Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is technically still a member of the Miami Dolphins, but that probably won’t be the case for much longer. After an up-and-down six seasons that saw him lead the league in passing yards but also suffer injuries and benching, the Dolphins are all but guaranteed to part ways with the former fifth-overall pick in the coming weeks. The quarterback has one of the worst contracts in football, and first-year head coach Jeff Hafley will want the opportunity to build a team around a more cost-effective quarterback with a higher ceiling.
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the Dolphins would prefer to trade Tua Tagovailoa and get something for his services. However, Schultz notes that there isn’t much of a market for the Alabama product, and the Dolphins may have no choice but to cut him. Miami reportedly doesn’t want the situation to drag on, and Shultz makes it sound like the team will release him before long.
REPORT: Dolphins Will Likely Release Tua Tagovailoa Shortly
Reading between the lines, Miami’s recent roster moves suggest Schultz is onto something. The team released veterans Tyreek Hill and Bradley Chubb, among others, and cleared up quite a bit of cap space in the process. Parting ways with Tua Tagovailoa won’t be cheap, and the Dolphins need to get creative to cut him. The quarterback currently carries a $56.3 million cap hit, but Miami will take on $99.2 million in dead money if they release him.
The Dolphins can spread the dead money over two years if they use a post-June 1st designation, but they’d still take a $67.4 million cap hit in 2026 for a player who wouldn’t be on the roster. Releasing Hill and Chubb gives Miami the financial flexibility to part ways with Tagovailoa, although they probably won’t be able to build a competitive roster with such a large financial burden. In all likelihood, 2026 will be a rebuilding year for Jeff Haffley’s squad.
