Dolphins Coveted Joe Burrow In 2020, Offered Bengals Four First-Rounders For No. 1 Pick
The Dolphins entered the 2020 NFL Draft in need of a franchise quarterback. Joe Burrow headlined the class after a national championship- and Heisman Trophy-winning season at LSU in 2019. With Burrow coming off an incredible 60-touchdown campaign, the Dolphins showed interest in moving up from the fifth spot to land him. However, the Bengals stayed put at No. 1 and selected Burrow.
Four picks after Burrow went off the board, the Dolphins settled for former Alabama signal-caller Tua Tagovailoa. It turns out they were extremely aggressive in trying to nab Burrow first.
Armed with three first-rounders in 2020 to go with an extra first in 2021, the Dolphins offered the Bengals a package of four firsts for the No. 1 pick, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. They’d have drafted Burrow had Cincinnati signed off on the trade. However, the Bengals were committed enough to Burrow that they didn’t entertain the proposal, according to Schefter.
We heard a while back the Dolphins made an aggressive push to acquire the 2020 top pick from the Bengals. Brian Flores‘ tanking allegation surrounded the 2019 Miami season. While the NFL did not punish Stephen Ross in connection with Flores’ accusation, the Dolphins fielded a bad roster as they retooled that year. Flores guiding the team to a 5-11 record scuttled any hopes of obtaining the No. 1 pick. Burrow had also surged past Tagovailoa on draft boards thanks to his record-setting season, but the Bengals’ 2-14 record in Zac Taylor‘s debut season gave them access to the Ohio native-turned-LSU superstar.
This is, however, the first we have heard that a four-first-rounder offer was on the table. This would have meant Cincinnati sliding from No. 1 to No. 5 and also obtaining the Nos. 18 and 26 choices — to go with a 2021 first. The Dolphins had two firsts in 2021 thanks to their August 2019 Laremy Tunsil blockbuster.
Miami acquired the 2020 No. 18 pick via the September 2019 Minkah Fitzpatrick trade and No. 26 in the Tunsil swap. The Dolphins ended up trading down four spots from No. 26, giving the Packers Jordan Love access. In the end, Miami ended up with Tagovailoa — who was coming off a season-ending hip injury — to go with Austin Jackson and Noah Igbinoghene.
A half-decade later, Tagovailoa’s tenure in Miami may be on the verge of ending. The 27-year-old had success earlier in his career, even earning a four-year, $212.4MM extension in July 2024, but he’ll serve in a third-string role against the Burrow-led Bengals on Sunday. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel decided earlier this week to bench Tagovailoa for seventh-round rookie Quinn Ewers.
Even though Tagovailoa’s owed a guaranteed $54MM in 2026, Miami is “prepared” to cut ties with him in the offseason, per Schefter. The Dolphins will likely part with him before $3MM of his 2027 salary becomes guaranteed on March 15.
Schefter points to the possibility of a trade in which the Dolphins offer a team draft compensation and pay “a heavy portion” of Tagovailoa’s contract. Tagovailoa would have to take a pay cut to facilitate a trade, notes Schefter, who adds it’s likely he’d have a say in where he goes next.
If the Dolphins are unable to execute a trade, it seems they’ll release Tagovailoa at the cost of a record $99MM in dead money. They’d spread that total over two seasons, leaving Tagovailoa to search for another team on the open market.
Like Tagovailoa, Burrow earned a massive raise earlier in his career. The Bengals gave him a five-year, $275MM extension in September 2023. Burrow, who nearly led the Bengals to a win over the Rams in Super Bowl LVI, was coming off back-to-back AFC Championship Game appearances at the time.
The Bengals haven’t returned to the playoffs since they locked up Burrow, though the two-time Pro Bowler remains among the league’s premier passers when healthy. Injuries have been a frequent occurrence during his career, however, including a nine-game absence this year. He returned from a toe injury in Week 13, but with two losses in three games since then, the Bengals are 4-10 and out of contention.
While Burrow is frustrated with the Bengals’ struggles, it doesn’t appear he’ll join Tagovailoa on the market of available QBs in the offseason. Burrow expects to remain in Cincinnati in 2026.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/20/25
Here are Saturday’s minor moves around the NFL, including gameday elevations for tomorrow’s Week 16 slate:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: CB Jaden Davis, WR Steven Sims
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed from practice squad: CB C.J. Henderson
- Waived: WR/KR Jamal Agnew
- Elevated: WR Chris Blair, OLB Khalid Kareem
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: DT Josh Tupou, LB William Kwenkeu
- Placed on IR: LB Teddye Buchanan (story)
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from IR: WR Mecole Hardman
- Elevated: K Michael Badgley, DE Andre Jones Jr.
