Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is set to sign a one-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons after being informed earlier Monday that he would be released by the Miami Dolphins when the new NFL year begins on Wednesday, according to multiple reports.
The Falcons are preparing to part ways with veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins before the start of the new league year, which will leave the team with two left-handed quarterbacks, including Michael Penix Jr., who is currently recovering from a knee injury. It remains uncertain who will take the snaps for Atlanta in Week 1.
Penix, the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, suffered a torn ACL in his left knee during Week 11 of last season. He has expressed optimism about being ready for the season opener.
After Penix”s injury, Cousins stepped in and led the Falcons to four consecutive victories, finishing the season with an 8-9 record, which unfortunately did not secure a playoff berth for the team for the eighth consecutive year.
Once Tagovailoa“s contract is finalized, he will be joining an organization under new management. Former Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has been appointed as the president of football operations, overseeing the head coach and general manager roles, which are now held by Kevin Stefanski and Ian Cunningham respectively. Raheem Morris, the previous head coach, and general manager Terry Fontenot were dismissed after the 2025 season.
Releasing Tagovailoa will impose a record-breaking $99.2 million in dead money against the salary cap for the Dolphins, which is structured with a post-June 1 designation for accounting purposes. This will allow the franchise to distribute the financial impact over two seasons, resulting in a $67.4 million dead cap hit in 2026 and $31.8 million in 2027.
The Dolphins originally selected Tagovailoa with the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, hoping he would become their long-term starter. He was the second quarterback chosen that year, following Joe Burrow, who was picked first overall by the Cincinnati Bengals, and ahead of Justin Herbert, who went sixth to the Los Angeles Chargers.
In the 2023 season, Tagovailoa made a Pro Bowl appearance, guiding the Dolphins to an 11-6 record and leading the league with 4,624 passing yards. This season was notable as it was the only one in his career where he played in every game, despite suffering from multiple concussions and other injuries, including issues related to his hip.
In July 2024, the Dolphins rewarded Tagovailoa with a four-year extension worth $212.4 million, intended to keep him with the team through the 2028 season. However, his performance dipped last season, leading to former coach Mike McDaniel benching him in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers with three games remaining. During the first 14 games of that season, Tagovailoa had a record of 6-8, with a career-high of 15 interceptions compared to 20 touchdown passes.
