After spending six years with the organization, Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins appear to be headed towards an imminent divorce. Selected with the fifth-overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Alabama product began his career on the bench and didn’t look like anything special under former head coach Brian Flores. However, he showed some signs of life early in the Mike McDaniel Era, leading the league in touchdown percentage in 2022 and passing yards in 2023.
This success led to the quarterback signing a four-year, $212.1 million contract in July of 2024, and the Dolphins immediately regretted this decision. Tagovailoa regressed in a big way, as injuries and aging weapons turned him into one of the league’s least efficient passers. Despite firing McDaniel, reports across the league indicate the Dolphins will move forward with a new option under center.
Unfortunately for Miami, it appears as though they won’t be able to trade their current quarterback. In a recent report from Jason La Canfora, the NFL insider says that there is “no trade market” for Tua Tagovailoa, and the Dolphins will have to bite the bullet and cut the one-time Pro Bowler or keep him for one additional season.
REPORT: Dolphins Won’t Be Able to Trade Tua Tagovailoa
Quite frankly, it’s easy to see why the Dolphins are struggling to find a suitor for Tua Tagovailoa. While the Alabama product proved he can succeed in a near-perfect environment, he’s not the type of quarterback who can elevate a team and make the most of a sub-optimal situation. Quarterbacks like Tagovailoa belong in the NFL, but only as a short-term starter while teams look for a long-term answer. Given his massive contract and extensive injury history, it’s hard to imagine anyone giving up anything for his services.
This paints Miami into a corner. Tagovailoa carries a $56.2 million cap hit in 2026, which is far too high for a backup quarterback. However, releasing him before June 1st means taking on a staggering $99.2 million cap hit, and designating the move as a post-June 1st transaction would still lead to $67.4 million in dead money. For better or worse, the Dolphins may be stuck with Tua Tagovailoa for one more season.
Main Photo: Brian Fluharty – Imagn Images