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: LB Isaiah Simmons, OL Saahdiq Charles
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: DT Howard Cross, CB Bralyn Lux
Dallas Cowboys
- Elevated: CB Corey Ballentine
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: QB Sam Ehlinger, S Delarrin Turner-Yell
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: OL Kingsley Eguakun, TE Giovanni Ricci
Houston Texans
- Elevated: DT Marlon Davidson, CB Alijah Huzzie
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: S Marcus Williams, G Branson Taylor
Miami Dolphins
- Signed from practice squad: CB Ethan Robinson
- Placed on IR: DB Elijah Campbell
- Elevated: OL Kion Smith, WR Theo Wease
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed from practice squad: CB Dwight McGlothern
- Elevated: LB Sione Takitaki
New York Giants
- DT Elijah Chatman, K Ben Sauls
New York Jets
- Elevated: DB Tre Brown
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: T Easton Kilty, TE Moliki Matavao
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: CB Daryl Porter Jr., T Jack Driscoll
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on IR: LB Nick Martin
Tennessee Titans
- Signed from practice squad: DT Cam Horsley
- Waived: DT Shy Tuttle
- Elevated: CB Kemon Hall
Agnew’s time in Atlanta has come to an end after 11 appearances with his third career team. The veteran did not see any usage on offense, but he handled 45 total returns between kickoffs and punts this season. Agnew totaled 855 yards in that capacity, but he will now hit the waiver wire. Provided he clears, the 30-year-old will become a free agent.
The same is true of Tuttle. A veteran of 105 games, he has made just one start so far this season. Tuttle has only handled a 25% snap share on defense, so he is unlikely to generate much interest as a free agent. Nevertheless, a depth role could await him on a contender down the stretch.
Latest On Dolphins’ QB Change
Having demoted quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to a third-string role earlier this week, the Dolphins may be in the early stages of moving on from their longtime starter. Head coach Mike McDaniel said owner Stephen Ross had no say in the team’s quarterback change, but the financial ramifications are hard to ignore.
If Tagovailoa plays again this season, suffers an injury, and can’t pass a physical when the Dolphins attempt to release him (assuming they do), they’ll owe him an additional $17MM, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald notes. The Dolphins are already on the hook for $54MM in guarantees in 2026 as part of the four-year, $212.4MM extension they gave Tagovailoa in July 2024. Adding another $17MM to that total would be an unwelcome development for Miami, which is nearing the end of its second straight season without a playoff berth.
The Dolphins don’t have any future financial concerns with their other veteran QB, pending free agent Zach Wilson. They could have plugged the former second overall pick and ex-Jets starter in to replace Tagovailoa, but they’ll instead turn to seventh-round rookie Quinn Ewers. The Texas product will start against the Bengals on Sunday.
McDaniel told reporters Wilson was “very disappointed” in the decision, but the coach added: “Ultimately, it’s flat out as easy is Quinn’s disposition, his relationship with his teammates and the motivation. Our team with him as the starting quarterback gives us the best opportunity to beat the Bengals.”
Although McDaniel isn’t assured of returning as the Dolphins’ head coach in 2026, it appears likely that he will. If he no longer regards Tagovailoa as a potential answer for next year, it makes sense to evaluate Ewers before season’s end. In his only action to date, the 22-year-old went 5 for 8 for 53 yards in a loss to the Browns in Week 7. The Dolphins will have a better idea of how to proceed in the offseason after getting a longer look at Ewers.
While Ewers will audition for the starting job, McDaniel isn’t publicly closing the door on Tagovailoa.
“I still believe that his growth can continue,” said McDaniel, who credited Tagovailoa with his handling of the news, stating he “exhibited what made him a captain and leader on this team.”
Jaylen Waddle, Miami’s top receiver, revealed that Tagovailoa has been actively helping Ewers prepare for the Cincinnati game, according to Jackson. Tagovailoa may finish out the year assisting Ewers behind the scenes, but an answer on his fate in Miami should arrive soon after that. If the Dolphins don’t cut the cord on Tagovailoa by March 13, they’ll owe him another $3MM.
