Falcons' Tua Tagovailoa: Puts pen to paper with Falcons
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Tagovailoa officially signed his one-year, $1.3 million contract with the Falcons on Friday.
Falcons GM Ian Cunningham confirmed Friday that Tagovailoa will compete with Michael Penix (knee) for the starting quarterback role in Atlanta, per Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com. Both are oft-injured left-handed quarterbacks, but Tua is the healthier of the two at the moment, as he passed a physical in order to effectuate his contract with Atlanta while Penix is recovering from November surgery to repair a torn ACL. Penix has a chance to be ready for the start of the regular season, but Tagovailoa could have the early edge in Atlanta's QB competition while Penix works his way back into form.
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Falcons' Tua Tagovailoa: Reaches agreement with Atlanta
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Tagovailoa and the Falcons have reached an agreement on a one-year, $1.3 million contract, Jonathan Jones of CBSSports.com reports.
The deal should become official Wednesday evening after the Dolphins release Tagovailoa, who is due $54 million in guaranteed money. His new contract offsets what he's owed from Miami, so there's no incentive to sign for more than the minimum. With fellow left-handed quarterback Michael Penix rehabbing from ACL surgery, Tagovailoa could get a chance to revive his value under new Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski. Atlanta has been busy in the opening hours of free-agent negotiations, releasing WRs Darnell Mooney and KhaDarel Hodge after quickly reaching agreements with WRs Olamide Zaccheaus and Jahan Dotson. The WR room still looks shaky beyond Drake London, but Bijan Robinson and a strong offensive line go a long way.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Nearing deal with Atlanta?
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Tagovailoa "appears poised" to sign with the Falcons once he's officially released by Miami on Wednesday, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Tagovailoa would join a QB room led by fellow lefty Michael Penix, who underwent surgery in late November to repair an ACL tear. Tagovailoa likely will sign a vet-minimum contract with his next team, as any new money would simply offset the $54 million guaranteed that Miami owes him. If Tagovailoa does end up signing with the Falcons, it'll be a strong hint that Penix isn't expected to be ready for Week 1. At the very least, Tagovailoa would get first-team reps (under new coach Kevin Stefanski) throughout the offseason program and into training camp. Meanwhile, the Falcons are in line to release fellow quarterback Kirk Cousins at the start of the league year, right around the time when Miami figures to cut ties with Tagovailoa.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Set to be released by Dolphins
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The Dolphins will release Tagovailoa after the start of the new league year.
Per Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network, once the move occurs, Tagovailoa will be designated as a post June-1 release. The QB is due $54 million guaranteed for 2026, and considering offsets, Tagovailoa will be eligible to sign with another team for the league minimum after he's officially released. Tagovailoa -- who Miami selected fifth overall in the 2020 NFL Draft -- was benched for the team's final three games last year after tossing a career-high 15 interceptions (versus 20 TDs) in 14 regular-season games. The 28-year-old thus represents an option for franchises looking to add an experienced signal-caller to the mix at an affordable cost.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Dolphins prefer trade over release
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New Miami general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said Tuesday that "everything is on the table, including [the] possibility of a trade" regarding Tagovailoa's future with the team, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.
Sullivan noted that Tagovailoa hasn't officially requested a trade, though the quarterback expressed a desire to play elsewhere after a tough 2025 campaign. The 27-year-old inked a massive four-year, $212.4 million contract in July 2024 but appears to have worn out his welcome with the Dolphins after throwing for just 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions across 14 regular-season appearances last season. Sullivan stated in unequivocal terms Tuesday that the team will draft a quarterback this offseason, per C. Isaiah Smalls II of the Miami Herald, as well as pursue options at the position in free agency such as Malik Willis, per Bill Huber of SI.com. If a trade partner willing to accommodate Tagovailoa's massive salary guarantees can't be found, the expectation is that he will be released.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Future in Miami uncertain
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Tagovailoa said Monday, in the wake of Miami's season finale loss to the Patriots, that it "would be dope" to get a fresh start with another team during the 2026 season, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN reports.
Tagovailoa didn't go as far as stating that he plans to request a trade, but he said he "would be good with it" if he were to play elsewhere in 2026. Head coach Mike McDaniel said the Dolphins will host a quarterback competition in 2026 and left the door open for rookie Quinn Ewers (knee) to start, but he declined to comment on Tagovailoa being benched in Week 16. Across 14 regular-season appearances, Tagovailoa completed 260 of 384 pass attempts for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions, while adding 43 yards on 20 carries and fumbling eight times. He led the NFL in INTs at the time of his benching. After having inked him to a four-year, $212.4 million contract in July of 2024, Miami would face a $99.2 million cap hit in 2026 by cutting Tagovailoa before June 1, while releasing him after that date would spread the cap hit across the next two seasons. Given Tagovailoa's salary, finding a trade partner for the 27-year-old signal-caller will be a difficult task.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Emergency No. 3 QB again
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Tagovailoa is listed as the Dolphins' emergency third QB for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers.
