A recent report claimed that new Miami Dolphins normal supervisor Jon-Eric Sullivan and new head coach Jeff Hafley will half methods with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in some unspecified time in the future after the brand new league yr opens on March 11.
It was beforehand noted that designating Tagovailoa as a post-June 1 launch would enable the Dolphins to unfold salary-cap hits associated to that transfer throughout the 2026 and 2027 seasons. On Tuesday night time, NFL insider Mike Florio of Professional Soccer Speak indicated that Miami may transfer on from Tagovailoa in a extra excessive approach.
Will Dolphins eat all of the Tua Tagovailoa cap prices this yr?
“In the event that they make Tagovailoa a post-June 1 designation, they’d be capable of break up the cap prices, with $55.4M making use of in 2026 and $43.8M touchdown in 2027,” Florio wrote concerning the Dolphins. “If the Dolphins decide to not use the gadget that spreads the cap penalties over two years, they’d take the total $99.2M cap cost this yr. That might clear him from the books for 2027. Some in league circles suppose the Dolphins might just do that.”
The brand new Dolphins regime has already embraced a roster purge that concerned shifting on from abilities equivalent to pass-rusher Bradley Chubb and injured large receiver Tyreek Hill. Moreover, the Dolphins at present don’t have any long-term reply at quarterback on their roster.
In March 2024, the Denver Broncos ate the biggest lifeless cap hit in NFL historical past to half methods with quarterback Russell Wilson. The Broncos have since made it to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons and came close to taking part in on this yr’s Tremendous Bowl. Thus, these working the Dolphins might understandably need to observe in Denver’s footsteps.
Would Dolphins “smooth tank” 2026 season with future in thoughts?
“With the cap for 2026 projected to fall between $301.2M and $305.7M for the approaching yr, wherever from 32.4 p.c to 32.9 p.c of the workforce’s whole cap house can be allotted to Tagovailoa,” Florio continued. “Taking the total cost in 2026 would pretty be characterised as a smooth tank. By deferring $43.8M into 2027, when the cap possible can be increased, the relative influence of the {dollars} can be smaller than it is going to be in 2026.”
If nothing else, such a transfer would appear to indicate that Hafley will not be in peril of changing into a one-and-done head coach in his present position. It might additionally display that Sullivan understands what his roster lacks this winter.