Dolphins TE Darren Waller Unsure Of Playing Future
When the Dolphins traded away Jonnu Smith, questions were raised about how they would replace his production at the tight end spot. In a move which few (if any) observers saw coming, Darren Waller was acquired upon unretiring. 
Waller’s career seemed to be over when he hung up his cleats last offseason, but the opportunity to reunite with Frank Smith (now the Dolphins’ offensive coordinator after working with Waller during his Raiders tenure) prompted his decision to return to the NFL. With the 2025 season winding down, it remains to be seen if he will continue playing next year.
“I will evaluate at the end of the season and see what I want to do,” the 33-year-old said (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald). “I’m not leaning one way or the other right now. Just focusing on enjoying these moments we’ve got.”
Injuries were prevalent in Waller’s career prior to his retirement, and he has been sidelined on multiple occasions with the Dolphins. The former Pro Bowler has made seven appearances and counting, and that stretch includes a pair of two-touchdown performances. In all, Waller has totaled 243 yards and six scores on 20 catches this season. He could remain a red zone option for 2026 in the event he remains in Miami.
Having been eliminated from the playoffs on Monday, the Dolphins have three games remaining in their season. Healthy once more, Waller will look to remain available down the stretch as Miami turns to rookie Quinn Ewers under center. A strong finish to the campaign on offense in particular could be key in determining whether head coach Mike McDaniel (and by extension Smith and the rest of the team’s staff) will be retained this offseason. That, in turn, will likely play a large role in Waller’s decision on his own future.
Greg Dulcich and Julian Hill are pending 2026 free agents. The Dolphins’ tight end room also includes undrafted rookie Jalin Conyers, whose pact runs through 2027. Plenty of changes could be taking place soon at the position as a result, although part of the team’s planning will depend on how Waller chooses to proceed.
Dolphins Bench Tua Tagovailoa; Quinn Ewers To Start In Week 16
On the heels of an ugly loss to the Steelers, the Dolphins are benching quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports. Rookie Quinn Ewers will start Week 16 against the Bengals.
Once 2-7, the Dolphins reeled off four straight wins to stay in the playoff picture. Their 28-15 defeat in Pittsburgh on Monday officially eliminated them from postseason contention. Tagovailoa went 22 of 28 for 253 yards and a touchdown, but he also took four sacks and threw his NFL-worst 15th interception. Head coach Mike McDaniel said afterward that the Dolphins’ QB play was “not good enough.”
[RELATED: Team Demotes Tagovailoa To Third-String Level]
With McDaniel indicating on Tuesday that a QB change was under consideration, it’s not surprising the Dolphins will sit Tagovailoa on Sunday. However, the Dolphins certainly didn’t expect it to come to this 17 months after signing Tagovailoa to a four-year, $212.4MM extension in July 2024. Miami agreed to hand Tagovailoa $167.1MM in guaranteed money. He’s due $54MM in guarantees in 2026, which will make it difficult for the Dolphins to move on from the soon-to-be 28-year-old in the offseason.
Tagovailoa has dealt with numerous concussion issues throughout his career, but that didn’t stop the former fifth overall pick from logging quality production under McDaniel in previous seasons. The ex-Alabama standout registered a passer rating upward of 101.0 in each season from 2022-24. He led the NFL in yards per attempt in 2022 (8.9), finished first in passing yards in 2023 (4,624), and paced the league in completion percentage last year (72.9).
Tagovailoa has stayed healthy this year, but along with already posting a career-worst INT total, his other numbers have underwhelmed. While Tagovailoa has reached the 20-TD mark for the third time and completed 67.7% of passes, he has averaged just 6.9 yards per attempt en route to an 88.5 rating. His 36.7 QBR ranks 30th among 33 qualifying signal-callers. Only J.J. McCarthy, Geno Smith, and Cam Ward have been worse in that regard.
Having already parted with general manager Chris Grier in October, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and the next GM will have to decide how to proceed with Tagovailoa and McDaniel in the offseason. As mentioned, Tagovailoa’s contract is onerous. Designating Tagovailoa a post-June 1 release would leave the Dolphins with $99MM in dead cap spread over 2026 and ’27, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports notes.
That would be the largest dead cap hit in league history, easily surpassing the $85MM the Broncos ate when they released Russell Wilson in March 2024. A trade would also be difficult to pull off, explains Jones, who points to Tagovailoa’s contract, his struggles in cold weather, and his less-than-stellar reputation around the league as roadblocks.
