NFL Mailbag: Tua, Pickens, Sanders, HCs
This week's edition of the PFR mailbag covers questions relating to Tua Tagovailoa's future in Miami, the chances of playoff-bound coaches being fired, George Pickens' contract outlook and the Browns' quarterback setup.
Rick asks:
Is this the end of Tua time in Miami? He padded his stats at the end of [Monday] night's game, but that was bizarre to watch. As Aikman said repeatedly, there was zero urgency even though the team was playing for the postseason. Could something else be going on to lead to such an odd performance on the big stage?
This question came amidst the report Tagovailoa would be benched for Week 16, which has since been confirmed. Head coach Mike McDaniel opened the door to such a move in his postgame remarks.
Dolphins Expected To Retain Mike McDaniel; Champ Kelly To Receive GM Intervivew
The Dolphins demoted Tua Tagovailoa to the third-string spot on their depth chart this week, potentially signaling an end to the inconsistent passer’s six-year Miami tenure. As for the coach that pulled the trigger on this move, no change is expected.
Although the Dolphins lost to the Steelers and are now eliminated from the playoffs, Mike McDaniel being allowed to make the Tagovailoa-for-Quinn Ewers switch may be telling. The belief in Miami is that McDaniel will stay for a fifth season, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes.
Prospective HC and GM candidates informed Jones their expectation is McDaniel will be retained and have a chance to spark a turnaround. One source told Jones a belief in the building is McDaniel was given a “tough hand” this year, and unlike the since-ousted Chris Grier, the sideline leader will be given a chance to bounce back in 2026. This is not the first time we have heard McDaniel was likely to be kept, but this coming after the Tua news certainly carries more weight.
It may be tough to see McDaniel’s job being easier next year, assuming he stays. If the team follows through with a Tagovailoa release, it would bring a staggering $99.2MM dead money hit. That dead cap number would be split between 2026 and ’27, continuing a line of pricey Dolphins post-June 1 moves, but will significantly hinder Miami’s roster-building capabilities regardless of where the 2026 salary cap settles.
Only the Broncos have incurred a dead money hit north of $60MM, via their $84.6MM Russell Wilson release. The Dolphins have cut Byron Jones and Xavien Howard using the post-June 1 transaction (2023, 2024), and they needed to wait until after June 1 this year to trade Jalen Ramsey. Even in doing that, Ramsey set a defender record by accounting for $35.86MM in dead cap (spread between 2025 and ’26).
With Ramsey dead money at nearly $21MM next year, having Tagovailoa’s seismic sum hit the cap will make for a difficult task as McDaniel and a to-be-determined GM attempt to recover. Tagovailoa played the lead on-field role in the Dolphins securing back-to-back playoff berths for the first time since its 1997-2001 run of postseason appearances, but McDaniel appears set to outlast the QB in South Beach.
As we look set to see plenty of defense-based coaches generate HC interest on the upcoming carousel, keeping McDaniel makes sense due to his offensive acumen. McDaniel played the lead role in turning Tagovailoa around, with Tyreek Hill being a rather notable part of that effort, and did memorably test the Bills — in a three-point wild-card loss — with third-stringer Skylar Thompson at the helm. It appears McDaniel will be given a chance to see if he can develop another quarterback. It remains a mystery, barring a surprising Ewers stretch-run effort that convinces the Dolphins to stand down at the position, who that player will be if Tua is indeed jettisoned.
No team will be willing to pay the full Tagovailoa freight in a trade, per Jones. If Miami is to move on, it will need to eat a sizable portion of the QB’s $54MM 2026 guarantee in a trade. If Tagovailoa is on the Dolphins’ roster by March 13, a $3MM 2027 guarantee vests as well. Any action on the contract should naturally be expected before that date.
The prospect of McDaniel being paired with a new GM injects risk regarding timelines. Teams have begun to steer their operations toward HC-GM alignment in recent years, though the Bears are having success despite Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson arriving at different points. The Jaguars and Raiders fired their GMs (Trent Baalke, Tom Telesco) for alignment purposes. It will be interesting to see how the Dolphins’ GM search unfolds with the to-be-determined exec being tied to McDaniel.
It will be considered likely the Dolphins hire an outside GM, but Jones adds interim boss Champ Kelly will receive an interview. Kelly was close to earning the Raiders’ GM job in 2024, only to be kept in the assistant GM role once Telesco was hired, and is respected around the league. Kelly interviewed for the Jags’ job this past offseason and met about the Panthers’ vacancy in 2024. He has been the Dolphins’ interim leader since Grier’s Halloween exit. Kelly oversaw the trade of Jaelan Phillips for a third-round pick; the veteran exec also kept Jaylen Waddle at the deadline, hiking up the Bills’ price due to their AFC East status.
