Tua Tagovailoa Benched as Dolphins’ QB Plans Unravel: What Went Wrong in Miami
The Miami Dolphins came into this season hoping to build on the promise they showed in recent years. Instead, they’ve found themselves staring down a second straight losing season, a quarterback controversy, and major questions about the future of their franchise centerpiece, Tua Tagovailoa.
Let’s start with the obvious: Tua has been benched. After 55 regular-season starts, head coach Mike McDaniel made the call to sit the former first-rounder in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers. That decision didn’t just reflect a need for a spark-it signaled a deeper erosion of trust in a player once seen as the future of the franchise.
A Sharp Decline from 2023 Heights
Just a year ago, Tagovailoa led the NFL in passing yards with 4,624. He was decisive, efficient, and the engine behind one of the league’s most explosive offenses. Fast forward to 2025, and the picture looks dramatically different.
Through 14 starts, Tagovailoa has thrown for 2,660 yards with a 67.7% completion rate, 20 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions. That last number-15 picks-is tied for most in the league. He’s thrown at least one interception in nine games this season, a trend that’s become impossible to ignore.
His passer rating has dropped to 88.5, and his QBR has plummeted to 36.7-ranking 30th among all quarterbacks. For comparison, he finished 10th in QBR in 2023 and 15th in 2024. That’s not just a dip-it’s a full-blown regression.
Struggles Beyond the Stats
The numbers tell one story, but the tape tells another. According to one NFL defensive coach who game-planned against Tagovailoa, the quarterback’s struggles go beyond turnovers.
“I saw a quarterback who couldn't play football after his first read,” the coach said. “And then he was on the interception train damn near every week.”
That’s a brutal but telling assessment-and it reflects what many around the league have seen. Tua’s game has always been built on timing, rhythm, and quick decision-making.
When that first read isn’t there, things start to unravel. And this season, defenses have figured that out.
Scouts have also noted a drop in his mobility-something that used to be a key part of his game. One veteran scout described him as “not as twitchy or explosive as he was a year and a half ago.”
That quickness once helped him compensate for a lack of elite arm strength. Without it, he’s looked hesitant and less effective, especially when forced to improvise outside the pocket.
The result? Fewer explosive plays and a stagnant offense.
Tagovailoa is averaging just 6.9 yards per attempt-19th among quarterbacks with at least 10 starts. That’s a far cry from the big-play machine Miami fans saw in 2023.
The McDaniel Decision and the Ewers Experiment
Head coach Mike McDaniel didn’t mince words last week when he called for “convicted play” at the quarterback position. That message seemed aimed directly at Tagovailoa, whose confidence and command have visibly waned.
Enter Quinn Ewers, a seventh-round rookie who now finds himself at the center of a franchise in flux. For the Dolphins, this is about more than just salvaging the season-it’s about evaluating what they have in Ewers and whether he might be part of their long-term solution.
The Contract Complication
Here’s where things get even more complicated. Tagovailoa is in the first year of a massive four-year, $212.4 million extension signed in July 2024. That deal includes $167 million in guaranteed money, with $54 million locked in for 2026 and another $3 million guaranteed in 2027 if he’s still on the roster into the new league year.
The financial implications of moving on from him are steep. A pre-June 1 trade would save Miami $11.2 million in cap space but come with a $45.2 million dead cap hit. A post-June 1 release would spread a staggering $99.2 million in dead cap over two seasons.
So while league executives believe the Dolphins will explore all options-trade, release, or otherwise-Tagovailoa’s contract makes any move a complex financial puzzle.
Potential Landing Spots?
There’s chatter around the league about potential fits if Miami does decide to move on. Teams like the Cardinals, Colts, Raiders, and Vikings have been mentioned, largely due to their quarterback situations and scheme fits. But every one of those options comes with its own set of cap constraints or roster questions.
What’s Next for Miami?
The Dolphins are preparing to hire a new general manager, and that decision could reshape the entire direction of the franchise. With a new front office and a quarterback situation very much in flux, Miami is entering an offseason filled with uncertainty.
Tagovailoa’s future in South Florida, once viewed as a lock, is now one of the biggest question marks in the NFL. Whether he can regain his form-or whether the Dolphins decide to cut ties and start fresh-remains to be seen.
What’s clear is this: The Dolphins’ quarterback plan hasn’t just hit a bump. It’s veered off course entirely. And now, the franchise faces a defining crossroads.