Miami Dolphins to sign Malik Willis after releasing Tua Tagovailoa in NFL-record $99m hit to salary cap

The Miami Dolphins are signing Malik Willis and releasing six-year starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in a move that cost them a record $99m in dead money against the salary cap. 

Willis is signing a three-year, $67.5m deal including $45m in fully guaranteed money, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Monday.

Willis was a third-round pick for the Tennessee Titans in 2022 before being traded to the Green Bay Packers ahead of the 2024 campaign.

He made just three starts and 11 appearances for Green Bay as back-up to Jordan Love over the last two seasons, throwing for 972 yards and six touchdowns without an interception, and rushing for three scores.

Miami's move away from Tagovailoa comes less than two years after he signed a $212m extension with the club, but he is the latest departure from the Dolphins following a disappointing 7-10 season in 2025.

It was the second straight year the team failed to make the playoffs, resulting in general manager Chris Grier losing his job mid-season, with head coach Mike McDaniel sacked soon after.

Miami have the NFL's longest playoff win drought, standing at 25 years.

"I recently informed Tua and his representation that we are going to move in a new direction at the quarterback position and will be releasing him after the start of the new league year," Miami's general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said in a team statement.

"As I shared with Tua, I have great respect for the person and player he is. On behalf of the Miami Dolphins, I expressed our gratitude for his many contributions, both on the field and in the community, during his six seasons in Miami."

Tagovailoa was selected with the No 5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, but was benched by McDaniel towards the end of last season because of poor play.

Tagovailoa, at the time, said he was unhappy with the decision and was unsure what his future with the team would look like.

Tagovailoa was demoted for rookie Quinn Ewers with three games left in the season, signaling that his six-year run with the Dolphins might come to an end.

The 28-year-old led the league in passing yards in 2023, with a career-best 29 passing touchdowns, but he has since struggled to replicate that form. He threw a career-high 15 interceptions last season.

"I would say the biggest thing, and it's being honest with myself as well, had been my performance," Tagovailoa said after being benched. "I haven't been performing up to the level and the capabilities that I have in the past."

The Dolphins' expected dead cap hit tops the previous record of $85m that the Denver Broncos took for releasing Russell Wilson in 2024.

The 2026 league year officially starts on Wednesday. If the move to release Tagovailoa is designated as a post-June 1 release, the $99m will be split over two years, with about two-thirds charged to this year's cap and the remaining third in 2027.