As a result, Quinn Ewers and Zach Wilson are Miami's active signal-callers versus Tampa Bay. The Dolphins, who have been eliminated from playoff contention, close their 2025 season next weekend against the Patriots.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Relegated to emergency duties
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Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday that Tagovailoa will act as the emergency No. 3 quarterback during Sunday's game against the Bengals, Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald reports.
Tagovailoa will not only be benched in favor of rookie seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers versus Cincinnati in Week 16, but he's positioned to be inactive while Zach Wilson remains in the backup role. In that case, Tagovailoa would only be eligible to take the field if both Ewers and Wilson end up forced out of action. Based on the timing of his benching, it won't be surprising if Tagovailoa remains in the No. 3 role for Miami's remaining three regular-season games. Across 14 appearances this year, Tagovailoa has thrown a career-high and league-leading 15 interceptions. If he doesn't take another snap in 2025, Tagovailoa with end the season with a 68 percent completion percentage, 2,660 passing yards and 20 touchdowns, in addition to the aforementioned INTs. He's also rushed 20 times for 43 yards and fumbled eight times, losing one.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Being benched by Dolphins
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Miami plans to bench Tagovailoa for Sunday's game against the Bengals and start rookie Quinn Ewers at quarterback instead, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Tagovailoa's tenure as the Dolphins' starting quarterback comes to an end at least temporarily, and this move could certainly signal long-term upheaval for the team during the offseason. Head coach Mike McDaniel indicated after Miami's 28-15 loss to the Steelers on Monday that Tagovailoa's recent level of play has been unacceptable, as in his last four appearances the 2020 first-round pick has averaged under 200 passing yards per game and compiled just three touchdowns to go with two interceptions. Ewers will get a favorable matchup versus Cincinnati's reeling defense in his first NFL start, but key fantasy options such as RB De'Von Achane, WR Jaylen Waddle, and TE Darren Waller now face more uncertainty in terms of their respective production floors heading into Week 16. Tagovailoa signed a four-year, $212.4 million contract last summer and has $54 million guaranteed in 2026 alone, per Adam Schefter of ESPN, but it nonetheless seems entirely possible that the Dolphins explore making a change at the quarterback position this offseason. It's possible Zach Wilson operates as the backup to Ewers, relegating Tagovailoa to third-string duties for the final three games of the regular season.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Could be at risk of benching
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Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel suggested Tuesday that he's considering benching Tagovailoa for the team's Week 16 game against the Bengals, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports. "The quarterback play last night was not good enough," McDaniel said. "So for me, everything is on the table."
Tagovailoa turned in another uneven performance in Monday's 28-15 loss to the Steelers, completing 22 of 28 attempts for 253 yards and two touchdowns. The two scores came in garbage time, and he also lost 31 yards on four sacks and was intercepted on a deep ball intended for Jaylen Waddle midway through the first quarter. Prior to Monday's loss, the Dolphins had been riding a four-game winning streak, but the team's recent success was largely due to a potent De'Von Achane-led ground attack and an improved defense. Tagovailoa, meanwhile, posted a 3:3 TD:INT and threw for under 200 yards in each of those contests. With Monday's loss ending the Dolphins' long-shot bid for the playoffs, McDaniel is exploring a change at quarterback, with Zach Wilson and Quinn Ewers looming as possible alternatives. McDaniel said he expects to reach a final decision on a Week 16 starter by Wednesday, and even if Tagovailoa retains the job, the mere consideration of a quarterback change suggests that the 27-year-old may not be viewed as the franchise's long-term answer. Tagovailoa is in the first season of a four-year, $212.4 million extension, and the Dolphins would have to absorb a $79.2 million dead-cap hit in order to get out from under his contract before 2027.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Mixed bag in Week 15 loss
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Tagovailoa completed 22 of 28 passes for 253 yards with two touchdowns and one interception while adding one rush for one yard in the Dolphins' 28-15 loss to the Steelers on Monday.
Tagovailoa's final line was certainly useful from a fantasy perspective, considering his passing yardage total was his fourth highest of the season and his multi-touchdown tally was his first in the last four games. He connected with Darren Waller for both of his scoring tosses (six and 13 yards), although both, along with the majority of Tagovailoa's yardage, came in the fourth quarter with the game essentially out of reach. Tagovailoa had failed to reach the 200-yard mark through the air in four straight games before Monday, but he could once again compile some fantasy-friendly numbers in a Week 16 home matchup against the Bengals on Sunday.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Modest numbers in run-heavy win
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Tagovailoa completed 13 of 21 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown while rushing once for no gain in Sunday's 34-10 win over the Jets.
