Tua is Likely Out, While the Dolphins are “Definitely in” on Malik Willis
At this time, a couple of years ago, I was convinced the Dolphins had their quarterback of the future. Tua Tagovailoa was coming off a career year where he threw for 4,624 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. He was the undisputed leader of a potent offense, and things were looking good in Miami.
Unfortunately, reality can come up fast and hit like a freight train in the NFL.
In 2025, we’re facing down another rebuild and the likelihood that Tua will be released sooner than later.
During the combine, the new regime reportedly tried to work a trade for the former Pro Bowler but found out that there is a lack of demand for his talents around the league. ESPN’s Dan Graziano wrote about their struggles for ESPN.com
“The Dolphins continue to tell people that they’ve had trade talks with teams and haven’t given up on trying to trade Tagovailoa, even though that would mean picking up a significant portion of his $54 million in fully guaranteed 2026 salary.” Graziano wrote. “But based on my conversations with other teams, I’m skeptical, and I expect Miami to release Tagovailoa by the third day of the league year (when $3 million of his 2027 salary would become fully guaranteed). The Dolphins will almost certainly designate him as a post-June 1 release to help defray some of the $99.2 million in dead money it will cost to release him.”
It’s a disappointing reality that the Dolphins find themselves in, hamstrung by the decisions of the past regime.
However, there may be some light at the end of the tunnel for the Dolphins as ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler has Miami as a potential landing spot for free agent quarterback Malik Willis.
“Willis’ market has been a prominent topic this week. But a team offering him $30-plus million per year doesn’t appear realistic. Many front offices believe the more accurate comp is Justin Fields‘ deal with the Jets last year (two years, $40 million). Could that jump up due to cap inflation and/or multiple suitors? Sure. A range of $20-25 million annually is certainly a good starting point. But Willis hitting the $30 million threshold as a player with six career starts would surprise some of the teams at the combine.” Fowler Wrote.
“Expect at least two and possibly several teams to be involved on Willis. “Miami is definitely in,” a source said. Arizona is combing the market, too, but it doesn’t seem likely that Willis will end up in Cleveland.”
Willis to the Dolphins makes a lot of sense, the Dolphins have sort of morphed into Green Bay South this offseason hiring former Packer’s Co-director of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan as their new General Manager and their former Defensive Coordinator Jeff Hafley as Head Coach.
This doesn’t guarantee anything of course, I would remind you of Joe Philbin being unable to lure Matt Flynn to Miami back in 2012.
However, it shakes out, the times are changing in Miami, and the Dolphins are set to have a whole new look for 2026.
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