Even if he doesn’t reclaim the starting job, the Dolphins may have to ride it out for another year with Tagovailoa. Along with Tagovailoa, McDaniel has helped the Dolphins to the playoffs twice since 2022. He seems likely to return for a fifth season in 2026, but that’s not a sure thing yet.
For now, McDaniel will pin his hopes on Ewers, a seventh-rounder who enjoyed a strong starting career at Texas from 2022-24. The Dolphins have toggled between Ewers and veteran Zach Wilson in the No. 2 role this season. Wilson’s a former second overall pick who amassed 33 starts with the Jets from 2021-23, but he was a major letdown during that stretch. While the Dolphins gave Wilson a $6MM contract last March after he worked as a backup in Denver in 2024, this may go down as a second straight start-less campaign for the 26-year-old.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/17/25
Wednesday’s NFL practice squad transactions:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: RB Montrell Johnson
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: C Wesley French
Denver Broncos
- Signed: G Nash Jones
Houston Texans
- Signed: DT Marcus Harris
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: WR Jimmy Holiday
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: G McClendon Curtis
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: OLB Andre Carter II
- Released: TE Tanner Conner
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: T Caleb Etienne
New England Patriots
- Signed: LB Amari Gainer
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR John Rhys Plumlee, RB Trey Sermon
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: QB Adrian Martinez
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: S D’Anthony Bell
- Released: CB Tyler Hall
Martinez parted ways with San Francisco a week ago and signed with the Jets, who elevated him on Sunday to back up undrafted rookie quarterback Brady Cook. New York released him from their taxi squad yesterday, so Martinez has found his way back to the Bay Area.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/17/25
Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Designated for return from IR: LB Jay Higgins
Buffalo Bills
- Designated for return from IR: WR Mecole Hardman
Carolina Panthers
- Designated for return from IR: WR David Moore
Cleveland Browns
- Designated for return from reserve/PUP: LB Winston Reid
Denver Broncos
- Designated for return from IR: LB Karene Reid
Detroit Lions
- Designated for return from IR: T Giovanni Manu
Green Bay Packers
- Designated for return from reserve/PUP: G John Williams
- Placed on IR: LB Micah Parsons (story)
Houston Texans
- Designated for return from IR: LB Darrell Taylor
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed on IR: QB Patrick Mahomes (story)
- Opened practice window: TE Jake Briningstool, DB Nazeeh Johnson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed from practice squad: DE Jahfari Harvey
Miami Dolphins
- Signed off Texans’ practice squad: LB Jackson Woodard
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from IR: S Rashad Wisdom
Tennessee Titans
- Designated for return from IR: LB Ali Gaye, LB Oluwafemi Oladejo, WR Bryce Oliver
Probably the most overqualified transaction we’ve ever listed in this space, Mahomes is heading to IR for the first time. The superstar Chiefs quarterback suffered ACL and LCL tears and has undergone surgery. Generally, Chiefs IR-return moves are impactful at this stage of the season. In the cases of Briningstool and Johnson, they are returning to practice for a 6-8 team. The Chiefs designated both for return in August, meaning both have already counted toward the team’s eight-activation total. As our IR return tracker shows, Kansas City has not used any other injury activations this season.
Given a one-year, $4.75MM deal by the Texans, Taylor worked as a backup in four games before going down with an ankle injury. Despite his contract, the former Seahawks second-rounder played just 64 defensive snaps before hitting IR.
