The Miami Dolphins have benched Tua Tagovailoa. While this is understandable from a sporting point of view, the Dolphins actually cannot afford it financially. You are standing in front of a pile of broken glass.
By Kai Esser
When head coach Mike McDaniel avoided making a commitment to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa after the embarrassing loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, it was already clear to everyone what was officially announced a short time later: The Miami Dolphins put Tua on the bench and rookie Quinn Ewers took over.
The former hopeful, who was drafted fifth to Florida in 2020 under the motto “Tanking for Tua”, has now officially failed. After previously signing a contract worth $53 million annually.
This leaves the Dolphins in a shambles. Sportily and financially.
Tua Tagovailoa: The Miami Dolphins had no choice
From a sporting perspective, this decision is understandable, if not overdue. Tua leads the league in interceptions, rarely throws the ball over the line of scrimmage, and when he does, it often ends in a turnover.
The only place the playmaker has made more mistakes than on the field is in the Dolphins’ press room. His media rounds and press conferences often seemed confused.
At one point he revealed that he has a hard time seeing past his offensive line. He later listed his teammates who allegedly didn’t come to meetings. One day he shifts the blame away, another day he takes all the blame on himself. As unconfident as Tua behaves in the pocket, he also behaves on the podium.
Finally, there are the injuries and concussions that the Hawaiian has already suffered. It’s understandable that he’s worried about further head injuries, but you can clearly see that in his game. A quarterback with fear cannot consistently win games.
Miami Dolphins are facing financial disaster
However, this decision seems less understandable financially. In the summer of 2024, the Dolphins signed him to a four-year contract worth $53.1 million annually. Due to the fifth year option being pulled, 2025 is just the first valid year of this monster contract.
In plain language: If the Dolphins cut him, it would burden their salary cap with $99 million – the rest of the guarantees that Tua would still be entitled to. By far an NFL record, that would even eclipse Russell Wilson’s cut with the Denver Broncos in 2024.
With a little trickery the Dolphins could split that up between 2026 and 2027, but they wouldn’t be able to avoid the sum itself.
Tua Trade? Dolphins face an uncertain future
And trade him? Then there would only be 45 million “dead money”. But what team would want to trade for the leader in interceptions, who costs $54 million guaranteed? It’s pretty much out of the question that the Dolphins will find a team for this if they don’t add high-quality draft picks on top.
What makes matters worse is that the Dolphins currently have hardly any money. As of now, Miami would probably be around $30 million in the red for 2026 – and that doesn’t include the $99 million Tua burden.
The situation on the Atlantic is serious. The Dolphins are facing disaster. And it is not yet clear which general manager should eliminate them.
Because he was fired a long time ago.
