The Miami Dolphins effectively ended the Tua Tagovailoa era late in the 2025 season after six years of inconsistent results. The 27-year-old quarterback struggled through 14 games, posting 2,660 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, but 15 interceptions.
The critical turning point occurred in Week 15 following a 28–15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers that officially eliminated Miami from playoff contention and prompted head coach Mike McDaniel to bench Tagovailoa indefinitely.
Rookie Quinn Ewers, a 2025 seventh-round pick out of Texas, started the final three games of the season, leading the team to a 1–2 finish to end the year 7–10.
In January, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Miami would try to trade Tagovailoa and was willing to pay part of his salary to make it happen. The obstacle is his contract. He carries a $56.3 million cap hit in 2026 and would count $99.2 million in dead money if released before June 1. That price tag limits their options.
But there’s one thing we know for sure. The 27-year-old will no longer be a Dolphin, and Schefter thinks the Green Bay Packers, which are worth $6.5 billion, are the best team for him to join.
Adam Schefter eyes Packers as ideal reset for Tua Tagovailoa
At the NFL Scouting Combine this week, new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan did little to quiet the speculation. Whenasked about Tua Tagovailoa’s future, including a trade, he said, “Everything’s on the table.”
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Nov 16, 2025; Madrid, Spain; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) passes the ball against the Washington Commanders in the first quarter during the 2025 NFL Madrid Game at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Dolphins appear ready to move on but the question is how. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that many around the league believe Miami may have to release Tagovailoa because of his contract guarantees. A trade, with another team taking on part of his salary, remains the team’s preferred option.
That was the context when Adam Schefter went on ESPN Milwaukee on Wednesday and suggested an unexpected landing spot.
“If I were a guy like Kyler Murray or Tua Tagovailoa, Green Bay would be appealing to me,” Scheftersaid. “You’re with a good organization in a good system with good talented players. You take a year to kind of reset yourself, decompress and learn and see things from a different perspective. There are worse places to wind up than Green Bay.”
🎥 Adam Schefter believes Tua Tagovailoa should consider joining the Green Bay Packers once he is released by the Miami Dolphins
“If I were a guy like Kyler Murray or Tua Tagovailoa, Green Bay would be appealing to me.” (@ESPNMilwaukee) #PhinsUp pic.twitter.com/FzdpI8zMJr
— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) February 25, 2026
The idea makes some sense. The Packers have Jordan Love set as their starter, and backup Malik Willis is likely to leave in free agency. For Tagovailoa, a year as Love’s backup in a new system could give him time to reset before re-entering the market in 2027, when his contract includes a potential exit.
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The financial details are the problem. A trade would still leave Miami with about $45 million in dead cap. Tagovailoa is also guaranteed $54 million in 2026, which would put a heavy burden on any team that acquires him.
Whatever it is, Tagovailoa’s time in Miami is over. The front office just hasn’t found a clean way out of the contract yet.