Miami Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan at the NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday left little to the imagination about where the franchise stands with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Sullivan confirmed that the team has held direct conversations with Tagovailoa and his representatives, and that no option is being ruled out.
The Dolphins are actively searching for a new franchise quarterback, with a trade preferred over an outright release. Notably, Tagovailoa has not pushed for a departure himself.
“We’re evaluating the entire roster,” Sullivan told reporters. “As it pertains to Tua, we’ve had conversations with Tua and his representation. Everything is on the table, including the potential of a trade. We don’t know which way that’s going to go. There’s a lot of different factors at play, a lot of conversations being had.”
NFL reporter Cameron Wolfe posted the update via X.
Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan on Tua Tagovailoa status “everything is on table, including possibility of a trade.”
Sully said Tua hasn’t requested a trade. As we’ve noted, Dolphins are in process of finding new franchise QB & team preference is a trade over a release. We’ll see. pic.twitter.com/p6aiKUrRSb
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) February 24, 2026
Why the Dolphins Prefer a Trade Despite the Financial Obstacles Involved
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Jan 4, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) walks out of the player tunnel before the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images
The preference for a trade comes down to numbers. Cutting Tagovailoa before June 1 would saddle Miami with roughly $99 million in dead cap charges for 2026, an NFL record. A trade before June 1, while still leaving $45.2 million in dead money, is a far more workable scenario.
Tagovailoa signed a four-year, $212.4 million extension ahead of the 2024 season, with $54 million in fully guaranteed salary for 2026 already locked in. An additional $3 million of his 2027 salary triggers on March 13, adding urgency to the timeline. The new league year opens March 11, meaning Miami’s front office is working against a tight window.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Miami is willing to pay down a portion of Tagovailoa’s contract to attract trade partners, though even with that willingness, the money remains a serious obstacle.
Tagovailoa’s 2025 Decline and the Shift Under Miami’s New Coaching Staff
Tua Tagovailoa Faces $56.4M Cap Heat as Miami Dolphins Hire Jon-Eric Sullivan and Troy Aikman’s Role Turns Heads in Front Office Reset (via Green Bay Packers)
Tua Tagovailoa Faces $56.4M Cap Heat as Miami Dolphins Hire Jon-Eric Sullivan and Troy Aikman’s Role Turns Heads in Front Office Reset (via Green Bay Packers)
The 27-year-old quarterback’s 2025 campaign did not help his standing. He finished with 2,660 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions before former head coach Mike McDaniel benched him in favor of seventh-round rookie Quinn Ewers. When asked at season’s end whether a fresh start elsewhere appealed to him, Tagovailoa told reporters: “That would be dope. I would be good with it.”
McDaniel was fired shortly after the season. Sullivan and new head coach Jeff Hafley, hired away from his role as the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator, now lead a rebuild that appears to have no guaranteed place for Tagovailoa.
Sources reported that Miami’s decision on Tagovailoa’s future is expected to come before the new league year begins.
The Dolphins have also released wide receiver Tyreek Hill, further signaling a broader organizational reset. With Miami already carrying $16.4 million in negative cap space, every decision ties directly into what the next quarterback situation looks like.
Finding a trade partner willing to absorb any portion of Tagovailoa’s deal remains the central challenge standing between intent and execution.