The Miami Dolphins made headlines on Monday with a series of roster moves that signal a dramatic shift in direction - and possibly the end of an era in South Florida. Among the most eye-opening decisions: the release of perennial All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill and high-priced edge rusher Bradley Chubb.
Hill, still recovering from a knee injury, is expected to find a new home sooner rather than later. But it won’t be in Miami, and that’s a telling sign of where this franchise is headed. Chubb, too, was let go in what appears to be a sweeping effort to clear cap space and reset the roster under new head coach Jeff Hafley.
But the biggest question now looms at the quarterback position: What’s next for Tua Tagovailoa?
Tagovailoa’s future in Miami has been under scrutiny before, but this time, it feels different. According to insider reports, the Dolphins are actively exploring trade options for the former first-round pick. And if no deal materializes, a release could be coming before the new league year begins on March 11.
That’s a massive development - and not just because of Tua’s name recognition. We’re talking about the NFL’s 11th-highest paid quarterback in terms of guaranteed money.
His contract carries a minimum cap hit of $53.4 million over each of the next three seasons. That’s elite quarterback money - Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen territory - and it’s a tough pill to swallow for a player whose performance hasn’t consistently matched that valuation.
Let’s be real: the fact that trade talks are leaking out suggests Miami isn’t getting much traction on the market. Teams aren’t lining up to take on that kind of financial commitment for a quarterback with an uneven track record, especially when the price tag is north of $50 million per year. In today’s NFL, you either have a franchise QB or you’re looking for one - and it appears the Dolphins have decided Tua isn’t the guy to lead them into their next phase.
If Miami does decide to release him before June 1, the financial blow will be heavy. The Dolphins would eat a staggering $99.2 million in dead cap money, per Over The Cap.
That’s the kind of number that can freeze a team’s flexibility in free agency and limit how aggressively it can build around a new core. But it also sends a clear message: this isn’t about 2026.
It’s about the long game.
Hafley and the front office seem ready to make bold moves, even if it means short-term pain. Letting go of Hill, Chubb, and potentially Tagovailoa in one offseason is a seismic shift - but it might be the kind of reset this team needs after years of hovering around the middle of the pack.
The Dolphins have flirted with relevance but never quite broken through. Now, they’re hitting the reset button in a major way. Whether it works or not will depend on what comes next - but one thing’s for sure: this is no longer the same Dolphins team we’ve come to know.