Dolphins Cut Tua for $99M Cap Hit

The Dolphins' $99.2 million dead cap hit for Tua Tagovailoa is the largest in NFL history, surpassing the $85 million the Broncos took on when releasing Russell Wilson in 2024. Miami designated the move as a post-June 1 cut, splitting the cap hit into $67.4 million in 2026 and $31.8 million in 2027. Tagovailoa signed a four-year, $212 million extension in 2024, but the Dolphins are now moving in a different direction under new head coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan. The Chiefs traded Trent McDuffie to the Rams for a 2026 first-round pick (No. 29 overall), a 2027 third-rounder, and fifth- and sixth-round picks in this year's draft. McDuffie, a 2022 first-round pick, was entering the final year of his rookie deal and was seeking a contract that Kansas City deemed too expensive. The Rams quickly signed McDuffie to a four-year, $124 million extension, making him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL with an average of $31 million per year. The Cowboys restructured Terence Steele's contract, creating $13 million in cap space. Steele's new deal includes $22 million fully guaranteed, with a base value of $33 million and upside to $36 million. He was previously set to make $48.5 million over the next three seasons. The Bengals are not tendering a contract to Jake Browning, making him an unrestricted free agent. Browning served as Joe Burrow's backup for the past three seasons, starting 10 games with a 4-6 record. Cincinnati may look to re-sign veteran Joe Flacco, who served as Burrow's backup in 2025.