INDIANAPOLIS —
The Dolphins remain open to trades involving quarterback Tua Tagovaioa and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick but plan to keep running back De’Von Achane and receiver Jaylen Waddle, general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said Tuesday in a briefing with South Florida reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine.
With regard to Tagovailoa’s future, “the easiest way to answer that is everything’s on the table,” Sullivan said. “A trade is a possibility. Tua is aware. His representation is aware. Everything is on the table… Everything is on the table with Minkah” as well. “Minkah has been a very good player in this league. We’ve had those conversations with Minkah. We can go in a lot of different directions.”
Sullivan said cutting him with a pre-June 1 designation (which carries a $99 million cap hit) is “not likely.” CBS reported a release with a post-June 1 designation is very likely, which carries a $67 million 2026 dead money Dolphins cap hit.
Tagovailoa’s 2026 Dolphins cap hit would be $56 million if he remains on the team, but NFL Network says that’s not happening.
Sullivan didn’t rule out a pursuit of Packers free agent quarterback Malik Willis:
“Have we had conversations about Malik? I think anybody who’s potentially in the quarterback market would be lying if they said they were not. We’ve had conversations about a lot of guys in free agency as well as the draft. He’s just one of many…. I have a lot of like for Malik on a personal level, a lot of respect for him as an athlete. My job is to infuse competition in the quarterback room whether it’s through free agency or the draft.”
Sullivan said he isn’t sure how quarterback will play out, but said he’s excited about Quinn Ewers.
“We could have Quinn, we could have a free agent, we could draft one. We could draft two. I honestly don’t have the answer,” he said. “I want to make it as competitive as possible.”
Sullivan said the Dolphins very likely will draft a quarterback this year but “I don’t think you can reach to check a box and not try to do something that doesn’t make sense just to check a box.”
Sullivan said he listens to offers for any player, but the plan is for Waddle and Achane to remain with the team.
Achane is a “marvelous player. We want him to be part of this going forward. We will have those conversations with him later… the summer.”
With regard to Waddle, Sullivan said: “Jaylen is a very good football player. He’s still a difference maker. My vision is for Jaylen to be part of this. Anytime the phone rings, I have an obligation to pick up the phone and listen. But we are not actively trying to move Jaylen Waddle.” He said the same applies for Achane.
Sullivan said Tyreek Hill’s age, injury and contract contributed to his release.
“The best thing for the Miami Dolphins was to move forward,” Sullivan said. “We expressed that to Tyreek. He understand the situation. He was very professional…. He’s rehabbing very hard. My gut tells me that we have not seen the last of Tyreek Hill.”
In releasing Hill and Chubb, Sullivan said: “We needed to get younger and cheaper.”
Sullivan explained James Daniels’ release this way: “Got to be careful how I say it. Availability’s the best ability. … James, no fault of his own, dealt with some injuries. There was a financial component… Where we were with the cap, it made it obvious to move on. He couldn’t have been classier. He probably needed a fresh start and so did we.” (Keep in mind that there was a slightly bigger cap hit for cutting Daniels than keeping him.)…
Sullivan said “Jonah [Savaiinaea] will tell you he was inconsistent last year” and he’s hopeful he will improve, noting he’s “chomping at the bit” to improve.
Sullivan did not rule out contract extensions with Achane, linebacker Jordyn Brooks or center Aaron Brewer, but said that would be something addressed later in the offseason, during the summer.
The Dolphins won’t be big shoppers in free agency. As Jason Fitzgerald of overthecap.com reported, over the past five free agent cycles, no team signed fewer players from other teams to contracts of at least $2 million annually than GB, who added 9 players on such deals..
So expect the Dolphins to sign several vets to minimum deals or barely above that.
More news from Sullivan
He said he would like right tackle Austin Jackson “to be part of the team” but will continue to speak with his reps: “Things have to work themselves out. I would like him to be here…. when you look at our roster, we don’t have the flexibility to run people out the door right now.”…
He said: “What I want to do is build a foundation, something foundational over time. We’re not looking for a quick fix.”..
Will Sullivan steer away from injured players? He said “anytime you see a pattern of” injuries or dips in performance, it would be “irresponsible” to ignore that. “You always have to acknowledge patterns.”…
He said he expects outside linebacker Chop Robinson “to get better and continue to grow as a player” and expects him “to work his [butt] off… He’s going to be an elder statesmen, in position of leadership”…
Asked if he’s looking for 4-3 ends instead of 3-4 outside linebackers, Sullivan said “I understand the question [but] we’re looking for good players who can affect the quarterback off the edge.”…
He said Malik Washington “is damn good player” and he loves Waddle but “we will make a conscientious effort to maybe be a little bigger in that room… [But] Waddle and Malik will help our football team win games. To say we’re going to have a room of 5-9 guys would be a lie.”…
Asked about cornerbacks, he said he’s excited to see Jason Marshall Jr. and Juju Brents….
Regarding free agent Darren Waller, “if you look at it and operate with some common sense, it doesn’t make a ton of sense” for Waller to return to a team going young. “Probably not.”
C. Isaiah Smalls reported from Indianapolis. Barry Jackson reported from South Florida.
This story was originally published February 24, 2026 at 10:42 AM.
Barry Jackson
Miami Herald
Barry Jackson has written for the Miami Herald since 1986 and has written the Florida Sports Buzz column since 2002.
