sign league minimum salary, released again.
Can they trade him to the Argonauts or Stampeders?
Just run him out there next year and tank there are too many holes on the roster to be competitive
Tua will likely play better than any QB they can draft or can afford in free agency.
Wouldn’t the Dolphins have to pay him the remainder of the guaranteed money if he gets injured?
Yes. If Tua gets hurt in 2026 (either in practice or a game) and can’t pass a physical the Dolphins will be on the hook for a $20 million injury guarantee for 2027. I’m just saying if their goal is to lose, keeping Tua is likely not their best choice.
Likely ditto for Kyler, for different reasons.
Yea but at least Kyler can turn trade restrictions off
If only the Cardinals could sim past last season…
When they signed him I said how teams need to break the trend of giving a mid QB the 50 million a year contract. That’s not the cost of doing business. That’s just desperation and short sightedness
“Hey, wait!!! We gave out a REALLY stupid contract and nobody will save us from ourselves??!!?? THIS ISN’T FAIR!!!”
Even if he’s inactive and/or holding a clipboard every game next season, the best of the worst scenarios is simply to keep him.
Tua for Watson
There may be no trade market today but the team situations are always in a state of flux. Injuries often force GMs to take desperate actions. Joe Flacco is the best example of a guy performing as a bandaid solution but Tua could also have a similar role.
He lead the league in yards 2 seasons ago?
Yes since been injured and not preformed as well since… makes sense
He’s very accurate, likes to play quick from the pocket, doesn’t have great arm strength and ultimately this team isn’t a QB away from competing anyway. Why would you just try get him some protection and just try build for the next QB.
Achane is an excellent RB, trade Waddle if there’s value there, Hill is going to be cut. Run it back with Tua. You have your first second and third along with 2 additional thirds.
Clearly your not getting anything for Tua why not pray for good health maybe he preforms again and the you can get something when the contract doesn’t look as bad either
2 seasons ago he had the league best 1-2 punch at RB and Hill and Waddle that were 100% healthy and tearing it up. People give Brock Purdy crap for needing avengers (which he doesn’t) but Tua should was the better example.
It was more of an example he can be good. Not that he will be. This teams not a Super Bowl challenger, they had more positions to fix not just QB, just leave him be for now
I almost think it’s about time for another reboot in Miami. Trade Achane and get what you can for him and let Tua play this year out and make him and Waddle a post June 1st cut next off-season when you can save a crap load of cap space. New Orleans should have traded Kamara after Brees retired and didn’t and just added to the salary cap hell misery. I don’t want to see Miami make the same mistake.
Yeah I’d be more inclined to trade waddle and keep achane
Face it Miami…your stuck, same as Browns are stuck with Watson and the Cardinals with Murray…maybe teams will learn to NOT dole out mega contracts for QB’S…..
I’m not a fan of the player but on a personal level I hope he walks away from the game before it’s too late.
Agreed
Wishing him good luck.
Hey! You’re only allowed to say mean things about Tua online! Do you even know where you are?
This will be like another Mayfield situation where the more money Miami is willing to shoulder, the higher the pick they will get
At least Mayfield is healthy….a hot head who’s a bit over rated but healthy
Not really my point. Point was exactly what I said. The more money Miami is willing to pay, the higher the pick. There’s actually a couple of quarterbacks that are in this situation
The jockey made of balsa wood who throws like a catapult?
You don’t say.
This guy is like saying the sun is hot
Probably why Groucho Blank fired RahMo and TF before they got off the team bus after the last game. Was afraid they would try to trade for Tua. Miami missed their window…
QB market this off-season is terrible. The draft is bad. You have to pay Tua anyway. Let him and Ewers compete. You either build up Tua’s trade value or you see more of what you have in Ewers. Go into next off-season with a clearer picture and more opportunity to just cut Tua outright.
Doesn’t help your trade market is limited to warm weather teams/ teams with a dome. Dude cannot play in the cold whatsoever.
Is Mike McDaniel still getting paid? In other words was there money left on his deal that Miami has to pay?
The amount of dead money in baseball and football is more than the GDP of Uganda.
This is my shocked face.
I’d like to see what the concussion protocols say about him, but could he be the next Sam Darnold or Daniel Jones? He was extremely good for two seasons, okay for one season, and bad last year. That’s not a write-off imo.
He has a degenerative injury to his torque generating hip. I would bet he doesnt throw 10 more touchdowns in this league.
