Routes have been on the table for a few weeks now, at least hypothetically.
The prospect originated in the fashion of Tagovailoa making his final start in 2025, a must-win against the Steelers in prime time as Tagovailoa struggled and seemed unfit to handle the Dolphins’ starting lineup. Not long after, head coach Mike McDaniel benched Tagovailoa in favor of seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers, which many interpreted as a sign of the end of Tagovailoa’s time in Miami.
Ewers’ performance varied but had little bearing on how the Dolphins could move forward with Tagovailoa, a quarterback they had given a four-year, $212.4 million extension through the start of the 2024 season. With discontent simmering between QB and coach, it seemed likely that the two could not co-exist into 2025.
It’s not hard to read between the lines here: McDaniel remains active as of Monday afternoon, but Tagovailoa spent the day expressing a willingness to explore new avenues.
Miami can trade Tagovailoa without destroying the salary cap in 2026. If the Dolphins find a willing trade partner for him, they will save $11.2 million in cap space with a June 1 deal. If the trade took place after June 1, it would clear $43 million in cap space.
For now, Miami will conduct exit interviews with players and staff and continue the search for a new general manager following the departure of Chris Grier this offseason. The Dolphins’ next chief of staff will arrive with an important task — deciding what to do with Tagovailoa — at the top of their checklist.