Trading Tagovailoa is a possibility, but the Dolphins would likely have to eat a large chunk of his $54 million fully-guaranteed salary for 2026 and another $45.2 million dead cap charge would immediately hit this year, per Pelissero.
Cutting Tagovailoa, on the other hand, would allow the Dolphins to spread the nearly $100 million in dead cap across the next two years, per Pelissero.
The writing has been on the wall for the Dolphins moving on from the No. 5 overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft due to the QB’s decline in 2025. Tagovailoa even admitted a fresh start would be “dope” after his midseason benching in 2025.
As for star Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who is coming off a major knee injury entering what would be his age-32 season, he too has a $16 million guarantee on March 13. Considering it’s unclear when and even if Hill will be able to play in 2026, Miami could also let the eight-time Pro Bowler go in the coming weeks, per The Insiders.
Following the dismissal of Mike McDaniel, who developed and championed Tagovailoa’s rise, it’s no surprise the new Dolphins brass, which includes new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley, are looking for a fresh start.
Hill’s potential exit accompanying Tagovailoa’s would certainly mark the end of an era in Miami.
