If the Miami Dolphins are seriously considering trading Tua Tagovailoa, they’re going to need more than just a willing partner-they’re going to need a miracle.
The quarterback’s future in Miami has been a swirling topic of conversation lately, and it reached another level this week when WQAM radio host and former Dolphins tight end Joe Rose weighed in. Rose didn’t mince words. He’s not buying the idea that any team would be eager to take on Tagovailoa right now-not with the way things ended this past season.
“There is no one in their right freaking mind out there that will go, ‘We want to trade for Tua,’” Rose said bluntly.
And while Rose is certainly not alone in his frustration, especially among Dolphins fans who watched the team’s season unravel down the stretch, there’s more to the story than just on-field struggles. Rose may be speaking from the heart, but when it comes to the financial side of a potential trade, he’s a bit off the mark.
If the Dolphins do move on from Tagovailoa, they’ll be the ones shouldering most of the financial burden. The numbers being floated around are staggering-anywhere from $54 million to $99 million depending on how the contract is structured post-trade. That’s the kind of cap hit that makes front offices think twice, and then a third time, before pulling the trigger.
Still, the writing appears to be on the wall. While nothing is official, the consensus around the league is that Tagovailoa’s days in Miami are numbered. The conversation isn’t about whether he’ll stay-it’s about how the Dolphins will handle the exit.
That’s a dramatic shift from just a couple of years ago, when the Dolphins committed to Tua with a hefty extension. According to reports out of Miami, that deal was pushed by head coach Mike McDaniel, even as others in the front office-namely Brandon Shore-warned against it. General manager Chris Grier ultimately signed off, and now the Dolphins are stuck navigating the fallout.
Tagovailoa’s 2023 season was a showcase of toughness and grit. He played through injuries, stood in the pocket, and delivered.
But after the extension was signed, something changed. His game looked different.
The quick decisions that once defined his style gave way to hesitation. The confidence that made him dangerous seemed to fade.
And the production followed suit.
No amount of tinkering with the offense or surrounding personnel could reverse the slide. Eventually, McDaniel made the tough call-benching Tagovailoa for the final three games of the season.
That move wasn’t about evaluating rookie Quinn Ewers. It was about trying to win football games, and Tua simply wasn’t getting it done.
Now, the Dolphins are in a tough spot. They’re tied to a quarterback who hasn’t lived up to the contract, and they’re staring down a cap situation that makes a clean break complicated. But whether it’s via trade or release, the sense is that Miami is preparing to move on.
The question isn’t whether Tagovailoa can still be a starting quarterback in the NFL. It’s whether any team is willing to take on the risk-and the contract-that comes with him.
For now, that answer remains unclear. But one thing’s certain: the Dolphins are at a crossroads, and whatever decision they make will shape the franchise’s direction for years to come.