A midseason reset in Miami has reopened the quarterback conversation. With the Dolphins 3-7Â and turnover issues lingering, league chatter has turned to whether the franchise will reassess its long-term plan under center, and if a high-priced former No. 1 pick could enter the picture should he become available this offseason.
NFL Trade Rumors: Kyler Murray on the Dolphins’ Radar
Per ESPN, Miami is among the potential suitors if Kyler Murray were to hit the market rather than be traded.
“I’d add Miami to that list if it gets to the end of the season and doesn’t feel convinced Tua Tagovailoa is its long-term quarterback, which is certainly possible. I guess we could throw Carolina in for similar reasons if Bryce Young doesn’t turn things around. Most people I talk to about the Murray situation doubt that the Cardinals will be able to trade that contract, which means he’d likely be released before that 2027 money triggers next March,” Dan Graziano said.
Contract mechanics frame the speculation. Murray is in year two of a five-year, $230,500,000 extension signed in 2022, with almost $160,000,000 in guarantees and significant dead cap values complicating trade math absent a post-June 1 structure. Release scenarios would shift the calculus entirely for interested clubs.
Beyond contract structure, timing also matters. Murray was placed on injured reserve with a mid-foot sprain after Week 5Â and remains sidelined; any late-season status updates would inform how the Cardinals approach the offseason.
Other reports also noted internal doubts among league executives that Arizona could secure a clean trade exit given the guarantees and future triggers, prompting the release of the speculation referenced above. If released, Miami’s fit would depend on health evaluations, scheme match, and cost versus flexibility to address other roster needs.
Could the Dolphins Move Away From Tua Tagovailoa?
Miami’s quarterback picture sits at the intersection of performance, contract, and organizational direction. Tua Tagovailoa has thrown 13 interceptions through 10 games this season while Miami sits 3-7, and the team has already made front office changes, parting with general manager Chris Grier in October.
Asked about outside noise, Tagovailoa framed the locker room’s focus on togetherness and preparation week to week rather than speculation.
If Miami evaluates alternatives, the question becomes viability and price. In Murray’s case, Spotrac details cap hits of $43,325,677 in 2025 and $53,260,677 in 2026, with post-June 1 release savings and dead-cap allocations that could make a release more plausible than a trade from Arizona’s side.
Any acquiring team would weigh a restructured agreement and medicals after IR. Meanwhile, Miami’s own cap and draft flexibility, and whether it targets free agency or the draft, would shape paths forward.
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For now, the scenario remains speculative but informed by contract realities and midseason context. If Tagovailoa stabilizes and cuts turnovers, the equation changes; if the offense continues to falter and the organization prioritizes a reset, the Dolphins could join a short list monitoring veteran quarterback availability, including a possible Murray release ahead of 2027 guarantees.
Offseason timing, medical clearance, and market competition would ultimately determine feasibility.
