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By Matthew Couden
Contributing Writer
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With NFL free agency arriving this week, the Miami Dolphins have made the official decision to part ways with their quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, after five seasons.
General manager Jon-Eric Sullivan shared a statement about Tua’s release on Monday morning, indicating the team would “move in a new direction at the quarterback position” and would therefore release him. It marks a new start for the team, which also parted ways with Mike McDaniel after four seasons and a 7-10 record.
They brought in former Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley as McDaniel's replacement, and previously indicated they'd be looking for another quarterback. That will also mean a fresh start for Tua with another team.
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The move doesn't come as a shock to many fans and insiders, as there was heavy speculation that the team would move on from Tua after failed attempts to lead the team to a successful playoff run.
"As I shared with Tua, I have great respect for the person and player he is. On behalf of the Miami Dolphins, I expressed our gratitude for his many contributions, both on the field and in the community, during his six seasons in Miami," Dolphins GM Sullivan's statement said.
"As we move forward, we will be focused on infusing competition across the roster and establishing a strong foundation for this team as we work towards building a sustained winner," his statement said.
Tua entered the league as Miami's fifth pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. In six seasons, he’s played in 78 games, thrown for 18,166 yards and 120 touchdowns, and recorded 59 interceptions.
During his time in Miami, the team reached the playoffs in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, both resulting in early exits in the AFC Wild Card Round.
According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, "Miami is on the hook for $54M fully guaranteed with offsets, meaning Tagovailoa will play for the minimum next season for someone else."
Rapoport also reported that it’s a “post-June 1 cut” that will allow Miami to spread the cap hit over two seasons. He indicated that over $67M will be coming this year, with the remaining amount occurring next year.
The NFL's free agency negotiation window opens today, with official signings able to occur on Wednesday. Some teams that may now consider adding Tagovailoa as their quarterback include the New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons, Minnesota Vikings, and Pittsburgh Steelers.
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