Tua Tagovailoa’s short-term future as the Miami Dolphins starting quarterback appears to be in doubt following his disappointing effort in the Dolphins’ Monday Night Football loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Dolphins’ 28-15 defeat in Pittsburgh ended their playoff hopes, and head coach Mike McDaniel conceded after the game that “everything is on the table” regarding the quarterback position over the final three games of the season.
Which Teams Should Pursue Tua Tagovailoa?
Tagovailoa, who ranks 25th among 44 qualifying quarterbacks in PFSN’s QB Impact metric, signed a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension last year, with the 2025 season marking the first year of that deal.
It would be difficult for Miami to move on from the contract. Releasing Tagovailoa this offseason would result in a record $99 million in dead money, while a trade would require another team to assume $54 million in guaranteed money for 2026.
If he were to split from the Dolphins, Tagovailoa would likely face the prospect of attempting to resurrect his career as a backup. Three teams stand out as potential landing spots should he somehow reach the open market this offseason.
Indianapolis Colts
Daniel Jones is expected to be ready for the start of the 2026 season following the Achilles injury that ended his 2025 campaign.
Jones has built enough credibility to enter that season as the starter, but the Colts need a more reliable insurance policy than Anthony Richardson. They cannot afford to find themselves making desperation calls to a 44-year-old quarterback late in the season again. Indianapolis has too much offensive talent to be in that position.
Tagovailoa would provide the level of competition Jones may need coming off injury, and a partnership with head coach Shane Steichen could be what Tagovailoa needs to revitalize his career. If he becomes available, it would arguably be foolish for the Colts not to pursue him.
Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota’s need for a dependable backup is greater than Indianapolis’ following J.J. McCarthy’s largely disappointing first season as a starter.
The Vikings struggled both with McCarthy in the lineup and with him sidelined by injury.
Minnesota will hope that, with more experience, McCarthy develops into the quarterback the Vikings envisioned when they selected him with the 10th overall pick in 2024.
However, if he struggles again in 2026, the Vikings must have a viable alternative. Tagovailoa is clearly a better option than Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer have proven to be. Kevin O’Connell may not yet have unlocked McCarthy’s potential, but his prior success with Sam Darnold makes a possible connection with Tagovailoa intriguing.
Baltimore Ravens
Quarterback is not likely to be Baltimore’s top offseason priority, with an expected emphasis on both the offensive and defensive fronts.
However, the Ravens had to climb out of a 1-5 start this season in part because of an injury to Lamar Jackson, with Cooper Rush and Tyler Huntley ill-equipped to win in his absence.
While Tagovailoa’s stock may have dipped in recent seasons, he remains an upgrade over both quarterbacks.
The Ravens would need to strengthen their offensive infrastructure to improve the chances of non-Jackson quarterbacks succeeding in their system. Still, Tagovailoa represents an intriguing buy-low option who could keep the Baltimore offense competitive should Jackson miss time again in the future.
