The Miami Dolphins are building a championship-caliber roster with their new head coach, Jeff Hafley. And his vision for the team, seemingly, doesn’t include their current quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa. Now, insider Adam Schefter has only added to that theory.

“There’s a feeling around the league that has persisted that Tua Tagovailoa has played his last down in Miami,” Adam Schefter said.

“The only question now is how and when the team moves on for him. Whether the Dolphins want to swallow one $99 million dead cap in one whole fell swoop, or whether they want to spread it out over two years. And that’s a decision that the two former Packers employees will have to come to.”

Entering this season, Miami knew the writing on the wall: Tagovailoa is a threat when he is healthy. However, they also knew the latter part of that thought was always an uncertainty hanging over their heads. Tagovailoa’s durability has been a question for the team, with injuries and concussions keeping the QB out of the active roster in recent years.

In 2025, he seemed to regress further as a passer. Understandably, Hafley wants to work with someone new under the center. The Miami Dolphins currently hold the 11th pick in the NFL Draft and could set Tagovailoa free if they wish to pick their next QB in a few months.

While Tagovailoa was once seen as a franchise QB for Miami, he was benched by former HC Mike McDaniel after 14 games for backup QB Quinn Ewers. He passed for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns, and a career-high 15 interceptions, finishing with a 67.7% completion rate, his worst since 2022, and a QBR near the bottom of the league.

The Dolphins made him inactive instead of naming him the backup in Week 16 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Rookie Ewers started at quarterback, while Zach Wilson served as the backup. Tagovailoa was listed as the emergency third quarterback, meaning he would only play if both quarterbacks were hurt.

Giving up on him, however, would come with a hefty price for the club.

Why cutting Tua Tagovailoa would come at a price for Miami

Tagovailoa signed a four-year contract extension with the Miami Dolphins, worth $212.4 million, effective in 2024. The deal includes $167.2 million in guaranteed money and would keep him under the banner through the 2028 season. The contract showed a belief in the quarterback that has since faded.

If they choose to cut ties with him before June 1, it would result in a substantial dead cap hit of approximately $99.2 million. A post-June 1 release would spread the cost over two years, with $67.4 million in 2026 and $31.8 million in 2027. Although Tagovailoa is ranked eighth among quarterbacks with the highest salaries, last season clearly didn’t yield the expected results for the team.

It won’t be the first time an NFL team let go of a player and paid a hefty price. In March 2024, the Broncos released Russell Wilson, a move that cost them $53 million in dead money against their salary cap that year and another $32 million in 2025. At that time, the team’s CEO, Gregory Penner, didn’t mince his words when justifying the decision.

Top Stories

Colts Issue Statement on FBI Investigation Into Jim Irsay’s Death as Controversial Details Emerge After Former Owner’s Passing

Viral 4-Year-Old NFL Picks Girl Faces Death Threats After Cardi B’s Profanity-Laced Rant and Subsequent Apology

Tyreek Hill Issues Final Statement on Chiefs Return After Cryptic Eric Bieniemy Message

Josh Allen Gets Troubling Update on Offense After Bills Announce QB’s Surgery News

Josh Allen’s Stance on Brian Daboll’s Hiring Confirmed as Bills Mafia Signs Petition for Sean McDermott’s Return

“Our job is to put the best football team on the field each season, no matter what the constraints are,” Penner said. “You’re going to have obstacles that come up, whether they are injuries, something happens with a player, or financial restraints with the cap, but we’re not going to make excuses.”

Interestingly, we can see how that worked out for Denver. Drafting Bo Nix in 2024, they saw immediate improvements. The team lost their wild card round that season, but they at least made it to the postseason after eight years. Now, they will enter the divisional matchup against the New England Patriots this weekend.

Miami could use this blueprint after missing a playoff berth for two consecutive years. This context sheds light on the new general manager’s recent comments about the quarterback position.

Jon-Eric Sullivan offers a clear take on the quarterback situation

McDaniel made a big decision when he benched Tagovailoa, despite the quarterback being on a huge contract. With Jeff Hafley in, it didn’t seem like their strategy for the quarterback position had changed. New general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan remained non-committal on Tagovailoa’s future, refusing to either guarantee or rule out his return as the starter.

“I have a lot of respect for Tua,” Sullivan said in a press conference. “He’s a good football player. He’s accomplished a lot in this league. I think whether it’s Tua or anybody else, it’s unfair and irresponsible for me to sit up here and talk about anything specific before I’ve talked to the player himself.

“Quarterback is the most important position in professional sports. I also think it’s the most dependent. We will evaluate the position like we evaluate every other position, and we will do what is best for this football team.”

Adding uncertainty to Tagovailoa’s starting role, Sullivan went on to say, “With Tua or anybody else, to sit up here today and tell you that I have a great understanding of what we’re gonna do or which way we’re gonna go, that would be a lie because there’s just too much work to do.”

The disappointing 7-10 record led to a front office teardown, with the team firing GM Chris Grier midseason and coach Mike McDaniel after the year ended. Tagovailoa could be next. However, that would be easier said than done.

The Dolphins must now decide whether to absorb a massive financial hit to move on from their once-expected franchise quarterback or give him one last chance under a new regime.