99 mil

I’m ALMOST of the same mindset. Rip that mother fooking band aid off and take the pain in 2026.

The only reason I’m not COMPLETELY in that mindset, I see the POSSIBILITY of someone willing to trade for Tua, even if it’s a future conditional 6th round pick for 2027. If we could get a quarterback weak team like the Cardinals, Raiders, Jets, Falcons, Titans, Saints to bite and give Tua a “second chance”, that would alleviate a lot of the cap burden. Not all, but a lot of it. That would be IDEAL but will it happen? More than likely not.

 

There is value in making a decision and sticking to it. Waiting for the optimal path to open up has the risk of losing the opportunity to take other paths while waiting as well as the risk of the optimal path not coming to fruition.

 

Oh I agree but that "deadline" if you will hasn't come to pass yet. If we cut Tua prior to June 1st, we're ripping that band aid off. Its only February so there is still time to pursue other possibilities.

But this right here should be sending a strong message to Tua. The phones aren't ringing off the hook with other opportunities for him. If he plans on continuing a career in the NFL, he needs to work his asteroid off. He'll need to be twice as good just to be good enough.

But if nothing looks like its going to come to fruition by draft day, expect to see him cut then.

 

It seems like keeping Tua in 2026 will be the difference between winning 3-4 games versus 1-2 without that extra cap space. Cut Tua this year and avoid having that situation fester. Play Ewers and a bunch of rookies/UDFAs.

Miami would end up picking top 3 in the 2027 draft, maybe even getting the #1 pick. Combine that with lots of cap space and the rebuild could actually succeed this time.

 

I agree, it ultimately all comes down to Tua proving that the 2025 season was a fluke due to injury, coaching, or whatever. The tape doesn't lie though and he's going to have to come back better than ever to prove the doubters wrong.

Is it possible? Yes. Is it probable? No, because he has to prove it in the offseason.

I think we'll ultimately cut him and eat the 99M dead cap. Or we'll keep him and try to make him a serviceable QB for 2026, simply because that's the most cap-friendly path.

Or maybe we're smart and try to restructure his contract with an extra year or two added. That would explain why we haven't said anything outwardly negative about Tua...it's in our best interests to convince him to work with us. And honestly, it's in his best interests as well if he ever wants to land on a 2nd team. He needs that "prove it" year just as much as we do.

I don't see anything happening before June 1st though unless it's a trade or a restructure. And I can't imagine who would trade for him unless it's the Cardinals for their inept QB Murray and his huge contract (not as big as Tua's though). I'm not big on trading Tua AND paying a hefty portion of his contract; there's no direct benefit for 2026.