With every passing day, the 2024 extension of Tua Tagovailoa ($212 million) looks more like a knee-jerk reaction instead of a considered decision. While the Miami Dolphins won’t be able to fully get out from under that salary, trading the often-injured quarterback could be the best answer in a list of bad options.
Could It Be Kyler Murray for Tua Tagovailoa in a Trade?
At first glance, the Arizona Cardinals trading Kyler Murray to Miami for Tagovailoa seems like something out of Madden, but stranger things have happened. Before Matthew Stafford was winning a Super Bowl for the Rams, he was the franchise quarterback for the Detroit Lions.
Jared Goff was the underachieving Rams draft pick, and now he is leading one of the NFL’s most dangerous offenses for the Lions.
Trades that involve two high draft picks, franchise passers are rare, but PFSN’s Ryan Guthrie sees a world where Murray for Tagovailoa solves some issues for both teams. Even Guthrie admits the trade is improbable, but then makes the case for the switch.
“Geographically, Miami’s warm-weather environment benefits a smaller, mobile quarterback like Murray. Cold-weather arm strength concerns disappear, and the Dolphins’ speed-based roster aligns well with his off-script ability,” Guthrie wrote, but the financial issue is what creates the real issues when it comes to Tagovailoa’s hefty contract.
The Dolphins almost need a trade to avoid keeping Tagovailoa on the roster in 2026, because cutting him would cost $99 million. Even a post-June 1 cut only spreads it out over two seasons, but facilitating a trade is what the Miami front office will be looking for.
“The bigger question centers around Tua Tagovailoa,” Guthrie continued, “Moving on from Tagovailoa would require navigating significant cap implications. Murray’s contract is also substantial, meaning Miami would need creative structuring to make the finances work.”
The Cardinals could save $34.7 million by trading Murray, but finding a team to take on the remainder of his salary is a sticking point. That is where Miami becomes a more logical choice, because each team would help the other by taking on money while saving on current contracts.
It’s apparent that the Dolphins no longer believe they can win Super Bowls with Tagovailoa, and Guthrie sees Miami wanting to keep that mobile quarterback type without the injury baggage.
“When healthy, he [Murray] remains one of the league’s most explosive quarterbacks. If Miami believes its current roster is ready to compete now and that the projected 2026 quarterback draft class is weaker, trading for Murray could be a calculated swing at immediate contention.”
If it happens, this trade would quickly become one of the biggest stories of the 2026 offseason. It comes down to contracts, injuries, inconsistent results, and two teams that may have reached their ceiling with their current quarterbacks. The situation isn’t working as planned. If Murray or Tagovailoa is going to turn things around, a change of scenery might be the most practical solution.
