Following a 7-10 season, the Miami Dolphins are expected to enter a transition period after missing the postseason for the second consecutive year. Due to the team’s failure to meet expectations, owner Stephen Ross fired general manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel.
Under Grier and McDaniel, the Dolphins seemed to be on an upward trajectory in 2023, as they won 11 games and made the postseason for the second consecutive year. However, the team then lost defensive lineman Christian Wilkins to free agency, and then gave extensions to Pro Bowl players like Tyreek Hill, Jalen Ramsey, and Tua Tagovailoa.
Despite possessing high-end talent, the team took a step back in 2024 and missed the postseason. Tagovailoa missed six games with a concussion and hip injury. Ramsey was traded following the season, and after suffering a dislocated knee in 2025, Hill is expected to be released.
Miami Dolphins’ Decision on Tua Tagovailoa
During the 2025 season, Tua Tagovailoa was able to avoid any major injuries. However, his play took a step back as he posted his worst passer rating and QBR since his rookie season. For that reason, former head coach Mike McDaniel benched Tagovailoa following the team’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football.
Following Tagovailoa’s benching, his future with the Dolphins is up in the air. NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that Tagovailoa is not expected to remain with the Dolphins in 2026. Tagovailoa did not seem upset as he said he hoped for a fresh start after the season. Despite it seeming like the Dolphins and Tagovailoa will go their separate ways after the season, his contract complicates things.
He has $54 million guaranteed in the 2026 season. Despite the large cap figure he carries, Sports Illustrated’s Dante Collinelli wrote, “At this point, it seems more than likely the Dolphins will designate Tua Tagovailoa as a post-June 1 cut this offseason. That would spread his dead cap hit out across two seasons, resulting in $67 million in dead cap for 2026 and $32 million in 2027. It’s a tough pill to swallow for Miami, and it would break the previous dead-cap hit record set by the Broncos when they released Russell Wilson.”
In the past, the Dolphins have announced their post-June 1 designation months ahead of the actual date. Following the 2023 season, the Miami Dolphins released Xavien Howard with a post-June 1 designation on Mar. 13. It remains to be seen when the Dolphins make their decision on Tagovailoa.
Dolphins’ Future Quarterback
If Tagovailoa is released, that would leave the Dolphins with only two active quarterbacks on their roster. Former seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers started three games for the Dolphins in the 2025 season, with the team going 1-2 in those starts. He has three years remaining on his rookie contract. Additionally, prior to their Week 18 game against the Patriots, the Dolphins signed rookie quarterback Cam Miller off the Raiders’ practice squad. Miller was a sixth-round pick for the Raiders in the 2025 NFL Draft, meaning he has three years remaining on his contract.
Perhaps the Dolphins could opt to go after free-agent quarterback Malik Willis, who impressed in his three starts with the Packers over the past two seasons. The Dolphins’ new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan previously served as the Packers vice president of player personnel.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Dolphins Expected to Cut Ties With $39 Million Pro Bowl Starter appeared first on Heavy Sports.