What Tua Tagovailoa Trade, Release Would Cost Dolphins Salary Cap amid $212M Contract

The Miami Dolphins have limited options should they decide to move on from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa thanks to the $57 million in guaranteed salary remaining on his contract.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Saturday that the Dolphins would set an NFL record by taking on $99.2 million in dead cap should they cut Tagovailoa this offseason.

If designated as a post-June 1 cut, the Dolphins could spread out the cost by paying $67.4 million in 2026 and $31.8 million in 2027, per Rapoport.

Trading Tagovailoa before June 1 would leave the Dolphins with $45.2 million in dead money against the 2026 cap, Rapoport noted.

Should the franchise ultimately decide to move on from Tagovailoa, Rapoport wrote that the "more viable" option could be to wait until after June 1 and pay part of his salary while shopping him as a bridge quarterback.

A post-June 1 trade would still leave the Dolphins on the hook for $13.4 million in dead money next season, per Over the Cap.

Rapoport reported Saturday that the Dolphins deciding to bench Tagovailoa "is not off the table at some point this season," at which point either backup Zach Wilson and rookie third-string Quinn Ewers could be considered as alternate options.

Rapoport noted that "Tagovailoa's play would have to really fall off for Miami to turn to either Wilson or Ewers."

His report came shortly after the Dolphins parted ways with former general manager Chris Grier in what team owner Stephen Ross said was the start of the franchise "evaluating all areas of our football operation."

Tagovailoa signed a four-year, $212 million extension with the Dolphins ahead of the 2024 season.

At the time, the 25-year-old quarterback was coming off a Pro Bowl campaign that saw him pace the NFL with 4,624 passing yards and lead the Dolphins into the playoffs.

His age-26 season in 2024 was derailed by a series of injuries that limited him to 11 games.

The Dolphins, hoping for a bounce-back, kept Tagovailoa on the roster past March 14. That's when $54 million of his 2026 salary became guaranteed, per Spotrac.

Tagovailoa will also receive $3 million in 2027 guarantees if he remains on the Dolphins roster as of March 13, 2026, according to Spotrac.

That total of $57 million in guarantees could be a tough sell for another team given that Tagovailoa's struggle with consistency and turnovers. He is currently leading the NFL with 11 interceptions through the first nine games of his age-27 campaign.

Rapoport reported the Dolphins are expected to make "at least one trade" before the window closes Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET, and that Miami would be "willing to weigh an offer" for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.

Moving Waddle, who has stepped up in the injury absence of Tyreek Hill as the Dolphins' top wideout, could make it even more difficult for Tagovailoa bounce back later this season.

The Dolphins are 2-7 heading into Week 10. The team's ability to improve that win percentage down the stretch, starting with Sunday's home game against the Buffalo Bills, could ultimately impact the likelihood of both Tagovailoa and head coach Mike McDaniel returning in 2026.