The Miami Dolphins’ current front office, as it always seems to do, makes some odd decisions during the offseason. Sometimes, the reasoning behind their actions becomes clear, while at other times, we never figure it out, despite what they may state in public. Some of us can’t even wrap our heads around the fact that Chris Grier is still in charge, let alone some of his decisions.
As an example of curious moves (one that has flown under the radar for the most part), the team signed Zach Wilson in free agency to be Tua Tagovailoa’s backup for the 2025 season. Wilson’s deal was for one year and was fully guaranteed at 6 million dollars. Last week, the team adjusted his deal, moving 3.8 million of his money to next year’s cap despite him not actually being under contract beyond this coming season.
Moving the money makes sense if they need the space under the cap, but for what? What are they planning that requires them to squeeze a bit more money out of the cap by kicking funds down the road again? Is there someone they are attempting to sign who has a somewhat high salary demand? Are they considering a trade for someone that will require the added space? Why do this with a deal that only gives them a tiny bump in cap space? Are they just creating some wiggle room just in case? Who knows with this front office…
Anyway, one of the questions concerns the front office’s long-term plan for Tua Tagovailoa. This question has been asked in more than one place and is not always based on the same thinking.
This led to me asking the following question of you:
Do you think the team is positioning themselves to move on from Tua as soon as financially viable? If not, do you think they should be planning to move on ASAP? If so, do you think they should not be looking to move on from him, as he’s the long-term answer we have been looking for all this time?
Below are some of your thoughts and answers-
herbert pollack does not seem to believe that Grier has a firm grasp of what he’s doing. Maybe so!
Phinsider Question Of The Day: What Are Their Actual Plans- grier is asking the same thing
SlayerNation1 thinks things might come to an end sooner than later.
A Very complex and layered conundrum. I do believe they will move off of Tua ASAP ( the “P” may be after 2025 with some ramification).*
Tua is an issue both short and long term.
Short term meaning He has completed the season only 20% of His career so the odds are very strong He will miss significant time again in 2025.
Long term is the money. From an FO perspective above Grier, You are stuck with His contract for at least a year and want a way out.
Also in the Long term category is the succession plan. To woo any competent next regime, there will need to be a way for that regime to have their own vision of QB.
If I am Tua, I may not want to restructure and delay any money if My career could be over with one more hit.
*every season that passes, it is just to difficult to ignore the skillset needed at QB for meaningful, deep playoff runs. Tua’s comp is Drew Brees. Drew Brees was relevant 15+ years ago. That is a different era when pocket passers ruled the league.
Modern NFL success means 11 on 11 Football has to be at least an option situationally, or very unlikely you will break through the wall of “Status Quo”
FinsRegard believes the team might be acting in a prudent manner. Time will tell.
This was well written.Seems like the Dolphins are being prudent.The man who writes the checks sees the game like everybody else.The fans, national media and local media were expecting a lot more from the team in 24.For everyone employed by the Dolphins in 25, the preparation in training camp to me will signify if this current group is capable of changing for the better.A tough camp builds builds a tough team.Tua has played for a while now, how about him calling plays in the huddle based off his instinct?
Spok507 sees it as the team hedging their bets, which it most likely is.
I wish. That being said, I do believe the team’s braintrust (McD/Grier) are still in that Tua bubble and do believe he is the road to the future. BUT… they are also intelligent men who have eyes and brains and want to do their jobs to the best of their ability. With Tua’s injury history, they cannot look to the future without some kind of Plan B. They realized that last season. It was not pretty. Wilson, despite his struggles so far in his career, does have a lot more ‘natural gifts’ athletically than Tua will ever have. It’s his football IQ that was always in question. Is that something that can be learned, honed and brought out along with maturity? Maybe. Perhaps that what they see; physical tools already there, mental aspect something they can coach into him. Sean Payton said good things about him, so who knows. Maybe he has matured enough to realize what he doesn’t know and the need to learn it.
Not restructuring Tua’s regrettable contract is hedging their bets. They acknowledge they need him now, but that there need to be options for the future because it is clear he does not have the durability or longevity necessary to be a true franchise QB. So basically, we’re in limbo. They gave him money to appease his ego and keep him believing for now, but they still need to find alternatives when the inevitable crash comes. I see us still trying to win with Tua for the next couple of seasons, then moving on to something different whether it be a new QB, new Coach or GM or all three. A glass house isn’t going to last long. It looks cool for a while, and if it serves its purpose in that time, great! If it doesn’t pan out, the only option is to move on and try again.
sdphinsfan doesn’t know if they know what they are trying to do but believes that a desperate team might overpay to trade for Tua after this coming season if the team wants to move on. Certainly not something that I had thought of, but interesting!
