The Miami Dolphins are staring down one of the most pivotal decisions of the NFL offseason - and it all starts under center.
Tua Tagovailoa’s future in Miami isn’t just a quarterback question; it’s a franchise-defining moment. With nearly $100 million in potential cap implications hanging in the balance over the next two years, the Dolphins have no room for hesitation.
This isn’t a choice they can afford to punt down the road. It’s the kind of call that shapes roster construction, coaching strategy, and the team’s competitive timeline.
The arrival of Jon-Eric Sullivan and Jeff Hafley to the Dolphins’ leadership group only adds urgency. With a new front office and coaching staff in place, clarity at quarterback becomes the foundation for every other move. You can’t build a house if you don’t know what kind of foundation you’re working with - and right now, Miami’s foundation is expensive, uncertain, and potentially unstable.
Cutting or trading Tagovailoa wouldn’t be a clean break. The financial hit would be massive - $99.2 million spread across two seasons.
That’s the kind of dead cap figure that can kneecap a team’s flexibility in free agency and limit its ability to retain or acquire talent elsewhere. But it’s also the kind of move that, if made early and decisively, could allow both sides to chart a clearer path forward.
Just look at what Denver did last year. Eating a big cap hit for the sake of a fresh start isn’t ideal, but sometimes it’s necessary.
If Miami believes it’s time to reset the quarterback position, the sooner they act, the better. Waiting too long could handcuff the front office during the critical early stages of free agency and the draft.
For Tagovailoa, an early decision would be a blessing in disguise. If the Dolphins choose to move on, he’d hit the market ahead of the usual quarterback shuffle, giving him a better shot at landing a starting gig elsewhere before the carousel spins too fast.
And for Sullivan and Hafley, knowing exactly how much cap space they’re working with from Day 1 is essential. Every contract negotiation, every roster cut, every free-agent pitch - it all hinges on the quarterback situation. Delay the decision, and the rest of the offseason becomes a juggling act with no clear picture of the budget.
This isn’t a knock on Tagovailoa’s talent. He’s shown flashes of high-level play, and when the offense is humming, he can be a rhythm passer who keeps the chains moving.
But the Dolphins have to ask themselves: is he the long-term answer at a franchise-defining price tag? Or is it time to reset, absorb the financial blow now, and build something more sustainable?
Whatever the answer is, Miami can’t afford to wait. This quarterback call has to be the first domino to fall. Everything else - from roster moves to scheme decisions to long-term planning - depends on it.