NFL insider reveals Dolphins' ideal way of cutting ties with Tua Tagovailoa

Matt Sullivan

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NFL insider reveals Dolphins' ideal way of cutting ties with Tua Tagovailoa image

Tua Tagovailoa, after the Miami Dolphins' loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football, was benched for seventh-round rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers.

This decision from Mike McDaniel confirms that the Dolphins are fully planning to cut ties with Tagovailoa this offseason. While they could keep him as a backup, it's incredibly unlikely. But cutting ties with Tagovailoa is easier said than done.

According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the Dolphins have a clear preferred method for moving on from Tagovailoa this offseason. It's likely the trickiest, but the best solution for the Dolphins this offseason.

Dolphins have clear preference as to how to cut ties with Tua Tagovailoa

"They could try and trade him and eat some of that money," Rapoport said. "That is their preferred option, and maybe the most likely."

If the Dolphins' front office had a choice for how they want to move on from Tagovailoa this offseason, it would come in the form of the Dolphins trading him to a new team.

This is likely the Dolphins' best path forward. If they try to release him, the dead cap hits would be nearly impossible to manage. If Tagovailoa's released before June 1, he'd incur a dead-cap hit of $99 million, and if he's released after June 1, it'd be a $67.4 million hit.

Cutting ties with Tagovailoa makes the most sense for Miami, as a $55 million backup quarterback would be a colossal waste of cap space.

More: Tua Tagovailoa's contract looks like a nightmare for the Dolphins

Tagovailoa's Dolphins career is all but over. But the method to officially move his massive $212 million contract off the roster is another matter. A trade is their best option, though it's not an easy one to make.

Fortunately, the Dolphins have a template for a trade in similar circumstances. The Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns executed a trade with Brock Osweiler, who was owed too much money, and was packaged with a draft pick to make the trade work.

Miami could make a similar trade, including a 2026 draft pick along with Tagovailoa, and take on some extra money on the deal, to swing this trade.

It's the Dolphins' preferred method of cutting Tagovailoa, and one that, while tricky, is a realistic solution for Miami this offseason.

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Senior Editor