I’m not sure they even know what they are trying to do. And that actually could play out to there advantage. Publicly, without question, he’s the guy. His contract is easy to build around if he’s the guy…easy to walk away from if he’s not. What intrigues me most is this. There is nothing available in the FA market for QB’s. Teams are fighting over Russell Wilson and shell of himself Aaron Rodgers. But in a year or so, what might the Pittsburgh Steelers, NY Giants, or Minnesota Vikings be willing to give up for the guy so many want to see gone? It could be a mint…and that’s when we’ll really know what the Dolphins think of said young man….
Dolfanjoe is hoping, doing a lot of hoping. This is the life of a Miami Dolphins fan!
Tua is the best QB we have had since Marino. But like any NFL player if he is not on the field he is not earning his keep. Talk of drafting a QB sounds great ! Should have done it a just about every year ! But that did not happen and we are relying on another ex NY QB to resurrect his career here. We should be so lucky ! I truly feel they may draft a QB to see if he can be developed. Third round no. We cannot have a QB poached off the practice squad, especially when he was a third rounder. Keep three QBs on the active roster ? Maybe but doubtful. Options ? Draft a line and run the ball more ! Keep Tua healthy. Throw as needed, not throw to open the running game. Yea pound the ball ! I screamed let Tua play on his last year of his contract, something that just made sense ! Yes if needed they could franchise him afterwards. Now they are stuck ! We are stuck as fan’s ! I hope Tua has a great and healthy year. I hope our new line is dominate. Hope our running backs both get 1000 + . Hope they get enough help on defense we are a top ten ! Hope is a good thing. I hope that with the perfect draft and finding those undrafted gems we arise as a SB contender. I do not believe any of that crap, but as a fan i am hoping we turn the right direction. Tua is healthy but still one headache away from retirement. Yep one play away from it being Wilson leading this team for the rest of the season. Regardless due to a stupid decision on a contract extension our salary cap is going to be a bit messed up till 27. So lets root for HOPE ! Hey it could happen !
Chucky2022 believes that we are hoping against hope, and the front office is just trying to hold things together well enough to get into the playoffs and win a playoff game to save their own gigs.
I have said it before and will say it again, this team is nowhere near contending for a Super Bowl. They are not even a division contender, much less an AFC champ contender. A few new draft picks is not going to change that, even if Tua (somehow) stays healthy next year. Grier and McDaniels are simply trying to get to the playoffs and somehow get a win. That will secure their employment for another 5 years. Heck, they might even have a parade if they are able to do that. I am not drinking that kool-aide anymore. It is more likely they will miss the playoffs again and Grier and McDaniels will not make it through the year. Tua will be kept to be evaluated by the new GM and coach, but he will eventually be traded to whatever team hire McDaniels as an OC. Truly a wasted year to come. Should have cleaned house already.
David. PBC has his own plan.
I could only hope they do what I would. If I were GM, this what I would do. Then again, what do I know?
1. Trade Tyreek ASAP. Get all draft capital we can. ( I’ll get back to this later)
2. Draft Kyle McCord. Completely different from Tua and a guy that can win in the cold.
3. Best case scenario. Trade Tua for draft capital at the end of the season.
Worst case scenario. We are below .500 at trade deadline. Get what we can for him. This may be a blessing. If Zach Wilson fails, we will have a great draft position and have ammo from Tyreek and Tua trades to move up if necessary for a top QB.
2026 Great QB Draft.
With this years draft i would get 2 WR’s 2 OL 2 DT’s
2 Safeties 2 CB’s.
Okay, AM I FIRED ??
phinsatx thinks they are just trying to fix what was broken last season.
I think it is more about what burned you last season. They put more into the backup QB and OL because it burned them last year. Most of free agency so far has been focused on things they need to improve. It’s hard to think Zach Wilson is the answer when Denver just opted for him not to be their backup.
AussieFin is, in my opinion, correct. Tau is the best quarterback since Marino. Many fans have the issue that the man is one hit away from being done, and most fans would like to be able to watch a game without holding their breath anytime a defender gets within a couple of feet of our quarterback.
Interesting point of view with regard to Tua – fairly obviously written by a Miami journalist who wears glasses all of the time. He has never seen the positive in Tua and frequently says so.
Ask yourself the question? Is Tua the best QB we have had since Marino? or ask yourself would we be better with what was available in FA this year? I would answer Yes to the first and Hell No to the second – but that’s just my opinion.
As usual with the Dolphins fan base, there is no consensus unless it’s that Grier is a man in over his head, and it’s time to move on from him. So I guess we all have to wait for Stephen Ross to see what we see and pull the trigger. As always, thank you to each of you who took the time to answer our question of the day.