Tagovailoa absorbed a big hit but delivered a three-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Waddle on the opening drive. Miami's other three touchdowns all came on the ground, with De'Von Achane (ribs), Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon each scoring one. Achane exited in the second quarter, so the Dolphins went heavier on traditional runs rather than the screen passes that usually allow Achane to contribute as a receiver in space while padding Tagovailoa's passing stats. Tagovailoa notoriously struggles in cold conditions, and after this unimpressive statistical outing, he seems unlikely to heat up literally or figuratively in Week 15 at Pittsburgh.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: QBs to Sit
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Prior to Week 11, I was planning to use Tagovailoa in several leagues as a potential sleeper given his schedule to close the season against Washington, New Orleans, the Jets, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Tampa Bay. Those are all plus matchups, but Tagovailoa has already had disappointing Fantasy outings against the Commanders (6.8 points) and Saints (4.7), which makes him tough to trust against the Jets. He's actually scored 14.8 Fantasy points or less in four games in a row and in six of his past seven outings, and the Jets have held three quarterbacks in a row to 17.4 Fantasy points or less, including matchups with Drake Maye and Lamar Jackson. Part of the reason for Tagovailoa's lowly stats is how well De'Von Achane is running the ball, and I expect Miami to continue to lean on Achane in this matchup. Tagovailoa is only worth using in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues in Week 14.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Muted performance in Week 13 win
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Tagovailoa completed 12 of 23 passes for 157 yards with no touchdowns and one interception while rushing four times for four yards in the Dolphins' 21-17 win over the Saints on Sunday.
Tagovailoa's middling numbers tell the tale of a low-volume, inefficient day for the Dolphins' air attack, one that saw the veteran signal-caller finish with his seventh sub-200-yard tally of the season and lowest figure since Week 7. Tagovailoa also extended his touchdown drought to two games, and he's gone without a scoring toss in four of his last six contests overall. Given recent performances and what could be inclement early-December weather in New York, Tagovailoa doesn't profile as a particularly appealing fantasy option in a Week 14 road clash with the Jets next Sunday.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Sleeper QBs
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Tagovailoa will be tough to trust in Week 13 against the Saints since he has scored 14.8 Fantasy points or less in three games in a row and in five of his past six outings. But Darren Waller (pectoral) could return for this game after being out since Week 7, and New Orleans has allowed six quarterbacks this season to score at least 21.5 Fantasy points, including three of five on the road. I like Tagovailoa as a low-end starter in deeper leagues in Week 13.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Quiet performance in OT win
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Tagovailoa completed 14 of 20 passes for 171 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in the Dolphins' 16-13 overtime win over the Commanders in Madrid on Sunday.
Tagovailoa's final line underscores the game manager role he played in the overseas win, one in which he withstood three sacks but still managed a solid 8.6 yards per attempt. The veteran signal-caller worked with a tight circle of five targets, and the fact he was able to remain turnover-free for only the second time in the last six games may have been as encouraging an aspect of his performance as any. Tagovailoa has thrown for under 200 yards in each of the last two contests heading into the Week 12 bye, but Miami has notably recorded victories in both contests.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Sleeper QBs
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Tagovailoa has scored more than 20 Fantasy points just once in his past five outings, but this matchup against Washington in Madrid is amazing. The Commanders are No. 4 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks, and only Russell Wilson in Week 1 failed to score at least 19.5 points against this defense. The past four quarterbacks against Washington have scored at least 28.9 Fantasy points, including Dak Prescott, Patrick Mahomes, Sam Darnold and Jared Goff, and hopefully Tagovailoa will follow suit. He's worth using as a low-end starter in all one-quarterback leagues in Week 11.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Adds/Streamers (QB Preview)
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Just when I thought I was out, the Dolphins pull me back in with a win against the Bills and a Week 11 matchup with the Commanders. This pass defense has just completely fallen apart, giving up at least 299 yards in three straight games and at least 28 Fantasy points in four straight.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Week 11 Waiver Priority List
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Tagovailoa only scored 14.8 Fantasy points in Week 10 against Buffalo and has one game with more than 20 points in his past five outings. But in Week 11 in Madrid, Tagovailoa gets to face the Commanders, who are No. 4 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks. He's a good streaming option in that matchup, and then Tagovailoa gets to face New Orleans in Week 13, the Jets in Week 14, Pittsburgh in Week 15, Cincinnati in Week 16, and Tampa Bay in Week 17 after a bye in Week 12. It's an ideal schedule, and Tagovailoa could be a surprise Fantasy quarterback to close the year. He's worth adding for up to 5 percent of your remaining FAB.
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Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa: Offsets picks with TDs in win
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Tagovailoa completed 15 of 21 passes for 173 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions while adding two carries for minus-1 yard in the Dolphins' 30-13 win over the Bills on Sunday.
Tagovailoa's pair of interceptions didn't lead to any Bills points, and he helped offset the miscues with nine- and 38-yard touchdown tosses to Malik Washington and Jaylen Waddle in the first half. Tagovailoa didn't need to do much otherwise, as the Dolphins' defense put together a standout performance that indirectly resulted in the quarterback's fifth sub-200-yard tally of the season. The 2020 first-round pick does now have four multi-interception tallies this season, a troublesome trend Tagovailoa will aim to avoid in a Week 11 overseas matchup against the Commanders in Madrid.
