The Miami Dolphins have installed former Green Bay Packers executive Jon-Eric Sullivan as their new general manager after firing Chris Grier during the 2025 season, signaling a clear rebuild phase for a franchise that missed the playoffs in consecutive years. ESPN notes the club sits with among the league’s fourth-least cap space, demanding difficult choices on veterans including Tyreek Hill, Bradley Chubb, and Tua Tagovailoa.
At the center of the offseason uncertainty is Tagovailoa. His performance last season was below expectation, culminating in a Week 15 benching in the loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. With a $56 million cap hit in 2026, much of it guaranteed, releasing Tagovailoa would generate significant dead money, complicating any unilateral move.
Sullivan has indicated the Dolphins will explore multiple avenues. He publicly discussed a plan to “infuse competition” into the quarterback room, leaving open whether Tagovailoa remains part of the mix. He disclosed that he spoke with Tua recently and that the organization will evaluate quarterback talent through the draft, underscoring an openness to options beyond the incumbent.
While a trade remains a possibility, the Dolphins have not publicly committed to moving Tagovailoa, and Sullivan has not confirmed any specific outcomes. Reports from sources familiar with the situation have suggested interest in adding competition, including potential consideration of free agents once tampering periods begin, though no formal steps have been taken.
An unnamed rival executive, cited by NFL insiders, indicated Miami could explore free-agent quarterback Malik Willis, who spent the prior two seasons with Green Bay and could fit the Dolphins’ schematic needs while offering familiarity with the current staff. Willis’ potential interest in a Miami return would be contingent on the broader quarterback strategy and cap framework established by Sullivan and the Dolphins’ new regime.
As Sullivan navigates limited cap space and a rebuilding timetable, the Dolphins’ approach will hinge on balancing short-term competitiveness with long-term flexibility. The next steps—draft evaluations, potential trades or releases, and any free-agent pursuits—will shape Miami’s quarterback outlook and overall roster construction in the 2026 season.
