The Miami Dolphins have launched six-year starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, a transfer that’s set to price them an NFL-record $99m in lifeless cash in opposition to the salary cap.
Miami’s transfer comes lower than two years after Tagovailoa signed a $212m extension with the membership, however he’s the most recent departure from the Dolphins following a disappointing 7-10 season in 2025.
It was the second straight 12 months the workforce failed to make the playoffs, ensuing in common supervisor Chris Grier dropping his job mid-season, with head coach Mike McDaniel sacked quickly after.
Miami have the NFL’s longest playoff win drought, standing at 25 years.
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“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,” Miami’s common supervisor Jon-Eric Sullivan mentioned in a workforce assertion.
“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.”
Tagovailoa threw a career-high 15 interceptions final season
Tagovailoa was chosen with the No 5 general choose in the 2020 NFL Draft, however was benched by McDaniel in the direction of the tip of final season due to poor play.
Tagovailoa, on the time, mentioned he wasn’t proud of the choice and wasn’t certain what his future with the workforce would appear like.
Tagovailoa was demoted for rookie Quinn Ewers with three video games left in the season, signaling that his six-year run with the Dolphins may come to an finish.
The 28-year-old led the league in passing yards in 2023, with a career-best 29 passing touchdowns, however he has since struggled to replicate that kind. He threw a career-high 15 interceptions final season.
“I would say the biggest thing, and it’s being honest with myself as well, had been my performance,” Tagovailoa mentioned after being benched. “I haven’t been performing up to the level and the capabilities that I have in the past.”
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The Dolphins’ anticipated lifeless cap hit tops the earlier report of $85m that the Denver Broncos took for releasing Russell Wilson in 2024.
The 2026 league 12 months formally begins on Wednesday. If the transfer to release Tagovailoa is designated as a post-June 1 release, the $99m can be cut up over two years, with about two-thirds charged to this 12 months’s cap and the remaining third in 2027.
