The Miami Dolphins have decided to bench Tua Tagovailoa for the rest of the season, promoting rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers to the starting role. This move follows Tagovailoa’s struggles this year, as he leads the league with 15 interceptions, contributing to the team’s 6-8 record.
Hall of Fame wide receiver Cris Carter understands the rationale behind this decision. Carter notes that after initial success, defenses adjust and a player’s performance may dip, which he believes has happened to Tagovailoa and the Dolphins’ offense.
Carter, who now serves as executive director of player engagement at Florida Atlantic, recalls the Dolphins’ once potent offense that ranked second in the NFL in scoring just last year. He points out that the NFL defenses have adapted, limiting the opportunities that made Tagovailoa effective previously.
Coach Mike McDaniel supports the benching, stating that Ewers gives the team the “best chance” to win moving forward. Ewers spent most of the season as the third-string quarterback before being elevated to starter for the final three games.
According to Carter, the Dolphins’ offensive scheme and Tagovailoa’s play resemble the challenges faced by rookies once the league has ample game tape to analyze. He explained, “The league adjusts by changing coverages, no longer allowing the same passes across the middle that worked before.”
Tagovailoa’s previous achievements include leading the NFL in passing yards and completion percentage, as well as earning a Pro Bowl selection. However, this season’s interception count and inconsistent performances have overshadowed those past successes.
Financially, the Dolphins face difficulties because of Tagovailoa’s large salary cap hit. Releasing him before June would incur a $99.2 million dead cap hit, while a post-June release would still generate substantial salary cap penalties over multiple years. Trading him would also carry a heavy cap charge of $45.2 million.
Carter expressed skepticism that any NFL team will name Tagovailoa as their starting quarterback in the next season. He remarked that apart from a potentially low-cost contract, no franchise likely sees Tagovailoa as their solution at quarterback.
Teams struggling at the position, like the Raiders or Jets, do not appear eager to add Tagovailoa as a starter, and even the Vikings, Carter’s former team, may prefer to develop emerging talent instead. Health concerns also play a significant role; Tagovailoa’s history of concussions has altered his physical and psychological approach to the game.
Carter emphasized that Tagovailoa’s toughness has waned since college. The quarterback knows he cannot endure more hard hits, which has impacted how he plays and what teams may consider when evaluating his future.
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