Head coach Mike McDaniel explained the decision by saying the team could not operate at a fast pace and that replacing Tagovailoa gave Miami the best chance to win. The move came amid a rapid decline following a substantial extension Tagovailoa signed before the 2024 season, leaving the Dolphins in a difficult financial position just two years later.
FanSided’s Brian Miller, writing for PhinPhanatic, predicts the Dolphins will retain Tagovailoa for 2026. He notes the quarterback’s $56 million cap hit in 2026 and the potentially devastating dead money figure of $99 million if released before June 1, framing retention as the most realistic option among trade, release, or keeping him on the roster.
According to Miller, releasing Tagovailoa would create an almost unabsorbable hit against the cap and would carry over two years of dead money, while trading him could cost the team draft assets. He argues that the best financial path may be to hold onto Tagovailoa in 2026 and address the quarterback question after the 2026 season.
The piece highlights the risk in keeping Tagovailoa if a new front office and coaching staff bring in another quarterback to compete for the job. Tagovailoa would still have a leg up in a potential competition by virtue of knowing the offense that new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik will run. Slowik has suggested Tagovailoa can rebound, saying, “There’s stories like [Tua’s] all the time… he can absolutely bounce back.”
In sum, the Dolphins face a high-cost, high-stakes decision on Tagovailoa’s future beyond 2026. Projections from the cited analysis favor retaining him for 2026 as the most feasible option, with the understanding that any decision will hinge on how Miami’s front office evaluates the quarterback position amid a broader roster overhaul.
