Falcons eye Tua Tagovailoa after Dolphins cut QB, sources say - ESPN

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Atlanta Falcons are expected to pursue Tua Tagovailoa in free agency, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter, after the quarterback was informed Monday that he will be released by the Miami Dolphins.

The Falcons enter the offseason in the market for a quarterback, with Michael Penix Jr. recovering from a knee injury and Kirk Cousins set to be released before the start of the new league year Wednesday.

Atlanta's answer at the position could be Tagovailoa, who will cost the Dolphins an NFL-record $99.2 million in dead money against the salary cap. A source told Schefter that Tagovailoa's release will be designated post-June 1, allowing the Dolphins to split the dead money over two years.

«As we move forward, we will be focused on infusing competition across the roster and establishing a strong foundation for this team as we work towards building a sustained winner,» Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said in the team's statement.

The post-June 1 designation will leave the Dolphins with a $67.4 million dead hit against the salary cap in 2026, followed by $31.8 million in 2027. The move ends Tagovailoa's six seasons in Miami only one year into the franchise-record extension he signed in 2024.

«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,» Sullivan said.

«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.»

Penix, who was the Falcons' starter last season, went down with a torn left ACL