When the Miami Dolphins signed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to an extension in 2024, it was part of a broader trend in the NFL, where quarterback salaries were climbing. The team wanted to finalize this deal quickly to avoid a potential price increase from other signings. They secured Tagovailoa with a four-year, $212 million contract, but as is typical in NFL agreements, there are some complexities to consider.
At the time of signing, only $93.17 million was fully guaranteed, covering his 2024 and 2025 salaries. This amount is more on the conservative side for a franchise player, reflecting a two-year guarantee.
However, by March 2025, an additional $54 million became fully guaranteed for the 2026 season. This was due to the Dolphins implementing a rolling guarantee structure that ensures future years are also covered. As of September 2025, Miami is committed to $106 million for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
In March 2026, the Dolphins will reassess Tagovailoa’s contract, which is relatively low-key, with just $3 million guaranteed for 2027. It’s not much in the grand scheme of things.
How can the Dolphins get out of Tua Tagovailoa’s contract?
The only way for the Miami Dolphins to exit Tua Tagovailoa’s contract is through a trade. If they don’t manage to find a partner, they’ll have to pay him the full amount for 2025 and 2026. Convincing another team to take on $55 million for a player who isn’t keen on such a hefty payday next year is going to be a tough sell.
If they decide to release him, it’s still a hefty $55 million they owe for 2026, minus anything another team might pay him.
Russell Wilson as a case study for Tua Tagovailoa
When the Denver Broncos signed Russell Wilson in 2022, they extended him with a substantial contract. His salaries for the years 2022, 2023, and 2024 were fully guaranteed, but by March 2025, that year’s compensation also became guaranteed.
Trying to sidestep this, the Broncos released him in March 2024, incurring a $39 million cost for that season but managing to keep his 2025 salary off their books.
The Dolphins could have opted to release Tagovailoa earlier in the 2025 offseason but didn’t, putting them in a more complicated position than the Broncos were in.
Kirk Cousins as a relevant comparison for Tua Tagovailoa
In 2024, the Atlanta Falcons signed Kirk Cousins, ensuring two years of guarantees on his four-year deal. After drafting Michael Penix, they found themselves needing to insert him into the lineup during the 2024 season, meaning they didn’t want to keep Cousins with his hefty 2025 salary, which was already guaranteed. They needed to find a trade partner to offload him.
With Cousins set to earn $27.5 million and a $10 million bonus guaranteed for 2026, no teams were willing to trade for him during the 2025 offseason. As a result, he became the most expensive backup QB in NFL history, and the Falcons found themselves stuck with his salary regardless.
Tagovailoa’s $55 million salary is nearly $20 million more than Cousins’ total of $37.5 million. If the Dolphins retain Tagovailoa into the 2026 season, it’ll likely involve adding more guaranteed money. So, even if they aren’t keen on having him start in 2026, keeping him around might be the more sensible option, much like Cousins remains with the Falcons.
