Tua Tagovailoa trade row: Tyreek Hill drops bombshell; Quinn Ewers could go all season

Tua Tagovailoa might be joining Tyreek Hill in his way out of Miami. The Dolphins are reportedly benching the starting QB

Published on: Dec 17, 2025, 23:29:50 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Tua Tagovailoa might be joining Tyreek Hill in his way out of Miami. The Dolphins are reportedly benching the starting QB for rookie seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers, The Associated Press reported on Wednesday, citing sources. This comes after the team faced a 28-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night and has been eliminated from playoff contention.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) throws in the third quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Tagovailoa has been struggling. He leads the NFL with 15 interceptions. Meanwhile, Ewers was 5 for 8 for 53 yards in his only action this season.

However, the Dolphins' latest move has sparked trade speculation, and Tyreek Hill just dropped a bombshell.

Tyreek Hill on Tua Tagovailoa-Dolphins situation

As soon as Tagovailoa's benching was reported on Wednesday, Hill took to social media to post a ‘peace sign’ GIF. It is a clear indication that the star WR is moving out of Mimai. He then blamed offensive tackle Terron Armstead for retiring early: "T stead fault he wanted to be a podcaster."

Neither Tua Tagovailoa nor the Dolphins have addressed the talks about the star QB's future.

Tua Tagovailoa's contract details

Despite starting every game this season, the 27-year-old quarterback carries a lengthy concussion history that has already impacted his career. After appearing in all 17 games in 2023, he was forced to miss six contests last season due to head injuries. That 2023 campaign, however, was a breakthrough year: he led the NFL in passing yards, guided Miami to 11 wins and a wild-card playoff berth, and parlayed the performance into a massive contract extension that included $167.2 million in guaranteed money.

That deal also complicates any potential separation. Miami has $54 million in guaranteed salary tied to him for the 2026 season alone, making a release financially punitive. Cutting him next year would saddle the Dolphins with a staggering $99 million dead-cap charge. Even if the team were to designate the move as a post–June 1 release, the financial burden would merely be spread out, with $67.4 million counting against the 2026 cap and another $31.8 million pushed into 2027.

For context, the NFL’s largest dead-cap hit to date came in 2024, when the Denver Broncos absorbed an $85 million charge after releasing Russell Wilson.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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