Haha … I would take that bet but hopefully its not as bad an injury as you say. I think he would still try to play at least three more years …
Financially the best move is to hold Tua for 2026 and release him at the beginning of the 2027 league year as a post-June 1st cut. BUT, if Tua gets hurt in 2026 (either in practice or a game) and can’t pass a physical the Dolphins will be on the hook for a $20 million injury guarantee for 2027. Something to consider.
With his concussion medical record alone, a team is taking a big risk with acquiring him. I can see a lot of teams taking a pass on Tua, one good shot he could be a medical liability for an NFL team taking that chance.
In what would be a very controversial trade for both parties, financially a Tua for Kyler Murray would work out.
Miami’s (lack of) medical staff broke Tua. They’re rightfully stuck with him.
When you’re already on the hook and your franchise isn’t making a run this season —> start him
Why make any possible rebuild even harder by giving up the picks it’ll take to trade a player you’re going to have to pay at some percentage anyway?
Even after the concussions, Hill was able to be Tua’s biggest asset; but if Tyreek is gone it’s even more of a reason to just run Tua out there and plan the rebuild/future without digging that hole any deeper & hamstringing the franchise
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Should have called it quits when he took that very normal hit, and got such a bad concussion that he started throwing up gang signs
I’ve seen some suggestions of swapping the two straight across, but I don’t know the salary cap ramifications of doing that. Wouldn’t both teams just remain stuck in the same situation, or would that add on an extra $50 million for each?
I had Google AI run the ramifications of a straight up swap. Tua’s contract is way worse than Murray’s. It was making my head hurt just reading through the various implications.
Deshaun Watson for Tua
Ya think?
I find it interesting that Tua Tagovailoa had a better season in 2025 than Bryce Young by several statistics (pass completion percentage, average yards per attempt, passer rating) but Tua is considered a worthless turd and I don’t hear many people suggesting Bryce Young should be released or traded. The Dolphins also scored more points per game than the Panthers. I guess you get immunity when your team makes the playoffs (barely–and with a losing record).
This season there will be approximately 49 million reasons why Bryce doesn’t get the flak Tua does
Why not run him out there til his hip blows up or a concussion ends his career and try to win the Arch Manning sweepstakes? They aren’t leapfrogging both Buffalo and New England next year.
Wasn’t it Tua who kept saying “the market is what the market is” when he was angling for that fat contract? Well he’s right! The market is what the market is and THE BENCH is right over there son!
There’s over 42 million reasons why the best and simplest scenario is just to keep him for one more year. Either he competes and wins the job or he holds a clipboard. It’s cheaper to have him inactive each week than it is to release him. This team is years away from competing in even a best case scenario. Give Ewers a shot (and whoever else they bring in) and see what you have and worry about the QB next year. Almost the entire roster needs to be replaced so throwing away that much additional money that further diminishes your ability to bring in new players is ridiculous. There’s no justification for it.
if they release him, they have a huge cap hit due to money they paid him in the past. If they keep him, they have to pay him more money in addition to kicking most of the cap hit down the road, If they don’t want to use him, it’s a lose-lose proposition both ways and they have to decide which is not worse.
I’m with ya. Keeping him for one more year is the best of a lot of really lousy choices. It’s $42 million less to keep him. That helps you build part of the foundation for the future.
Shocker! In other news, the sun will rise tomorrow.
I mean, it sounds silly, but the Steelers taking him on a minimum deal isn’t the worst idea possible. You could get high ceiling Tua, or you could get mashed potato brain Tua. Both are kind of win-win scenarios.
The problem with both the Tua and Kyler situations is that both teams tanked the markets for their own players by benching them and making it clear they want to move on from them. Why would another team take on the underwater contracts and give up something of value when they know both teams will eventually have no choice but to release them? Their options are to attach draft compensation and eat some of the contract, or trade them for each other. Or release them and eat the dead money. That’s it.
Big agree there. Benching Tua really hurt whatever value he had. They could have at least done it for a “medical” reason like some other teams have. Dishonest, but it preserves value (or at least attempts to).
Can he simply retire and make his life easier?
“You were the Chosen One to bring Miami to the Promise Land!!”
He was supposed to bring balance to the offense, not destroy it!
^^ this guy gets it
In other news, water is wet.
Why would you give a player that no one wants $55 million per year ?