ESPN Analyst Believes Dolphins Have Already Decided on Tua Tagovailoa's Future

Tua's time in Miami appears to be coming to an end as the Dolphins prepare for a full-scale rebuild.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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According to ESPN analyst Tim Hasselbeck, the Miami Dolphins have already made up their mind on the future of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Hasselbeck believes the Dolphins will either cut Tagovailoa and absorb the dead cap hit, or attempt to trade him, as the team embarks on a full-blown rebuild in 2026.

Why it matters

Tua Tagovailoa was the Dolphins' first-round draft pick in 2020, but his tenure in Miami has been rocky. After being benched for Quinn Ewers last season, it appears the Dolphins are ready to move on from the young QB as they look to reshape their roster under a new regime.

The details

Hasselbeck stated on ESPN's "GetUp" show that "the decision's been made on him in Miami" and that the Dolphins will either cut Tagovailoa or attempt to trade him. With Tagovailoa's large contract still on the books, the Dolphins may have to eat the dead cap hit to fully move on from the quarterback.

  • Tua Tagovailoa was benched for Quinn Ewers during the 2025 NFL season under head coach Mike McDaniel.
  • The Miami Dolphins are expected to undergo a full-scale rebuild in 2026.

The players

Tua Tagovailoa

The Miami Dolphins' starting quarterback since 2020, who was benched for Quinn Ewers during the 2025 season.

Tim Hasselbeck

An ESPN analyst who believes the Dolphins have already decided to move on from Tua Tagovailoa.

Mike McDaniel

The Miami Dolphins' head coach who benched Tua Tagovailoa for Quinn Ewers during the 2025 season.

Quinn Ewers

The quarterback who replaced Tua Tagovailoa as the starter for the Miami Dolphins during the 2025 season.

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What they’re saying

“I think the decisions been made on him in Miami. They're either going to cut him and eat the entire dead cap money, it's a reset in Miami.”

— Tim Hasselbeck, ESPN Analyst (GetUp)

What’s next

The Dolphins will have to decide whether to cut Tua Tagovailoa and absorb the dead cap hit, or attempt to trade him during the 2026 offseason as they begin a full-scale rebuild.

The takeaway

Tua Tagovailoa's time in Miami appears to be coming to an end, as the Dolphins are expected to move on from the young quarterback as part of a larger organizational reset. This decision highlights the challenges the Dolphins have faced in developing Tagovailoa and the difficult choices they must make as they look to reshape their roster for the future.