Dolphins to release QB Tua Tagovailoa, assume record dead-cap hit

The Miami Dolphins have said goodbye to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

Reports emerged Monday morning that the Dolphins would release the former first-round draft pick, and they confirmed it with a minute-long highlight video posted on social media with the accompanying caption, "Thanks for the memories, Tua."

The team also issued a statement:

"I recently informed Tua and his representation that we are going to move in a new direction at the quarterback position and will be releasing him after the start of the new league year," general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said in the statement. "As I shared with Tua, I have great respect for the person and player he is. On behalf of the Miami Dolphins, I expressed our gratitude for his many contributions, both on the field and in the community, during his six seasons in Miami."

He will be released when the new league year begins on Wednesday, but the move carries a post-June 1 designation -- largely for accounting purposes. It will be costly for the Dolphins.

Miami will be on the hook for $99.2 million in dead money, which is an NFL record. The dead money can be split over two seasons.

Now, the new brain trust of the Dolphins -- general manager Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley -- are left to come up with a solution to their quarterback conundrum.

The Dolphins drafted Tagovailoa with the No. 5 pick in 2020 with hopes he would be their quarterback for the long-term. He was the second QB off the board -- the Cincinnati Bengals took Joe Burrow with the No. 1 pick -- and was chosen ahead of Justin Herbert, who went to the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 6.

In 2023, Tagovailoa was selected to the Pro Bowl after leading Miami to an 11-6 record and throwing for an NFL-best 4,624 yards.

That was the only season of his career in which he has played every game, plagued by multiple concussions and other injuries, including to his hip.

Still, in July 2024, the Dolphins signed him to a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension that was set to run through the 2028 season.

He fell out of favor last season, and former head coach Mike McDaniel benched him with three games to go in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers. Through the first 14 games, Tagovailoa led the Dolphins to a 6-8 record and had a career-high 15 interceptions against 20 touchdowns.

Where the Dolphins turn now at quarterback is up in the air. According to Spotrac, the Dolphins have two QBs other than Tagovailoa signed for the 2026 season -- Ewers, a seventh-round pick from Texas, and fellow 2025 draft selection Cam Miller, taken in the sixth round by the Las Vegas Raiders.

Miller, the former quarterback at North Dakota State, was selected by the Dolphins off of the Raiders' practice squad in January.

Former No. 2 overall draft pick Zach Wilson, who signed a one-year contract prior to the 2025 season, is a free agent.

The Dolphins have the No. 11 overall pick in the draft next month. If they hope to find a veteran free agent to play quarterback, Kirk Cousins, Kyler Murray and Geno Smith also will be released by their teams on Wednesday.

"As we move forward, we will be focused on infusing competition across the roster and establishing a strong foundation for this team as we work towards building a sustained winner," Sullivan said in the team statement.

Tagovailoa's career in Miami ends with 18,166 passing yards, 120 touchdowns, 59 interceptions and a 68% pass completion rate in 78 games (76 starts). He had a 44-32 record as a starter.

He also ran for 473 yards and six touchdowns.