Thu Dec 25 23:30:00 UTC 2025: ## NFL Legend Cris Carter Says League Has ‘Adjusted’ to Tua, Dolphins, Predicts Grim Future for QB

Boca Raton, FL – The Miami Dolphins’ once-explosive offense, led by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, has been figured out by the rest of the NFL, according to Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Cris Carter. The former Dolphins player, now the executive director of player engagement at Florida Atlantic, believes the league’s adjustments have exposed Tagovailoa’s limitations, leading to his benching for rookie Quinn Ewers.

“We’ve seen so many players have a good year or two, and then the league adjusts to them, and then they look mediocre,” Carter stated in an exclusive interview. “And that’s where Tua and the offense is with the Dolphins.”

Carter highlighted how defenses are now preventing Tagovailoa from making the short, quick throws that were previously a staple of the Dolphins’ attack. He likened the situation to that of Robert Griffin III, whose initial success was short-lived after the league adjusted to his playing style.

The Dolphins, currently 6-8 and likely to miss the playoffs for the second consecutive year, face a difficult decision regarding Tagovailoa’s future. Releasing or trading him would result in a significant dead cap hit, potentially hamstringing the team’s financial flexibility. Carter even expressed doubt that any team would sign him as a starting quarterback.

Carter also addressed concerns about Tagovailoa’s history of concussions, suggesting that the quarterback is now playing with a different mentality. “He knows that he can’t stand one more big hit. It has changed him psychologically and physically,” Carter explained.

Carter will be participating in the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational with 25 other Pro Football Hall of Famers at The Old Course at Broken Sound in March.

Read More