Tagovailoa remains under a $54 million guaranteed deal with a $56 million cap hit in 2026, fueling the team’s search for a long-term answer at quarterback as offseason discussions unfold. Miami has explored several paths, including handing the reins to seventh-rounder Quinn Ewers, pursuing a bridge quarterback like a veteran option, or even considering Malik Willis.
Mac Jones’ name resurfaced in connection with the Dolphins due in part to the Shanahan coaching tree ties. Jones excelled in eight starts for the 49ers in 2025, going 5-3 with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions after Brock Purdy’s injury, reinforcing the appeal of Jones in a system the Dolphins have coveted since Mike McDaniel’s tenure.
However, any Jones move would hinge on a deal with San Francisco. Jones is not a free agent and would require the 49ers to trade him; he’s under contract through 2026 with a modest $3 million cap hit that would likely need an extension or backloading to fit Miami’s payroll. The 49ers have publicly indicated they aren’t shopping their backup quarterback, making a substantial draft-pick price likely.
The trade calculus is further complicated by the realities of cap planning and Jones’ own performance history versus the Dolphins, where he enters with a 1-5 lifetime record against Miami, including his first NFL start. Still, the connection through Slowik and the Shanahan coaching lineage keeps Jones in the Dolphins’ orbit as a plausible path to a quarterback overhaul.
Beyond Jones, Miami’s options remain varied: they could elevate Ewers, pursue a veteran bridge, or explore a high-ceiling, low-probability option like Malik Willis. The coming weeks will reveal whether the Dolphins are prepared to engage the 49ers in earnest or pivot to one of the other routes they’ve been weighing.
