Tagovailoa Open to a New Start with Dolphins

Tua Tagovailoa seems to be considering a change from the Miami Dolphins, and it appears the feeling is reciprocated by the team.

After a lackluster season, where he sat out the final three games, Tagovailoa expressed interest in a “fresh start.” This sentiment came just a day after the Dolphins faced a disappointing 38-10 defeat against the New England Patriots.

“That sucks. That’s fine with me,” Tagovailoa reportedly said when asked about his prospects for a new beginning.

In another exchange, he acknowledged that this fresh start could mean playing “somewhere else.” His comments coincided with head coach Mike McDaniel’s assurance that competition for the starting quarterback role in the 2025-2026 season would be quite fierce.

“I think there will be competition for our starting QB in 2026. There’s still a lot to see what that looks like and what that’s going to look like. It’s the most important position on the football field, and we have to make sure we do everything possible to get the best talent on the field,” McDaniel stated.

Despite throwing for 2,660 yards and 20 touchdowns in the season, Tagovailoa faced challenges with accuracy and mobility, racking up a career-high 15 interceptions. This downturn comes after he signed a substantial four-year, $212.4 million contract extension in July 2024.

The Dolphins face a challenging decision regarding Tagovailoa, as releasing him next year could incur a $99 million dead cap charge. If they opt to release him after June 1, that cost would be divided over two years, with $67.4 million hitting the cap in 2026 and $31.8 million in 2027.