Dolphins’ future at QB emerging in 2026 NFL draft, and how the franchise gets out of Tua contract

Dolphins fans’ frustration with Tua Tagovailoa boils over after late mistake against the Bills

The Miami Dolphins kept it close on Thursday night despite being on the opposite end of the power rankings to the AFC rival Buffalo Bills.

While the Bills are fighting for a Super Bowl appearance this season, the early weeks of the new campaign have those on the Dolphins’ side of things fighting for their jobs.

Head coach Mike McDaniel went into Thursday’s game needing a result. While the Dolphins didn’t win, he called a great game offensively, and many are still adamant that he’d be one of the most popular offensive coordinator candidates in the game if the Dolphins let him go.

Miami was able to move the football consistently against the Bills’ defense, with a combination of run plays and quick passes to get receivers open on short throws for Tua Tagovailoa.

Unfortunately, Miami unraveled late with two crucial errors.

The first was Zach Seiler’s roughing the punter penalty on fourth down, which gave the Bills a new possession and allowed them to run down the clock. The second was Tua’s interception on what was intended to be a short route over the middle.

After throwing three interceptions in the opening two games of the season, McDaniel seemed to be calling a much safer game for his quarterback against the Bills. They limited their shots downfield and largely took high-percentage throws underneath.

However, when it mattered, Tua turned the football over again, and the heat was quickly placed on the quarterback after the game.

While Tua’s contract and cap hit likely mean he’ll be on the roster in 2026, the fan base has ultimately decided that it’s time to draft the future of the franchise, and Tua’s replacement.

Tagovailoa appears to have regressed more recently, making more mistakes on the field and struggling to stretch a defense with his arm strength. The quarterback also lacks mobility, and the stress put on avoiding injury means he’s hesitant to take off and scramble or extend a play outside of the pocket.

Now, Dolphins fans are considering the player the franchise might look to early in the 2026 draft.

South Carolina dual-threat QB LaNorris Sellers is an increasingly popular choice, with a play style that fits the modern-day NFL.

Sellers had a slow start to the 2025 season and will need to fine-tune his passing skillset in the league, but there’s no denying the raw talent he possesses. The Gamecocks’ QB threw for 302 yards and two touchdowns in Week 4 against Missouri, with multiple highlight plays while throwing downfield.

Penn State QB Drew Allar is a more divisive option, with some believing his prototypical size makes him a valuable prospect in the draft. Others point to Allar’s struggles so far this year, with a potentially limited ceiling.

Oregon’s Dante Moore and Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza are two of the fastest risers from the current college football season, while others tipped for the draft have struggled.

Moore has thrown 11 touchdowns and almost 1,000 yards in the first four games of the season with Oregon, including a four-touchdown game against Oregon State in Week 4.

Mendoza has now thrown 14 touchdowns for Indiana, with back-to-back five-touchdown games against Indiana State and Illinois.

Tua’s contract details and how the Miami Dolphins might be able to move on

Tua’s contract extension with the Dolphins has not worked out well for the franchise so far. The quarterback signed a four-year, $212.4 million deal in 2024, which means he’s under contract with the franchise until 2028.

That said, Miami has a potential out of that deal after the 2026 season. According to Spotrac, the team can exit the contract after next year’s season, limiting the deal to a three-year, $152.1 million contract, with $34.8 million in dead cap.

Given Tua’s injury history, availability, and performance in important games, it may be time for the two sides to go their separate ways.

One thing does seem inevitable: the Miami Dolphins are quickly becoming one of the most likely to draft a quarterback in the 2026 draft. The only question now is who they take.