The Dolphins are also considering splitting up their GM role in a sense. They have given SVP of football and business administration Brandon Shore more responsibility post-Grier, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes. Both Breer and Jones point to a potential setup in which McDaniel, Shore and a GM report to Stephen Ross, with Breer going as far as to say there is a “good chance” this setup will be in place in Miami come 2026.
Serving as the Dolphins’ cap chief, Shore has been with the franchise for 16 years. He has been in his current role since 2021. Being a key part of the Tagovailoa extension (four years, $212.4MM) the team now appears interested in escaping, Shore making a move up the ladder after that development certainly shows his sturdy organizational standing. Shore’s presence could well be a factor in the Dolphins’ GM pursuit as well, should the Dolphins truly be interested in an arrangement in which two or three staffers report directly to ownership.
Bills To Sign DE Matt Judon
Matt Judon will stay in the AFC East after being waived by the Dolphins on Wednesday. After a visit to Buffalo on Friday, the veteran defensive end has agreed to join the Bills’ practice squad, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The Bills are Judon’s fifth different NFL team and fourth since 2023. After spending 2023 with the Patriots and 2024 with the Falcons, Judon signed with the Dolphins in August and took on a secondary role in Miami’s edge rushing rotation. Even after seeing an uptick in playing time after the Jaelan Phillips trade, the 10-year veteran recorded just 19 tackles, one tackle for loss, and zero sacks in 13 games. Those numbers represent a significant and alarming drop for a 33-year-old edge rusher whose production had already waned in the last few years. Judon’s 10 pressures and 4.2% pass rush win rate are no more encouraging; he ranks among the league’s worst NFL edge rushers in both category, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Accordingly, no team claimed Judon off waivers, though the remaining money on his contract was also a disincentive. It did not take much time for him to find a new home, and Buffalo makes sense as a destination. The Bills are still within striking distance of the AFC East crown, the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, and a Super Bowl. They also have a history of picking up veteran edge rushers later in their career. First it was an over-aggressive contract for Von Miller in 2022 before a more sensible deal with Joey Bosa this past offseason. The latter pact has quickly borne fruit; Bosa leads the Bills with five sacks and eight tackles for loss on the year.
The Bills also needed some depth after multiple defensive line injuries this season. On the edge, rookie Landon Jackson and veteran Michael Hoecht are both on injured reserve, as are defensive tackles Ed Oliver and DeWayne Carter. Judon may not be pressed into action right away, but additional injuries could make him relevant in the postseason.
Latest On Dolphins’ QB Change
Having demoted quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to a third-string role earlier this week, the Dolphins may be in the early stages of moving on from their longtime starter. Head coach Mike McDaniel said owner Stephen Ross had no say in the team’s quarterback change, but the financial ramifications are hard to ignore.
If Tagovailoa plays again this season, suffers an injury, and can’t pass a physical when the Dolphins attempt to release him (assuming they do), they’ll owe him an additional $17MM, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald notes. The Dolphins are already on the hook for $54MM in guarantees in 2026 as part of the four-year, $212.4MM extension they gave Tagovailoa in July 2024. Adding another $17MM to that total would be an unwelcome development for Miami, which is nearing the end of its second straight season without a playoff berth.
The Dolphins don’t have any future financial concerns with their other veteran QB, pending free agent Zach Wilson. They could have plugged the former second overall pick and ex-Jets starter in to replace Tagovailoa, but they’ll instead turn to seventh-round rookie Quinn Ewers. The Texas product will start against the Bengals on Sunday.
McDaniel told reporters Wilson was “very disappointed” in the decision, but the coach added: “Ultimately, it’s flat out as easy is Quinn’s disposition, his relationship with his teammates and the motivation. Our team with him as the starting quarterback gives us the best opportunity to beat the Bengals.”
Although McDaniel isn’t assured of returning as the Dolphins’ head coach in 2026, it appears likely that he will. If he no longer regards Tagovailoa as a potential answer for next year, it makes sense to evaluate Ewers before season’s end. In his only action to date, the 22-year-old went 5 for 8 for 53 yards in a loss to the Browns in Week 7. The Dolphins will have a better idea of how to proceed in the offseason after getting a longer look at Ewers.
While Ewers will audition for the starting job, McDaniel isn’t publicly closing the door on Tagovailoa.
“I still believe that his growth can continue,” said McDaniel, who credited Tagovailoa with his handling of the news, stating he “exhibited what made him a captain and leader on this team.”
Jaylen Waddle, Miami’s top receiver, revealed that Tagovailoa has been actively helping Ewers prepare for the Cincinnati game, according to Jackson. Tagovailoa may finish out the year assisting Ewers behind the scenes, but an answer on his fate in Miami should arrive soon after that. If the Dolphins don’t cut the cord on Tagovailoa by March 13, they’ll owe him another $3MM.
