The Miami Dolphins have initiated a search for a new starting quarterback after announcing the release of Tua Tagovailoa on Monday, just before the NFL free agency tampering window opened. This move signals the team’s intent to rebuild its quarterback position for the upcoming seasons.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Dolphins tagged Tagovailoa as a post-June 1 release, allowing them to spread his $99.2 million dead cap hit over the next two years. With several quarterbacks available through free agency and the 2026 NFL draft, Miami has several possible directions to address this critical role.
Potential Veteran Quarterbacks in Free Agency
The free-agent quarterback pool this offseason offers a mixed bag, with few established stars but several intriguing candidates who could either lead long-term or serve as temporary starters. Among the most promising is Malik Willis, who spent the last two seasons as the Green Bay Packers’ backup. A third-round pick by the Tennessee Titans in 2022, Willis struggled to make an impact early, failing to throw a touchdown pass over two seasons in Tennessee before moving to Green Bay.
Despite limited playing time behind Jordan Love, Willis showed flashes of potential, winning both of his starts in 2024 while throwing for 550 yards, three touchdowns, and maintaining a clean interception record. He also contributed significantly on the ground, rushing for 138 yards and a score. Overall, in four appearances last season, Willis threw for 422 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions, alongside 123 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
A notable connection exists between Willis and Miami’s new head coach Jeff Hafley, who served as the Packers’ defensive coordinator during Willis’ time there, possibly influencing the team’s interest.
Kyler Murray stands out as a more experienced free-agent option. The former Arizona Cardinals starter was the first overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and earned NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors that same year. Murray’s career includes Pro Bowl selections in 2020 and 2021, as well as a playoff appearance in 2021—the only postseason trip during his seven-year Arizona tenure.
However, Murray’s seasons in Arizona were frequently marred by injuries. He missed multiple games in four of the past five seasons, including 12 games in 2024 and nine in 2023. In 87 starts, Murray’s record stood at 38-48-1, with a completion percentage of 67.1%, over 20,000 passing yards, 121 touchdowns, and 60 interceptions. Additionally, his mobility added 3,193 rushing yards and 32 rushing touchdowns to his accomplishments.
The Cardinals cut Murray after his recent injury-plagued season, but at only 28 years old, his dynamic dual-threat skillset could complement Miami’s offense, particularly with weapons like wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and running back De’Von Achane.
Less high-profile but potentially serviceable options include Kirk Cousins and Geno Smith, both seasoned quarterbacks capable of managing NFL offenses effectively. Cousins, aged 37, spent the past two years with the Atlanta Falcons following a productive six-year stint with the Minnesota Vikings, featuring three Pro Bowl appearances. Despite some struggles last season—highlighted by a league-high 16 interceptions—he reclaimed the Falcons’ starting position after Michael Penix Jr.’s season-ending ACL injury, finishing 2025 with a 5-3 record and a 61.7 percent completion rate.
Geno Smith, 35, gained attention with a solid three-year run as Seattle Seahawks’ starter between 2022 and 2024, earning two Pro Bowls and compiling 12,226 passing yards, 71 touchdowns, and 35 interceptions. Unfortunately, his 2025 season with the Las Vegas Raiders was difficult, resulting in a 2-13 record, a 67.4 percent completion rate, and a league-high 17 interceptions before his release.
Given their recent performances and advanced ages, Cousins and Smith would likely serve as short-term solutions in Miami, possibly for just one season, allowing the team to plan for a new quarterback to be drafted in 2027.
Quarterback Prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft
The 2026 NFL draft currently points to Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza as the anticipated first overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders. Beyond Mendoza, however, the quarterback landscape is uncertain, with fewer clear consensus first-round talent.
Another quarterback projected to be a first-round pick is Alabama’s Ty Simpson, who appears likely to go late in the first round, around 29th overall, based on recent scouting projections. Holding the 11th overall pick, the Dolphins might choose Simpson directly or consider trading to adjust their draft positioning.
Simpson’s potential remains largely speculative, as he only has one full starting season in college. Nevertheless, in that year at Alabama, he completed 64.5 percent of his passes, amassing 3,567 yards, 28 touchdowns, and just five interceptions—showcasing promising accuracy and decision-making skills.
If Simpson is unavailable or the Dolphins bypass him, the team may look at developmental quarterbacks in the second or third rounds. One popular candidate among fans is Carson Beck, who led the University of Miami to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game last season. Beck, who previously started two seasons at Georgia, threw a career-high 30 touchdown passes last season despite 12 interceptions, demonstrating clutch performance in key contests.
Apart from these, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier and Penn State’s Drew Allar represent intriguing “buy-low” prospects. Both players faced setbacks in 2025 due to injuries and inconsistent play after strong performances in 2024. Nussmeier had a stellar 4,052-yard, 29-touchdown season in 2024 but was limited last year to nine games with lesser production.
Allar, who could have declared for the 2025 draft and likely been selected in the first round after throwing for 3,327 yards and 24 touchdowns that year, returned to college but suffered an ankle injury that cut his 2025 season short. Though his numbers declined to 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns in six games, Allar’s 6’5″ frame and mobility suggest significant untapped potential, making him an appealing developmental option if Miami secures a veteran starter for 2026.
Implications of the Quarterback Decision Moving Forward
The Dolphins’ decision to part ways with Tua Tagovailoa places the organization at a pivotal crossroads concerning its offensive future. Considering the substantial dead cap impact of the release, the team appears committed to a strategic rebuild of the quarterback position, relying on a combination of free agency signings and draft selections to find a long-term solution.
By exploring options like Malik Willis and Kyler Murray, Miami balances potential upside with experience, while veterans Kirk Cousins and Geno Smith could offer stability if a comprehensive draft plan takes longer to unfold. The 2026 draft will likely be critical as the Dolphins hold a high pick and can target promising prospects such as Ty Simpson or Carson Beck, or consider developmental players like Drew Allar or Garrett Nussmeier to build depth.
This quarterback search will shape the Dolphins’ offensive identity in the coming seasons and may influence roster construction and coaching strategies under head coach Jeff Hafley, whose previous familiarity with Malik Willis could impact his evaluation process. How Miami navigates free agency and the draft will be closely watched by fans and analysts eager to see the franchise rebuild around a new signal-caller.
We have informed QB Tua Tagovailoa that he will be released after the start of the new league year. pic.twitter.com/vc0chU6gYk
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) March 9, 2026
The Dolphins will use a post-June 1 designation for Tua, meaning as of June 1 they can split the dead cap hit: $67.4M in 2026 and $31.8M in 2027. https://t.co/Lwcv9Bx2Y9
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 9, 2026
