A major shake-up is on the cards for the Miami Dolphins in the upcoming offseason. However, parting ways with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa would be an expensive undertaking.

The Miami Dolphins are at rock bottom in the NFL. The Florida franchise is having a miserable season, which has already had personnel consequences: General Manager Chris Grier had to leave. But that’s just the beginning of the rebuild in Miami. Several players could still leave the franchise before the trade deadline next Tuesday. Apart from wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, no player is said to be unsellable.

Things will get really serious after the season, when the roster will have to be completely rebuilt in the upcoming 2026 offseason. The dismissal of head coach Mike McDaniel is also on the table. Closely linked to the fate of the head coach is the situation of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

Tua Tagovailoa: Can the Miami Dolphins release him?

The 27-year-old is having a weak season and is far from being the top performer the Dolphins once saw in him. Before the start of the 2024 season, Tagovailoa signed a four-year contract worth $212 million, but has since been unable to justify it. However, due to the playmaker’s contract structure, it is virtually impossible for the Dolphins to simply release Tagovailoa. This would result in a significant dead cap.

NFL: Nearly $100 million dead cap for Dolphins with Tua?

As NFL insider Ian Rapoport reports, the Dolphins would swallow a record $99.2 million in dead money if Tagovailoa were to be released in the upcoming offseason.

At least there would be the option of making the release after June 1 or declaring it as such. Then the sum could be split over two seasons. In this case, $67.4 million would be on the books for 2026, with the remaining $31.8 million left for 2027.

A trade of the quarterback after the season would be slightly cheaper. If traded before June 1, the dead cap would be $45.2 million. If the Dolphins don’t trade Tagovailoa until after June 1, 2026, the dead cap drops to $13.4 million.

According to Rapoport, it is also possible that Tagovailoa, who has already thrown 11 interceptions in the 2025 season, will be benched for the rest of the season. Former first-round pick Zach Wilson and rookie Quinn Ewers are available as alternatives.