NFL Exec Advises Dolphins to Treat Tua Tagovailoa Like Russell Wilson with Broncos

The Miami Dolphins are at a crossroads with recently benched (and now third-string) quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who is owed $54 million guaranteed next season as part of a four-year, $212.4 million extension that runs through 2028.

A personnel executive with a rival NFL team thinks the Dolphins should (and also will) do what the Denver Broncos did with veteran quarterback Russell Wilson in March 2024 and simply cut ties and eat the money, per comments to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

"They should follow the Broncos' blueprint with Russell Wilson and just rip the Band-Aid off," the source said. "They seem very obviously done with him."

Fowler explained more context behind the Broncos cutting ties with Wilson, who signed a five-year, $245 million contract extension with Denver in 2022 after the Seattle Seahawks traded him for a massive haul of players and draft picks in return.

"Denver famously absorbed $85 million in dead cap by releasing Wilson on March 4, 2024, only to make the playoffs in back-to-back years. But Denver also needed to move Wilson so a $37 million guarantee in 2025 wouldn't trigger. Miami doesn't have that problem. Tagovailoa's contract does not have 2027 guarantees on it as of now; just the $3 million trigger in March. That wasn't the case for all of the quarterbacks who signed megadeals in 2024. Jacksonville guaranteed $29 million of Trevor Lawrence's 2027 earnings upon signing in June 2024."

Wilson struggled in 2022 with Denver under head coach Nathaniel Hackett, who lasted just 15 games with the team (4-11). He did better under new head coach Sean Payton in 2023, but the team ultimately decided to make a change, in part because of the financial implications Fowler referenced but also because of a stated desire to get the offense going.

"Look, I can tell you we're desperately trying to win," Payton told reporters regarding the benching, via Will Petersen of Denver Sports. "Sure, in our game today there are economics and all those other things, but the No. 1 push behind this -- and it's a decision I'm making -- is to get a spark offensively."

Similarly, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel noted that the quarterback play wasn't where it needed to be after an ugly 28-15 road loss at the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 15.

▶️ Full Dolphins-Steelers Recap

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Tagovailoa did end up with 253 passing yards and two touchdowns, but he threw a costly interception to kill a promising first quarter drive. In addition, the Steelers were up 28-3 in the fourth quarter, and both Miami touchdowns in essence occurred in fourth quarter garbage time.

As ESPN's Adam Schefter noted, if the Dolphins decide to cut Tagovailoa, then they will pay a big price.

That being said, it may be the best move for both parties at this point.

Tagovailoa's 15 interceptions lead the NFL. He is 24th in quarterback rating and 29th in QBR, per Pro Football Reference. Over his last six starts, the six-year veteran has thrown just five touchdown passes (with five interceptions) while amassing 190.3 passing yards per game.

It's a pronounced dip from where Tagovailoa was under McDaniel in 2022 and 2023. In 2022, Tagovailoa led the NFL in yards per attempt (8.9) and quarterback rating (105.5). In 2023, Tagovailoa made the Pro Bowl while throwing for 4,624 passing yards.

A fresh start could be good for both sides. We'll see what happens in a few months time, although it's certainly possible Tagovailoa has played his last down in Miami.

In the meantime, rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers, who made his first start last Sunday in a 45-21 loss at home versus the Cincinnati Bengals, will call signals again this Sunday when Miami hosts the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.