The Miami Dolphins are expected to part ways with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa after a disastrous 2025 campaign.
While nothing is set in stone, the fact that the Dolphins benched Tua shows they are done with him, and even Tagovailoa has admitted he would welcome a change of scenery.
The problem is that Tagovailoa's contract carries what would be a massive dead-cap hit for the Dolphins. That same contract will make it extremely difficult to trade Tagovailoa, especially off a terrible season.
But Bleacher Report's Alex Kay predicts the Dolphins will be able to unload Tua via trade this offseason in a deal that would bring Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray to the Dolphins.
While the Dolphins might need to sweeten the pot with some picks to convince Arizona to take on Tagovailoa's contract (which will be more expensive to get out from under if he doesn't improve), this move could benefit every party involved.
Swapping Tagovailoa for Murray would give both QBs a much-needed reset on the other side of the country, while their respective franchises still have a chance to contend in 2026 with a proven veteran running the offense.
Murray was plagued by injury in 2025, but before being placed on injured reserve and missing the rest of the season, the Cardinals quarterback looked primed to get benched for Jacoby Brissett.
Now, the expectation is Murray will be playing elsewhere in 2026, although it remains to be seen if the firing of Jonathan Gannon changes things.
We could definitely see the Dolphins making this kind of move, as the team will likely be open to just about any trade that allows Miami to get something for Tagovailoa, which would make his dead-cap hit easier to swallow.
Murray has his own big contract that totals $230 million, but he has no guaranteed money left on his deal after 2026.
Murray would provide an upgrade over Tagovailoa, and he can serve as a bridge quarterback in 2026 before the Dolphins make a decision for the long term. If Murray doesn't pan out, Miami can simply cut or trade him in 2027.
From the Cardinals' side, we just don't see general manager Monti Ossenfort making this kind of move.
There really is zero appeal to acquiring Tagovailoa. Not only would adding his deal to the books be a terrible idea for a rebuilding team like Arizona, but he'd also be a downgrade from Murray.
The only way it would make sense is if the Dolphins throw a bunch of picks into the deal, but that might not even be enough for Arizona to pull the trigger.
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