Tua Tagovailoa faces mounting criticism and a $99 million contract decision as the Miami Dolphins reassess their future at quarterback. (Image via Getty) Tua Tagovailoa is no longer being debated quietly behind closed doors. The Miami Dolphins quarterback is now facing public criticism from league evaluators, a benching from head coach Mike McDaniel, and a contract decision that could reshape the franchise. What was once framed as stability is now being questioned in blunt terms across the NFL.ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler spoke to multiple league sources, and the consensus was uncomfortable. The tone around Tua Tagovailoa has shifted from concern to skepticism. The Dolphins must now decide whether they can continue building around him or whether the cost of moving on is worth absorbing.
NFL evaluators question Tua Tagovailoa’s decision making and on-field regression in 2025
Tua Tagovailoa’s 2025 season triggered alarm bells across the league. According to Jeremy Fowler, NFL evaluators no longer view him as a quarterback who is progressing. One defensive coach who prepared for him offered the most direct criticism.“I saw a quarterback who couldn’t play football after his first read,” the coach said. “And then he was on the interception train damn near every week.”The numbers explain why that quote landed hard. Tagovailoa ranks 30th in QBR at 36.7, just behind New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields. He has thrown 15 interceptions in 14 starts, tied for the most in the NFL. He recorded at least one interception in nine of those games. Miami went 6-8 in his starts.This drop stands out because it follows two solid seasons. Tagovailoa ranked 10th in QBR in 2023 and 15th in 2024. Evaluators told Fowler that the regression is not subtle. His mobility has declined, and his ability to escape pressure has faded. One veteran NFL scout told Fowler that Tagovailoa is “not as twitchy or explosive as he was a year and a half ago,” adding that his footwork once helped compensate for limited arm traits.Durability remains part of the evaluation. Tagovailoa’s concussion history is never far from the discussion. Fowler reported that one NFL personnel evaluator wondered whether the pressure to stay healthy affected him mentally. After the 2024 season, then-general manager Chris Grier said availability was an issue. That caution showed up late in the season. In Week 15 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tagovailoa scrambled for one yard on third-and-2 with playoff hopes still alive and did not push for the first down.Mike McDaniel responded by benching him. Rookie seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers started in his place. McDaniel said he wanted “convicted play” at quarterback, signaling that confidence in Tagovailoa had eroded after 55 regular-season games together.
Why the Miami Dolphins’ $99 million Tua Tagovailoa contract problem cannot be ignored
The criticism would sting less if the contract were flexible. It is not.Tua Tagovailoa is in the first year of a four-year, $212.4 million extension signed in July 2024. The deal includes $167 million guaranteed. According to Fowler, $54 million of that is guaranteed for 2026, with an additional $3 million guarantee in 2027 if he remains on the roster into the new league year.Releasing Tagovailoa before June 1 would place $99.2 million in dead cap on the books immediately, plus an additional $42.8 million cap hit that year. A post-June 1 release spreads the hit, with $67.4 million in dead money in 2026 and $31.8 million in 2027. Either option is painful.A trade does not solve much. Fowler reported that trading Tagovailoa before June 1 would save Miami $11.2 million in cap space, but still result in a $45.2 million dead cap hit. League executives are skeptical that teams would absorb the contract. One NFC executive told Fowler, “Cutting him doesn’t help them financially.” Another added, “They are almost stuck with him.”The Dolphins already face cap stress. Miami ranks sixth in projected 2026 dead cap at $35.5 million and sits at negative $2.9 million in projected cap space. Fowler reported that releasing veterans such as Tyreek Hill, Bradley Chubb, and Minkah Fitzpatrick could free nearly $37 million. Hill alone would clear $23.65 million. Fowler also noted the context. Hill turns 32 in March and is coming off a severe knee injury. Moving on would shift the offense toward Jaylen Waddle, who is 27.The reality is harsh but clear. Tua Tagovailoa’s performance has put the Miami Dolphins in a position where the football concerns and the financial consequences collide. The team does not even have a permanent general manager in place yet. Until that hire happens, the quarterback decision hangs unresolved. What was once seen as a long-term answer now feels like the most expensive question in Miami.