Fri Sep 19 01:00:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

The Miami Dolphins face a potential problem with Tua Tagovailoa’s lucrative contract. After a slow start to the 2025 season, cutting Tagovailoa would cost the Dolphins a staggering $79.2 million in dead cap space. The contract structure makes it difficult to move on from him before the 2027 season without incurring a significant financial penalty. Despite having backup options, the Dolphins are essentially locked into Tagovailoa as their QB1 for the foreseeable future.

**News Article:**

**Dolphins’ $79.2 Million QB Headache: Tagovailoa’s Contract a Burden Amid Slow Start**

MIAMI – The Miami Dolphins are grappling with a potentially costly quarterback situation as Tua Tagovailoa struggles to find his footing early in the 2025 NFL season. Following an 0-2 start, questions are swirling about Tagovailoa’s performance and the financial implications of his massive contract extension.

ESPN’s Matt Miller reports that cutting Tagovailoa, who signed a four-year, $212 million deal last summer, would saddle the Dolphins with a crippling $79.2 million in dead cap space. This financial burden stems from the contract’s structure, which makes it exceedingly difficult to move on from the quarterback.

Tagovailoa is currently earning $25 million in base salary for 2025, with escalating figures in the following years. While a potential out exists before the 2027 season, even that move would result in nearly $35 million in dead money.

With Zach Wilson and Quinn Ewers on the roster, the Dolphins don’t have any other top-level quarterback options. Given the substantial investment, the Dolphins are likely to give Tagovailoa a long leash to improve, despite growing concerns.

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