The Miami Dolphins may not want to keep Tua Tagovailoa on the roster, but cutting the quarterback could result in the largest dead money salary cap in NFL history.
It’s a tricky situation that would become much easier if another team was willing to acquire the 27-year-old quarterback in a trade. But after a rough 2025 season, which club is willing to take on Tagovailoa, the remainder of his contract, and his concussion issues?
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NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport thinks that could happen.
“I would be surprised if Tua was in Miami [next year]”, Rapoport told Jim Rome on the podcast earlier this week. “I think they can trade him. But they’re going to have to eat up a lot of contracts to do that, and that’s okay. They’re still going to have to pay anyway, so they might as well eat, you know, $30 million. What’s the difference? I think they can trade him. “
Tagovailoa’s salary cap hit for the Dolphins next season is expected to be $56.3 million, and cutting him could cause the salary cap to soar to $99.2 million. Even reaching a deal with Miami, agreeing to pay him $30 million next season, would provide the Dolphins with significant salary cap relief and a cleaner divorce with the quarterback.
In January, Tagovailoa told reporters he liked the idea of ​​starting over with a new team.
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In 2025, Tagovailoa threw for 20 touchdowns and had a career-high 15 interceptions. He was benched for the final three games of the year, with Quinn Ewers taking over as the Dolphins’ starter.
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Insider Ian Rapoport says Tua Tagovailoa trade is feasible for Dolphins
