INDIANAPOLIS — The Miami Dolphins continue to sort through the possible scenarios with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa‘s future.
Speaking Tuesday from the NFL Scouting Combine, new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan addressed Tua’s tenuous situation.
“We’ve had conversations with Tua and his representation,” the GM said. “Everything’s on the table, including the potential of a trade. We don’t know which way that’s going to go. There’s a lot of different factors at play, a lot of conversations being had… Tua, I thought, even though things didn’t go well at the end of the year, did some good things along the way. And it’s my job to infuse competition into that room along with every other room as we go down the road.”
Reading between the lines, the Dolphins are still holding out hope a team might swoop in to trade for Tagovailoa, but eventually Miami might be forced to bite the bullet and release the QB, taking on roughly $99 million in dead money — potentially split over two years with a post-June 1 designation.
The quarterback’s future in Miami appeared to be settled when he was benched by the previous staff. The new brass has done little to change the assumption that the club will move on from the former first-round pick.
“I think Tua had some bright moments,” Sullivan said. “I think Tua, if he was standing here today, would tell you there were some moments he wishes he had back, some decisions he had back. Tua accomplished a lot or has accomplished a lot of really good things in his time in Miami. I think people that are Miami Dolphins fans should be proud to have had him here, and we’ll see where it goes. I think Tua believes that he can still be a high-level quarterback in this league. I think that’s what his desire is to do, you know, where that happens remains to be seen, whether that’s here or elsewhere.”
The big question is how the Dolphins can move on from Tagovailoa while still building a competitive roster in Year 1 under Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley.
“Obviously, it’s no secret that we’re in a bit of a strain salary-cap wise,” Sullivan said. “I think you can always do what you want to do within the salary cap. That means you have to kick things down the road. We’re in a position, without speaking specifically, I think we’re in a position where we need to get back into a healthy state within our salary cap. So yeah, I mean, I think anytime you look around the league, there are teams that kick the can down the road every week. So can you? Yes. Will we? I’m not here to say that.”
