Dolphins open to this Tua Tagovailoa, Mike McDaniel scenario after 'fresh start' comment

While speaking with reporters on Monday, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa made it known that he feels receiving a "fresh start" elsewhere "would be dope" after he was benched in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers. 

Meanwhile, it appears that Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel will remain in his role and also assist in the franchise's search for its next general manager. Later on Monday, McDaniel indicated that the club could hold onto Tagovailoa through the offseason. 

Dolphins will not "close the door" on keeping Tua Tagovailoa

Per Hal Habib of the Palm Beach Post, McDaniel was asked if it's possible that Tagovailoa will still be on Miami's roster come September. 

"I would not close the door on that," McDaniel responded. 

"In 2026, I think there will be competition for our starting quarterback," McDaniel continued. "What that is and how it looks, that remains to be seen. It's the most important position on the football field."

Why Dolphins likely are at least open to keeping Tua Tagovailoa

ESPN's Dan Graziano and Pro Football Talk's Charean Williams are among those who have mentioned that Tagovailoa is owed $54M guaranteed in 2026. That said, the Dolphins could split the $99.2M salary-cap charge attached to releasing Tagovailoa over two years if they did so via a post-June 1 designation when the new league year opens in March. 

Tagovailoa likely has little trade value considering his well-known injury history and his play this season. He has suffered a minimum of three reported concussions as a pro, and StatMuse shows he was responsible for the third-most turnovers (16) committed during the campaign. Of the players near the top of that list, Tagovailoa appeared in the fewest games (14) over 18 weeks of action. 

The Dolphins and former general manager Chris Grier "mutually" agreed to part ways on Oct. 31, and it's unknown if a new executive would want to keep Tagovailoa and Ewers in the same quarterback room for a summer competition. Tagovailoa has shown he can thrive under McDaniel, when healthy, while McDaniel could be one losing season away from being out of a job.

Thus, Tagovailoa and McDaniel may need each other at least until the Dolphins name a 2026 Week 1 QB1.