2025 NFL Dead Money, By Team
As we head toward the playoffs, three NFL teams are carrying more than $100MM in dead money. That represents more than a third of the salary cap. The 49ers are also on track to make the playoffs with more than $100MM allocated to players no longer on their 53-man roster. Here is where the 32 teams stand for dead money (via OverTheCap) with three weeks left in the regular season:
- New Orleans Saints: $107.83MM
- San Francisco 49ers: $103.77MM
- New York Jets: $102.1MM
- Las Vegas Raiders: $87.79MM
- Philadelphia Eagles: $87.27MM
- Seattle Seahawks: $86.1MM
- Jacksonville Jaguars: $85.49MM
- Cleveland Browns: $83.22MM
- Miami Dolphins: $72.45MM
- Houston Texans: $66.44MM
- Tennessee Titans: $59.42MM
- Green Bay Packers: $57.98MM
- Los Angeles Rams: $56.23MM
- New England Patriots: $50.56MM
- Denver Broncos: $42.78MM
- Dallas Cowboys: $41.34MM
- Detroit Lions: $40.71MM
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $40.39MM
- Los Angeles Chargers: $38.78MM
- Baltimore Ravens: $38.38MM
- Buffalo Bills: $37.58MM
- Carolina Panthers: $36.55MM
- New York Giants: $33.74MM
- Pittsburgh Steelers: $33.7MM
- Minnesota Vikings: $30.6MM
- Washington Commanders: $27.29MM
- Atlanta Falcons: $27MM
- Cincinnati Bengals: $20.99MM
- Kansas City Chiefs: $20.33MM
- Indianapolis Colts: $17.37MM
- Arizona Cardinals: $16.51MM
- Chicago Bears: $8.6MM
The $100MM trio dwarfs last year’s leaders — the Broncos — in this unwanted area. The Saints began taking some overdue medicine for their cap-gymnastics past by trading Marshon Lattimore last year. That move coming after June 1 pushed $31.67MM onto New Orleans’ 2025 cap sheet. Derek Carr also counts $19.2MM on this year’s Saints cap, while Ryan Ramczyk‘s retirement covers more than $11MM.
The Carr punishment covers $55.88MM in total, meaning nearly $37MM from the QB’s retirement will land on New Orleans’ 2026 payroll. Mickey Loomis‘ spree of restructures on that contract created that inflated figure.
Deebo Samuel brought a receiver-record dead money total to the 49ers, who absorbed $34.12MM by trading the seventh-year veteran in March. The second leg of the post-June 1 Arik Armstead transaction from 2024 created a $15MM dead cap hit this year, with void years on Charvarius Ward‘s deal covering more than $12MM.
Gang Green took on barely $20MM combined from the Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams trades and will do the same next year, reflecting the low signing bonus figure on the Gardner extension. The Jets, though, have taken $56MM in total from the Aaron Rodgers release ($21MM this year, $35MM next). That is the second-highest total dead cap hit in NFL history.
The team that authorized the highest dead money sum in league annals — Denver, via the 2024 Russell Wilson release — is still carrying $32MM on that contract. It comes off the books next year, and the Broncos do not have any other player counting more than $3MM in dead cap on their 2025 payroll.
The Eagles and Seahawks are also moving toward the playoffs with higher dead money counts compared to the 2024 Broncos, though it should be noted the cap’s $24MM increase from last year plays into this. Philadelphia is still carrying a combined $26MM from the 2024 Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox retirements. Josh Sweat void years also comprise $16.44MM of this year’s cap. The Seahawks’ D.K. Metcalf trade brought $21MM in dead cap, while Geno Smith, Tyler Lockett and Dre’Mont Jones combine to cover more than $41MM in dead money.
Amari Cooper and Za’Darius Smith‘s 2024 Cleveland exits via trade tagged the Browns with more than $36MM in dead money together, while the Dolphins are dealing with more than $30MM combined from the post-June 1 designations on Xavien Howard and Jalen Ramsey. The latter counts $15.7MM in dead money this year and $20.9MM in 2026. That eclipses Lattimore’s defender-record total for dead cap.
Dolphins Demote Tua Tagovailoa To Third-String QB
Mike McDaniel confirmed the Tua Tagovailoa benching news. While Quinn Ewers will start, the fourth-year HC said (via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero) Miami’s longtime starter will drop to the third-string level.
This means Zach Wilson will work as Ewers’ backup. Tagovailoa’s demotion is quite similar to how the Jets initially proceeded when they benched Wilson in 2022. The former No. 2 overall pick dropped from first to third string when benched in November of that year. While he did move back up, the Jets attempted to keep Wilson out of the lineup by trading for Aaron Rodgers in April 2023.
McDaniel said (via the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson) ownership did not influence this move; prior to the fourth-year HC’s presser, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler noted the same. McDaniel said this decision is entirely based on which quarterback gives the team its best chance to win. “This team needs convicted quarterback play — I thought Quinn gave us the best chance to do that,” McDaniel said, via ESPN.com’s Marcel Louis-Jacques.
