A healthy Tua Tagovailoa and the 4-6 Miami Dolphins are sneaking into the AFC Playoff picture. With the fourth easiest remaining strength of schedule, securing the seventh seeds isn’t totally out of the question.
However, Tagovailoa suffered the fourth known concussion of his career earlier this season and could play his last NFL snap at any moment. If he retires this offseason, a veteran-laden Miami roster will return to the drawing board with a franchise signal caller under center among additional gaping holes.
The team would likely look for a new (and cheap) quarterback), trade star receiver Tyreek Hill, and rebuild a surprisingly-older defense.
Here’s what a chaotic Dolphins offseason would look like should Tagovailoa decide to retire…
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QUARTERBACK PICKLE
The Dolphins inked Tagovailoa to a seismic four-year, $212.4 million contract (including $132 million in guarantees) with a $42 million signing bonus this offseason.
Should he retire this offseason for injury-related reasons, Miami would be on the hook for a further $125 million (insurance could help with some, but that might not alleviate the cap concerns). If his retirement is considered non-injury related, the Dolphins could still owe $90 million.
Backup Skylar Thompson has shown he’s not the answer. Miami owns all their 2025 draft picks and could trade up to take whichever of the three highest-rated quarterback prospects – Shadeur Sanders, Cam Ward, and Jalen Milroe – tumbles furthest in the top 10.
Miami could elect to draft Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe in the 2025 NFL Draft (
Getty Images)
WIDE RECEIVER ROOM
Tyreek Hill has reiterated on multiple occasions he wants to stay in Miami, emphasizing in October that “Whatever happens, happens. Moving forward, I would love to be here — I love being here. I love the guys.” He has a close relationship with Tagovailoa; however, Hill may want to move on if his star quarterback retires.
Fortunately for the Dolphins, any trade would not involve a dead cap hit. Hill is having a down season, but he was a First-team All-Pro in both 2022 and 2023 and could easily fetch a pair of midround selections in return.
Jaylen Waddle is around for the long haul and rookie Malik Washington looks like an NFL receiver. The Dolphins should sign a veteran and draft (at least) two receivers in next year’s draft.
FIXING THE DEFENSE
The Dolphins have a slew of veterans out of a contract this offseason. Star safety Javon Holland is having a down year but must be resigned, while linemen Emmanual Ogbah, Calais Campbell, and Benito Jones could all move on.
To maintain a functioning unit, Miami simply must get healthy seasons from the expensive duo of Nick Chubb and Jaelan Phillips – the pair will make a combined $42 million next season and played a collective four games this year.
If the Dolphins select a development prospect like Milroe in the offseason, 2025 can be used as a developmental year for the defense. Don’t splurge on further Jalen Ramsey’s of the world and prioritize emerging talent.
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