The Miami Dolphins are signing Malik Willis and releasing six-year beginning quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in a transfer that price them a report $99m in lifeless cash in opposition to the wage cap.
Willis is signing a three-year, $67.5m deal together with $45m in absolutely assured cash, NFL Community’s Ian Rapoport reported on Monday.
Willis was a third-round choose for the Tennessee Titans in 2022 earlier than being traded to the Inexperienced Bay Packers forward of the 2024 marketing campaign.
He made simply three begins and 11 appearances for Inexperienced Bay as back-up to Jordan Love over the past two seasons, throwing for 972 yards and 6 touchdowns with out an interception, and speeding for 3 scores.
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Miami’s transfer away from Tagovailoa comes lower than two years after he signed a $212m extension with the membership, however he’s the newest departure from the Dolphins following a disappointing 7-10 season in 2025.
It was the second straight 12 months the crew didn’t make the playoffs, ensuing on the whole supervisor Chris Grier shedding his job mid-season, with head coach Mike McDaniel sacked quickly after.
Miami have the NFL’s longest playoff win drought, standing at 25 years.
“I recently informed Tua and his representation that we are going to move in a new direction at the quarterback position and will be releasing him after the start of the new league year,” Miami’s common supervisor Jon-Eric Sullivan stated in a crew assertion.
“As I shared with Tua, I have great respect for the person and player he is. On behalf of the Miami Dolphins, I expressed our gratitude for his many contributions, both on the field and in the community, during his six seasons in Miami.”
Tagovailoa threw a career-high 15 interceptions final season
Tagovailoa was chosen with the No 5 total choose within the 2020 NFL Draft, however was benched by McDaniel in direction of the tip of final season due to poor play.
Tagovailoa, on the time, stated he was sad with the choice and was uncertain what his future with the crew would seem like.
Tagovailoa was demoted for rookie Quinn Ewers with three video games left within the season, signaling that his six-year run with the Dolphins may come to an finish.
The 28-year-old led the league in passing yards in 2023, with a career-best 29 passing touchdowns, however he has since struggled to copy that kind. He threw a career-high 15 interceptions final season.
“I would say the biggest thing, and it’s being honest with myself as well, had been my performance,” Tagovailoa stated after being benched. “I haven’t been performing up to the level and the capabilities that I have in the past.”
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The Dolphins’ anticipated lifeless cap hit tops the earlier report of $85m that the Denver Broncos took for releasing Russell Wilson in 2024.
The 2026 league 12 months formally begins on Wednesday. If the transfer to launch Tagovailoa is designated as a post-June 1 launch, the $99m will likely be cut up over two years, with about two-thirds charged to this 12 months’s cap and the remaining third in 2027.
