The Miami Dolphins appear ready to move on from Tua Tagovailoa, and the organization has already begun evaluating its options for a new direction at quarterback. The front office has started exploring potential avenues to resolve Tagovailoa’s future as part of a larger offseason reset.
Dolphins Shift Focus to Identifying Their Next Starter as Tua Tagovailoa’s Exit Looms
During an appearance on “The Insiders” on NFL Network, reporter Cameron Wolfe said the team is actively working the phones as it searches for a path out of the Tagovailoa contract.
“The current process is they’re trying to trade Tua Tagovailoa. From what I understand, [their preference] is to trade, not release,” Wolfe said.
Tagovailoa’s contract remains the biggest obstacle. He is set to make $54 million guaranteed next season, a figure that complicates any potential deal. His performance has also been uneven, reflected in a PFSN QB Impact score of 72.2, which ranked No. 27 among all quarterbacks. Wolfe noted that Miami understands the financial reality.
Next big Dolphins offseason question centers at QB.
A look at trade Tua Tagovailoa scenario (if they add sweeteners – money or a pick) and who could be the next starting QB?
For @nflnetwork The Insiders: pic.twitter.com/Cmhydjn5G8
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) February 18, 2026
“[Tua] is set to make $54 million guaranteed next season. Let’s call it what it is: no one is paying that money in a trade. So, the Dolphins have talked about taking on a large sum of that money, maybe even kicking in a draft pick to make a deal.”
With Tagovailoa’s future trending toward a split, the Dolphins have already begun evaluating their quarterback options for next season. Wolfe said the team will give Quinn Ewers every opportunity to compete.
“Quinn Ewers is the incumbent; he’s going to get a shot to compete for that role. He showed some things late in the year, but you look at free agency, and Malik Willis is a big name that catches people’s eyes.”
Willis’s connection to Miami is rooted in familiarity. New head coach Jeff Hafley spent the past two seasons in Green Bay, where he coached on the opposite side of the ball during Willis’ practices. That exposure has reportedly made Willis an appealing option.
“The connection there is obvious. Jeff Hafley in Miami coached on the other side of the ball against Willis in practice the last couple of years in Green Bay. Willis has been excellent in a short amount of time, but his price could be $20+ million a year,” Wolfe said.
If Miami prefers a more affordable veteran, Wolfe pointed to a quarterback with deep ties to offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.
“Another name to keep an eye on is Jimmy Garoppolo, who has a lot of experience with their offensive coordinator Slowik. Maybe he’s a less expensive option for them in free agency.”
As the Dolphins prepare to absorb the high financial cost of moving Tagovailoa, the franchise is already shaping a quarterback competition built on familiarity, scheme fit, and long‑term flexibility. The only certainty is that Miami’s offseason will be defined by its search for a new direction under center.
