As the Dolphins navigate a period of upheaval—firing head coach Mike McDaniel, hiring Jeff Hafley as the new defensive coordinator, and releasing both Tyreek Hill and Bradley Chubb—their stance on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa remains a focal point. Per NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Miami’s current preference is to trade Tagovailoa rather than release him, though a cut remains a remote possibility depending on how the offseason unfolds.
Tagovailoa, who turns 28 next month, carries a $56.3 million cap hit for the upcoming season. If released before March 13, the team would absorb a $99.2 million dead-cap charge; waiting until after March 13 shifts that figure to roughly $102.2 million. A trade before June 1 would incur a $45.2 million dead-cap hit for Miami, while a release after June 1 would distribute the dead cap over 2026 and 2027. In contrast, a trade would leave the Dolphins with significantly smaller immediate dead-cap exposure—$13.4 million this year and $31.8 million next year.
Tagovailoa, who led the league with 4,624 passing yards in 2023, has faced a challenging 2024–25 season marked by injuries and a drop in production, including a career-high 15 interceptions over 14 games and a late-season benching in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers as Miami missed the playoffs. Since being drafted fifth overall by Miami in 2020, Tagovailoa’s future with the franchise has become a central offseason question as the team restructures around new leadership and a shifting roster.