Bears Plan To Activate Tremaine Edmunds
Set for a crucial meeting with the NFC North rival Packers on Saturday, the Bears could see one of their most important defenders return from IR. They’re planning to activate linebacker Tremaine Edmunds before the game, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports.
A groin injury forced Edmunds to the shelf on Nov. 22, and the Bears opened his practice window on Monday. That gave them 21 days to activate the 27-year-old, but it appears he’ll be back much quicker than that.
The Bears were off to a surprising 7-3 start when they lost Edmunds, who was a key contributor during that stretch. The two-time Pro Bowler has tallied 89 tackles, four interceptions (tied for a career high), nine passes defensed, and a sack this year. Thanks in part to Edmunds, the Bears lead the NFL with 30 takeaways and 21 INTs.
Having won three of four in Edmunds’ absence, the 10-4 Bears are atop their division and in second place in the conference entering Week 16. The Packers could knock them off the NFC North pedestal with a win in Chicago, though. They defeated the Edmunds-less Bears at Lambeau Field in Week 14.
Edmunds’ return may give the Bears a better chance of preventing a season sweep at the hands of the Packers, though D’Marco Jackson filled in well while he was out. Jackson earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after notching seven tackles, a sack, and a pick in a 31-3 blowout over Cleveland last Sunday. He played 67% of defensive snaps against the Browns. Fellow linebacker T.J. Edwards was on the field for all 57 defensive plays. He and Edmunds should again comprise the Bears’ top two LBs, but Jackson at least gives defensive coordinator Dennis Allen another capable option.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/19/25
Here are Friday’s minor moves from around the NFL:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: S Jammie Robinson
- Placed on IR: WR KhaDarel Hodge
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on IR: OL Chase Lundt
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on IR: DT Kris Jenkins Jr.
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from IR: DL Brenton Cox Jr.
- Placed on IR: RB MarShawn Lloyd (story)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Designated for return from IR: LB Jalen McLeod
Las Vegas Raiders
- Claimed off waivers (from Steelers): DT Brodric Martin
- Waived: DE Jahfari Harvey
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: K Charlie Smyth
- Placed on IR: WR Devaughn Vele
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: TE E.J. Jenkins, CB Brandon Johnson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed to active roster: S J.T. Gray
- Waived: LB Nick Jackson
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: TE Lawrence Cager
Cox will give the Packers another pass-rushing option after they lost superstar Micah Parsons to a season-ending ACL tear in Week 15. An undrafted pickup in 2023, Cox impressed last season with five tackles for loss, four sacks, and a forced fumble in just seven games. However, he hasn’t factored in this year after suffering a groin injury in the Packers’ season-opening loss to the Lions. Now returning from a 13-game absence, Cox could have an opportunity to make an impact down the stretch.
Vele, a seventh-round pick a year ago, racked up 41 catches, 475 yards, and three touchdowns during a 13-game rookie season in Denver. The Broncos sold high on the 6-foot-5, 210-pounder in late August, shipping him to the Saints for a 2026 fourth-rounder and a 2027 seventh-rounder.
Vele, who’s now dealing with a shoulder injury, will wrap up his first season in New Orleans with 25 receptions, 293 yards, and two scores in 13 contests. While those are underwhelming numbers, Vele was far more productive in recent weeks. He combined for 19 grabs, 239 yards, and a TD in his last four games of the year.
Raiders QB Geno Smith Expected To Start For Rest Of Season
A shoulder injury held Raiders quarterback Geno Smith out in Week 15, but he’s making a quick return. Head coach Pete Carroll announced that Smith will start against the Texans on Sunday (via Levi Edwards of Raiders.com). Smith is expected to remain the Raiders’ starter for the rest of the season.
Looking to snap a seven-game losing streak, the Raiders turned to veteran signal-caller Kenny Pickett in Philadelphia last Sunday. It couldn’t have gone much worse. Pickett completed 15 of 25 passes for a minuscule 64 yards in a 31-0 defeat. The Eagles intercepted the former first-round pick once and sacked him four times. The Raiders fell to 2-12 in their second shutout loss of 2025.
Pickett was dreadful last week, but it hasn’t exactly been a banner season for Smith. The Raiders hoped reuniting Smith with Carroll, who previously managed decent results together in Seattle, would lead them back to respectability. In hindsight, the franchise’s hierarchy of owner Mark Davis, part-owner Tom Brady, and general manager John Spytek might undo both the hiring of Carroll and the Smith pickup.
Just 14 games into his Raiders tenure, Carroll is already in danger of losing his job. Smith’s performance hasn’t helped Carroll’s cause.
The Raiders gave up a third-round pick for Smith and then handed him a two-year, $75MM extension, but he hasn’t justified either investment. The 35-year-old has logged 16 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, and an 84.5 passer rating – his lowest full-season mark since 2014. He ranks 32nd among 33 qualifying passers in QBR, beating out only Titans rookie Cam Ward.
