Tua Tagovailoa Predicted to Stay with Dolphins in 2026 by NFL Execs amid Rumors

Multiple NFL insiders told CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones they're expecting Tua Tagovailoa to return to the Miami Dolphins next season.

"It may be worth going one more year with him, especially if Mike [McDaniel] is there," one NFL insider told Jones.

Another NFL executive told Jones about Tagovailoa, "He's going to be there."

Jones' report comes one week after NFL Network's Ian Rapoport wrote the Dolphins potentially benching Tagovailoa "is not at the table at some point this season."

Rapoport noted, however, that Tagovailoa's play "would have to really fall off" for the Dolphins to consider starting Zach Wilson or Quinn Ewers instead.

The Dolphins parted ways with former general manager Chris Grier on Oct. 31, but left head coach Mike McDaniel in place following a 2-7 start to the season.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported at the time that McDaniel would remain with the Dolphins "at least" for the rest of the 2025 season.

McDaniel's arrival ahead of Tagovailoa's third NFL season in 2022 coincided with a successful period for both the Dolphins and their starting quarterback.

The Dolphins made back-to-back playoff appearances over the past two seasons, and Tagovailoa earned his first Pro Bowl nod after leading the league with 4,624 passing yards in 2023.

In 2024, however, the Dolphins went 8-9 and missed the playoffs as Tagovailoa sat out six games due to injuries, including a concussion.

Tagovailoa returned for the start of the 2025 season, but has since thrown 15 touchdown passes while recording 11 interceptions. He's been picked off on a career-high 4.1 percent of his pass attempts so far this season.

Moving on from Tagovailoa would be a costly choice for the Dolphins, who signed the quarterback to a four-year, $212.4 million extension ahead of the 2024 season.

Cutting Tagovailoa after June 1 would leave the Dolphins on the hook for more than $92 million in dead money next season, per Over the Cap.

Trading him after that date would, in contrast, leave the Dolphins holding $13.4 million in dead cap, per Over the Cap.

Finding another trade partner willing to take on the remainder of Tagovailoa's contract could be difficult, however, given the quarterback's struggles so far this season.

Tagovailoa and McDaniel will both have a chance to increase the likelihood the Dolphins stick with them going forward by finding a way to win down the stretch. That starts on Sunday with a Week 10 matchup against the visiting Buffalo Bills.