Miami Dolphins News

Home

Quizzes

Watch

Newsletter

Power Rankings

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

Five potential landing spots for QB Tua Tagovailoa

By Daniel Morrison | Last updated Mar 4, 2026 8:16 AM ET

Tua Tagovailoa is still the quarterback of the Miami Dolphins, but that's likely only for the time being. All signals point to it being time for the two sides to split, with a coaching change and a new era set to begin in South Florida.

That, of course, could be easier said than done for Miami. Tagovailoa is locked into a contract designed for a franchise quarterback, and the Dolphins are facing $99.2M in dead money as a result. The team is expected to wait to part ways with him until after June 1, when the cap number drops to roughly $56.2M. It's still a lot, but more manageable.

Even with all the money that Tagovailoa is owed, there is still some good reason for teams to kick the tires on him. In 2023, he led the NFL in passing yards, after all. Injuries certainly became a setback, though, and the entire team bottomed out in 2025.

Tagovailoa isn't the only quarterback in this spot, though. He may just need some time, like Sam Darnold did, to reset and find the right home. He might be able to thrive quickly with a new change of scenery, too, as Daniel Jones did before his injury. He also has the potential to be one of the best backups in all of the NFL.

With all of that in mind, here's a look at a few teams that might be interested in Tagovailoa.

Minnesota Vikings

It made sense to go with J.J. McCarthy after the 2024 season, after investing a first-round pick on him. It didn't work in 2025, though. Injuries and inconsistency have created some concerns at the position now.

With McCarthy on his rookie contract, the money is manageable. Tagovailoa could come in and provide a veteran to help McCarthy adjust to the NFL, and if need be, become a solid starter.

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons have been linked in some rumors to Tagovailoa. This comes as the team enters a new era with head coach Kevin Stefanski and plenty of cap space to play with.

The question is, what role would Tagovailoa play? He'd make sense as a veteran backup to Michael Penix Jr., providing leadership and insurance. Meanwhile, Tagovailoa gets to reset his own career.

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts brought in Jones before he was injured, and that was a great move. However, an Achilles injury has clouded both his and the team's future. Meanwhile, former first-round pick Anthony Richardson wants a trade.

If Indianapolis doesn't want to gamble on Jones being healthy by Week 1, there are going to be few better options than Tagovailoa available through trade or free agency.

New York Jets

The Jets have to figure out the quarterback position. With two first-round picks, selecting a QB is on the table. However, bringing in a veteran would make sense too.

Tagovailoa would create options for New York. If the Jets wanted, they could use those picks on other positions of need and roll the dice at quarterback. Even with a first-round selection, it would give them time to sit and develop.

Cleveland Browns

It's an open QB battle for Cleveland. New head coach Todd Monken has already made that clear. Added competition is never a bad thing.

No quarterback currently on the roster in Cleveland has had as much success as Tagovailoa. With the Browns in no position to land a sure thing at QB in this year's NFL Draft, bringing in the veteran makes sense.

Daniel Morrison

Dan Morrison is a writer originally from Massachusetts, now residing in Florida. He spent four years at On3, working on the National News Desk there. Prior to that, he’s also contributed at Underdog Dynasty.

More must-reads: