New Tua Rumors Link Falcons as Potential Landing Spot for Former Dolphins QB Amid Penix Injury Rehab

The Atlanta Falcons have reportedly emerged as a contender to sign former Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in free agency.

According to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, the Falcons are "making a strong early push" to land the 28-year-old veteran.

The Dolphins announced their intention to release Tagovailoa on Monday, just hours before the start of NFL free agency's legal tampering period. Tua's release cannot become official until the new league starts Wednesday, but he can be contacted by other teams starting at noon ET on Monday since the Dolphins already announced his impending release.

With the Falcons set to release Kirk Cousins at the start of the new league year, Michael Penix Jr. is their only quarterback under contract for 2026.

Penix tore his ACL in November, ending his 2025 season after just nine games. Since there is no guarantee Penix will be ready for the start of the 2026 regular season as he works his way back from such a significant injury, there is value in signing an experienced quarterback like Tagovailoa.

Tua was selected fifth overall by the Dolphins in the 2020 NFL draft, and he went on to make 76 starts during his six seasons in Miami.

Tagovailoa posted a 44-32 record, completing 68.0 percent of his passes for 18,166 yards, 120 touchdowns and 59 interceptions.

His first two seasons under head coach Mike McDaniel in 2022 and 2023 were the best of his career. In 2022, Tagovailoa went 8-5 and completed 69.3 percent of his passing attempts for 3,548 yards, 25 touchdowns and eight picks.

He followed that up in 2023 with his first and only Pro Bowl selection, as he led the Dolphins to an 11-6 record, posted a completion percentage of 69.3 percent, led the league with 4,624 passing yards and threw for 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

Injuries limited Tagovailoa to 11 games in 2024, and he followed that up in 2025 with his worst season since 2021.

Tua went just 6-8 as a starter, throwing for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns and a career-high 15 interceptions. Given his struggles, Tagovailoa was benched for the final three games of the season, and the proverbial writing was on the wall regarding his release.

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Penix, 25, was the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, and he took over as the Falcons' starter for the final three games of his rookie year.

He began 2025 as the starter, going 3-6 and completing 60.1 percent of his passes for 1,982 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions before tearing his ACL.

Given that he only has 12 NFL starts to his credit, one can only assume that the Falcons would prefer for Penix to be their starter again in 2026 so they can further assess his long-term future with the organization.

However, Tua would represent a solid insurance policy if Penix's recovery hits a snag or if he does not raise his level of play.

An added bonus is the fact that Tagovailoa is left-handed like Penix, meaning new head coach Kevin Stefanski would not have to change up his offense much regardless of who is under center.