Overview
- ESPN reports the decision to start rookie Quinn Ewers was solely Mike McDaniel’s, made week to week, with his support for Tagovailoa having waned.
- Executives tell reporters other teams are hesitant unless Miami absorbs salary, with one saying the Dolphins are almost stuck with Tagovailoa.
- NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport describes a trade with Miami eating money as the preferred or most likely path, rather than an outright release.
- Contract scenarios cited by ESPN: about $54 million guaranteed for 2026 and a $3 million 2027 trigger; a cut could leave roughly $99 million in dead cap, while a pre‑June 1 trade would mean about $45.2 million in dead money and around $11.2 million in 2026 cap savings.
- Miami fell to 6-9 after a 45-21 loss to the Bengals in Ewers’ first start (260 yards, two interceptions), and Bleacher Report notes he is slated to start again against the Buccaneers as McDaniel’s job status remains unresolved per Adam Schefter.