Still, moving a $53.1MM-per-year passer two spots down the depth chart is a big-picture decision — even if McDaniel did not say this call pertains to 2026 just yet. The Dolphins are taking a one-week approach at QB, per Fowler, though it is expected Ewers — a would-be mid-round pick who fell to the seventh — will be expected to start more than one game. When asked why Ewers received the call, Wilson — Tagovailoa’s backup for most of this season — expressed some frustration and confusion (via Jackson)
While Tua has handled the demotion “like a pro,” per Fowler, buzz about the Dolphins moving on in 2026 is already naturally emerging. The player McDaniel (and Tyreek Hill) elevated beginning in 2022 is owed $54MM guaranteed next year. This is split between a $39MM base salary and a $15MM option bonus. An additional $3MM (part of Tagovailoa’s 2027 compensation) would become guaranteed March 13, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano.
If the Dolphins were to move on via release before that date, it would bring a record-smashing — which is saying something given the Russell Wilson release price — $99.2MM in dead money. Miami would certainly choose to divide that between 2026 and ’27, but moving on from Tagovailoa in 2026 would create a considerable roster-building challenge regardless of where the salary cap settles.
Russell Wilson tagged the Broncos with nearly $85MM in dead cap in 2024. While Denver has managed to withstand that en route to the AFC’s No. 1 position as of this week, the team carried $53MM on its 2024 payroll and $32MM this year. That has meant the Broncos have not enjoyed the benefits from the Bo Nix rookie contract, though the team will in 2026 once the Wilson albatross comes off the payroll.
Were the Dolphins to find a trade taker willing to fork over Tua’s $54MM guaranteed in a pre-March 13 trade, they could drop the dead money to $45MM. We heard last month, however, league interest in Tagovailoa is minimal. Interest in the QB would make sense based on his highpoints in 2022 and ’23, though his injury issues undercut that. A trade would presumably require Miami to pick up a portion — perhaps a substantial piece — of the QB’s 2026 guarantees.
The Giants also made this move with Daniel Jones, moving Tommy DeVito from the No. 3 spot on the depth chart to No. 1 last year. New York soon released Jones. Tagovailoa’s dead money number — on an extension that runs through 2028 — will prevent any 2025 action on this contract.
Before the Jones demotion, Wilson received similar news. After being dropped from No. 1 to No. 3 on the Jets’ 2022 depth chart, he did climb back to the second-string position before making a start late that season. Robert Saleh benched Wilson in-game and had him slotted behind Rodgers following the 2023 trade. Though, Wilson reemerged to make 11 starts in 2023 after Rodgers’ Achilles tear.
Saleh benched Wilson again in ’23, and the Jets traded him to the Broncos — in a deal that involved the Jets picking up salary — in April 2024. Wilson was Denver’s third-stringer throughout last season but still fetched a $6MM guarantee from Miami — more than Mac Jones or Trey Lance received on the market — in free agency. However, McDaniel had demoted Wilson once before this season, dropping him from second to third. The embattled HC reversed course soon after, however, and Wilson backed up Tua. He will now back up Ewers, continuing a wildly disappointing career.
Dolphins Cut Matt Judon
The Dolphins are shaking things up ahead of Week 16. Along with making a change at quarterback, the team has cut pass rusher Matt Judon, veteran insider Jordan Schultz reports. He’ll go through waivers before potentially reaching free agency.
Now in his 10th NFL season, Judon hit free agency after a 17-game, 15-start, 5.5-sack campaign with the Falcons in 2024. The four-time Pro Bowler went without a contract until August.
The Dolphins added Judon a one-year deal worth up to $6MM just a couple of weeks before the start of the regular season. The pact came with a $1.5MM base salary. A claiming team would assume the prorated portion of that figure.
Also a former Raven and Patriot, Judon joined the Dolphins with 72 sacks on his resume. Surprisingly, that number has not changed this year. Judon has never finished a season with fewer than four sacks, but he’sin danger of going without one in 2025. The 33-year-old appeared in 13 of the Dolphins’ games, made three starts, and recorded 19 tackles and three quarterback hits. Pro Football Focus ranks Judon dead last (112th) among qualifying edge defenders.
Despite his immense struggles this year, Judon could close out the season with a contender if one claims him on waivers or he lands a deal (likely a practice squad arrangement) in free agency. The Dolphins, eliminated from playoff contention, will finish out 2025 with Bradley Chubb and Chop Robinson as their top edge rushers.
Judon and Jaelan Phillips have been prominent members of the Dolphins’ pass-rushing group this season, but they’ve now moved on from the two of them during a disappointing year. While Miami was able to reel in a third-round pick from the Eagles in a Phillips trade before the Nov. 4 deadline, the Judon pickup will go down as a swing and a miss.