Patriots Rival Expected To Move On From $212M Pro Bowler Next Season

The New England Patriots have been one of the best teams in the NFL this season, but the season has not been so kind to their rival, the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins are eliminated from playoff contention and have benched their starting quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa.

Tagovailoa has struggled to stay healthy in the last few years and has failed to be a consistent option for the Dolphins. He signed a four-year, $212 million extension with the Dolphins before the 2024 season, on the heels of a Pro Bowl campaign. However, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the Dolphins are unlikely to bring him back as the starting quarterback next year.

“He still has $55 million, fully guaranteed, for next year,” Rapoport said on Sunday. “It is the expectation that Tua has played his final down with the Miami Dolphins. He will be the third quarterback (Sunday). The options for how they would move on from him: They could simply cut him and eat $99 million of dead cap split over the next two seasons, like the Denver Broncos did with Russell Wilson; they could try to trade him and try to eat some of that money, which is their preferred option, and maybe the most likely or they could keep him as a highly paid backup, which I would say is unlikely.”

With the Patriots and Buffalo Bills looking like teams destined to battle for the AFC East title for years to come, a quarterback change in Miami could set them back. However, the move away from Tagovailoa was one that has been developing over the last two years.

He leads the league in interceptions this year and has thrown 23 interceptions in his last 25 games. He also has 15 fumbles in the last two years. Injuries are also a problem, but turnovers have been the biggest issue.

The Dolphins are rolling with Quinn Ewers at quarterback on Sunday with Tagovailoa on the bench. If Ewers plays well to close out the season, he could earn an opportunity to start next season as the No. 1 quarterback. However, the Dolphins could have an early pick in the draft and target a quarterback.

Regardless, a quarterback change in Miami puts Miami in a tough spot to compete with the Patriots and Bills.