Falcons signing Tua Tagovailoa to one-year deal after release from Dolphins
Falcons sign Tua Tagovailoa to one-year deal, setting stage for QB battle with Michael Penix Tagovailoa's roller coaster career has taken another turn Left-handed quarterbacks are an extreme rarity in the NFL, but not in Atlanta: The Falcons are signing Tua Tagovailoa to a one-year, $1.3 million contract, according to Jonathan Jones, CBS Sports' leading NFL expert. Tagovailoa will join fellow left-hander Michael Penix Jr. at quarterback for new coach Kevin Stefanski. Tagovailoa didn't have to wait long to find his new home. The Dolphins were long expected to release Tagovailoa, the No. 5 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and they officially did so Monday morning. Tagovailoa, who signed a four-year, $212.4 million contract in 2024, is costing Miami a record $99 million in salary cap space over the next two seasons. He is also owed $54 million guaranteed for 2026 from Miami, making it possible for the Falcons to sign him to such a cheap contract. A similar situation unfolded in 2024, when the Broncos parted ways with Russell Wilson. He then played on a league-minimum contract for the Steelers while receiving $39 million from Denver. For more coverage on 2026 NFL free agency - NFL Free Agency Live Blog: Latest Rumors, Signings and Updates - Team-by-team transfer tracker: full list of every move this offseason - Top 100 Free Agent Tracker: Updates on Pete Prisco's Top 100 - NFL Trade Tracker: Grades for the biggest deals Tagovailoa, who just turned 28, was the fifth overall pick in the 2021 draft after starring at Alabama. After a slow start to his career, he began to thrive under Mike McDaniel; Tagovailoa led the NFL in yards per attempt and touchdown rate in 2022, led the NFL in passing yards (and made the Pro Bowl) in 2023, and led the NFL in completion percentage in 2024. However, he suffered several concussions along the way, and while the good moments were very good, the difficult moments were very difficult in McDaniels' offense based on timing and intense movements. McDaniel benched Tagovailoa in December, and the writing was on the wall. Atlanta hopes Stefanski can help revive Tagovailoa's career in a low-risk, potentially high-reward move. Penix is coming off a season-ending ACL tear and has made just 12 starts in two seasons, with mixed results at best, since being selected eighth overall in 2024. The Falcons have gone 8-9 in each of the last two seasons. Scenario prepared for Tagovailoa vs. Penix The speed with which Stefanski, general manager Ian Cunningham and president of football Matt Ryan turned to Tagovailoa suggests there will be a legitimate quarterback battle in Atlanta. All three are new to the organization this offseason, meaning they have no ties to Penix. They now have some ties (although, again, very low risk) with Tagovailoa. At the very least, this gives them options in the future. And that's important, because Penix hasn't shown anything to suggest he should take over the starting role in 2026. The Falcons began the 2024 season with Kirk Cousins, but switched to Penix at the end of the year. They began the 2025 season with Penix before he got hurt and Cousins took the reins. But the two weren't that different in terms of effectiveness. Penix was more aggressive downfield and took sacks at a lower rate, but he was also much less accurate. Both players averaged 7.2 yards per attempt. Penix's 0.03 expected points added per dropback were basically the same as Cousins' (0.02). The Falcons are moving on from Cousins. They haven't left Penix yet, but Tagovailoa could change that. Interestingly, they are two very different quarterbacks. Penix wants to stay in the pocket and let the ball move downfield. His 8.9 passing yards per attempt are tied for the highest mark in the NFL over the past two seasons (minimum 150 dropbacks). Tagovailoa's 6.2 is the lowest. in me