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Dolphins Release Tua, $99 M Dead Cap; Falcons Sign Him

8/7/2026

27 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The Miami Dolphins cut quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, creating $99 million dead cap and leaving him with $54 million guaranteed for 2026.
He then signed a deal with the Atlanta Falcons.
Ian Rapoport said Tagovailoa will start week one as Michael Penix Jr. remains out with a torn ACL.
Tagovailoa joined Atlanta’s training camp on Aug. 5, 2026 after a back injury, concluding a Miami tenure that included a 44-32 record, playoff trips and a Pro Bowl.

History

Historical Context

After Philip Rivers started 224 consecutive games for the Chargers from 2006-2019, the team released him in March 2020, absorbing a $30 million dead-cap charge. Six years later, the Miami Dolphins cut Tua Tagovailoa, incurring $99 million dead money. Both moves show NFL franchises willing to sacrifice large sums to reset rosters and secure future cap flexibility.

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Story summary

The Miami Dolphins cut quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, creating $99 million dead cap and leaving him with $54 million guaranteed for 2026.
He then signed a deal with the Atlanta Falcons.
Ian Rapoport said Tagovailoa will start week one as Michael Penix Jr. remains out with a torn ACL.
Tagovailoa joined Atlanta’s training camp on Aug. 5, 2026 after a back injury, concluding a Miami tenure that included a 44-32 record, playoff trips and a Pro Bowl.

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