Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa says he would welcome fresh start outside Miami

Barry Jackson, Miami Herald on Jan 5, 2026

Published in Football

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MIAMI — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa made clear Monday that he would welcome a fresh start with another team but did not go as far as to say that he would request a trade.

Tagovailoa, who was benched for the final three games of the season, told the Miami Herald and The Palm Beach Post that he “would be good with” a new opportunity elsewhere.

The brief exchange began when Tagovailoa was approached at his locker and asked if he’s hoping for a fresh start.

“That would be dope,” Tagovailoa responded.

Reporters made sure that he understood the question was about a fresh start elsewhere. Tagovailoa said he understood that.

Tagovailoa was willing to answer that question on the record but politely declined to comment further. This was the first time he has spoken since Dec. 17, a day after being informed he was being replaced by Quinn Ewers.

Tagovailoa said that day that he was “disappointed” about being benched and “I’m not happy about it.” The benching came just 17 months after Tagovailoa signed a four-year, $212.5 million extension, with $167 million guaranteed.

Coach Mike McDaniel and teammates praised how Tagovailoa handled his benching, noting how he helped prepare Ewers for his starts.

The Dolphins possibly signaled they’re moving on from Tagovailoa altogether by making him the emergency No. 3 quarterback instead of the No. 2 quarterback for the final three weeks of the season.

But Tagovailoa’s future will be decided in large part by the team’s next general manager. Miami has requested permission to interview at least six candidates for the GM job.

McDaniel has declined to fully explain the decision to make Tagovailoa the No. 3 quarterback beyond saying it’s in the best interests of both parties.

Releasing or trading Tagovailoa would carry a significant financial hit for the Dolphins.

The Dolphins already have guaranteed Tagovailoa’s $54 million salary for next season, with a $56.4 million cap hit.

If the Dolphins move on from Tagovailoa this offseason, the Dolphins’ 2026 cap hit would be:

— $99.2 million if cut before June 1.

— $45.2 million if he’s traded before June 1.

— $67.4 million if cut after June 1, with another $31.8 million on Miami’s 2027 cap. As overthecap’s Jason Fitzgerald noted, Miami would receive a credit for any salary earned from another team in 2026.

— $13.4 million if he’s traded after June 1.

But finding a team to take on Tagovailoa’s $54 million salary seems unlikely.

If Tagovailoa is still on the Dolphins’ roster on March 13 (the third day of the 2026 league year), $3 million of his 2027 salary becomes fully guaranteed. Another $17 million would become fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2027 league year.

But as Fitzgerald noted, that $3 million guarantee for 2027 shouldn’t drive the Dolphins’ decision — or motivate Miami to release him with a $99 million 2026 cap hit before March 13 — because the $3 million is a negligible amount and would be offset when he signs with another team.

In six pro seasons, Tagovailoa, 27, has thrown for 18,166 yards, with 120 touchdowns and 59 interceptions, a 68% completion rate and a 96.4 passer rating.

But this season, he has 19 touchdowns and a league-leading 15 interceptions and had the league’s fourth-worst QBR at the time of his benching.

Tagovailoa won only three of his last 15 starts against teams with winning records, and Miami has failed to score more than 17 points in seven of those games.

McDaniel said owner Stephen Ross had no role in the decision to bench Tagovailoa or replace him with Ewers. McDaniel has declined to discuss whether Tagovailoa has a future with the team in 2026.

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