The Raiders are dead last in the league in points per game (14.0), and improving on that number in Houston will be a tall task for their Smith-led offense. The 9-5 Texans, who are riding a six-game winning streak, rank first in the league in total defense and PPG allowed (16.1).
If Sunday’s matchup goes as expected, the Raiders will remain in contention for the No. 1 overall pick. With two games left after that, management will soon decide whether to keep Smith around for another year. While Smith’s $18.5MM salary for 2026 is already guaranteed, that’s the only dead money they’d eat in releasing him. Another $8MM in guarantees is set to vest in early March, but the Raiders could move on before then. With Smith, Pickett, Aidan O’Connell, and Cam Miller comprising the Raiders’ current group of quarterbacks, odds are their 2026 starter isn’t in the organization yet.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/19/25
The latest practice squad moves from around the league…
Denver Broncos
- Signed: G Calvin Throckmorton
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LS Cal Adomitis
- Released: Kana’i Mauga
Adomitis appeared in nine games with the Eagles this year before they waived him on Dec. 9. Ten days later, the Pittsburgh native is staying in Pennsylvania to join his hometown Steelers. Starting long snapper Christian Kuntz is questionable for Week 16 with a knee injury. The fifth-year man has never missed a game, but if he can’t play Sunday against the Lions, Adomitis will presumably take his place.
Vikings To Place Christian Darrisaw On IR
The Vikings placed linebacker Jonathan Greenard and safety Josh Metellus on injured reserve earlier this week, ending their seasons. Add left tackle Christian Darrisaw to the list. He’s heading to IR with a left knee injury, head coach Kevin O’Connell announced (via Adam Schefter of ESPN).
This is not a new issue for Darrisaw, whose left knee has bothered him since he tore his ACL and MCL in a loss to the Rams on Oct. 24, 2024. Darrisaw missed the last 10 games of the regular season and another loss to the Rams in the wild-card round.
Still recovering from surgery, Darrisaw’s absence lingered into 2025. He sat out the Vikings’ first two games this year before debuting in Week 3. Darrisaw appeared in 10 of 12 games after that, but he only finished five of them. Vikings coaches took Darrisaw out of three games to manage his workload, while he removed himself from a pair, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com notes.
At 6-8 and out of playoff contention, the Vikings are shutting down Darrisaw in hopes he’ll be back at full strength in 2026. Minnesota has a lot riding on Darrisaw’s health, having awarded the former first-round pick a four-year, $104MM extension in July 2024. While Darrisaw ranks fourth among tackles in guaranteed money ($67.14MM) and fifth in contract value, the 26-year-old still hasn’t played in more than 15 games in a season through a half-decade in the NFL.
O’Connell stated it’s his “personal belief” that Darrisaw will return to a normal routine next year (via Seifert). In the meantime, the Vikings will run out the clock on a disappointing campaign without him. Backup Justin Skule, who has started in six of 13 appearances this year, may handle No. 1 left tackle duties for the rest of the season.
NFL Suspends Seahawks OLB Derick Hall For 1 Game
The NFL suspended Seahawks outside linebacker Derick Hall for “an act of unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct” during Thursday night’s game against the Rams, per a league announcement.
Hall is planning to appeal, according to ESPN’s Brady Henderson. If the suspension is upheld, the 2023 second-round pick would miss the Seahawks’ Week 17 matchup with the Panthers on December 28. He would also forfeit just under $88k in salary, per OverTheCap.
The suspension notice specifically referenced a first-quarter play after which Hall appeared to intentionally step on the leg of Rams guard Kevin Dotson. Dotson went down after a teammate crashed into him from behind and Hall stepped on his left leg after the play ended. No flag was thrown; though another Ram saw Hall and gave him a shove, the game’s attention was still on Dotson, who had to be carted off with a left ankle injury and did not return. The veteran offensive lineman was in a boot and on crutches after the game, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
Dotson’s injury appeared to happen before Hall’s post-play aggression, though him unnecessarily stepping on his leg have made it worse. Regardless, the incident clearly drew a swift response from the league office.
The 24-year-old has appeared in 13 of Seattle’s 15 games with a 46% snap share when active. After breaking out with eight sacks and six tackles for loss in 2024, Hall has just one sack and two tackles for loss this year. However, he is posting career-highs in pass rush win rate (16.1%) and pressure rate (14.8%), both of which lead the Seahawks defense, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
The Seahawks have a number of ways to deal with a one-game absence from Hall. Rookie outside linebackers Jared Ivey and Connor O’Toole could see some more playing time in Week 17. Head coach Mike Macdonald has also been creative with his deployment of rookie safety Nick Emmanwori and could ask the first-round pick to take on some more work off the edge.