This offseason, the Miami Dolphins are making sweeping changes to the roster. Tyreek Hill and Bradley Chubb are already gone, and Tua Tagovailoa's next on the docket.
But the way the Dolphins move on from Tagovailoa is a lot more complicated. With a $99.2 million dead cap hit if he's cut, the Dolphins need to make a difficult decision about whether to cut him or try to trade him.
However, as Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated notes, Tagovailoa would actually have leverage over the Dolphins in a trade. Why? It all boils down to Tagovailoa's contract.
How Tua Tagovailoa has leverage over Dolphins in trade talks
"The Dolphins are going to need Tagovailo's cooperation if they are going to trade him because Miami eating a portion of his salary will require restructuring the contract, which the quarterback would, of course, have to approve," Breer writes.
The Dolphins need Tagovailoa to agree to a restructured contract to make a trade work, which he might not agree to.
He might be able to get more money in guarantees, or force the Dolphins' hand if they do somehow find a trade partner this offseason.
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It's not likely at all, as most indications have been that Tagovailoa is released with a post-June 1 designation this offseason, spreading that $99.2 million dead cap hit over two years.
Even if the Dolphins do find a trade partner, however, they won't have a simple time making a deal. Tagovailoa can nix a trade if he doesn't agree to a restructured contract.
Miami is in a tough spot with its veteran $212 million quarterback. A trade isn't likely, and even if they find a taker, it's far from a simple process to move the lefty in a trade.
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