The Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals face off Sunday in a game between two teams already eliminated from the playoffs before Week 16 gets underway.
And in a new report this weekend, ESPN's Adam Schefter shared just how connected these situations are.
Schefter shared that before the 2020 NFL Draft, the Dolphins tried to trade for Joe Burrow.
The Bengals had the No. 1 overall pick, and they were always lined up to select the superstar QB from LSU.
Miami, according to Schefter, offered four first-round picks.
"The Bengals declined to even engage in discussions and shut down the trade inquiry before it could gain any traction, according to sources," Schefter added.
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The Bengals haven't put together a comprehensive team around Burrow, but he's clearly a star.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins look set to move on from Tua Tagovailoa. The rookie Quinn Ewers gets the start against the Bengals on Sunday.
"The Dolphins' quarterback auditions start Sunday when Ewers will make his first NFL start and attempt to become the first University of Texas quarterback to win his first NFL start since Chris Simms in Week 5 of the 2004 season," Schefter writes. "The Dolphins are intrigued with Ewers and need to see whether he can be part of their quarterback solution next season. They don't know who their quarterback will be in 2026, but most agree it will not be Tagovailoa."
If they had pulled off the Burrow trade, maybe this story would be quite different.
More NFL news:
- Jaxson Dart has a 50% head injury problem
- ACL recovery timeline impacts when Patrick Mahomes, Micah Parsons will return
- The Packers had a chance to sign an all-time great for $5 million and passed
- Tua Tagovailoa's contract looks like a nightmare
- Jaydon Blue concern has played out for Cowboys
- We now know what the Colts are paying Philip Rivers