Three teams that should trade for Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa

The Miami Dolphins are trading quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. At least, they will be soon.

This week, the team announced that Tagovailoa would be benched in favor of rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers, a 7th-round selection in last year’s draft. The veteran quarterback has had the worst season of his NFL career so far, throwing for just 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns, and a league-high 15 interceptions.

However, lost in all the fuss and commotion, was the fact that Tagovailoa was not simply demoted to backup quarterback, but rather the No.3 emergency quarterback. In other words, the Dolphins are heavily invested in keeping Tua off the field, and keeping him upright. Since cutting Tagovailoa would result in nearly $100 million in dead money in 2026 (the largest figure for any player in NFL history), all signs point to a potential trade looming for the Dolphins. And if a team were to trade for Tagovailoa, Miami’s dead cap hit would be much, much lower.

So, with that in mind, which three teams should trade for Tua Tagovailoa?

Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals Get: QB Tua Tagovailoa

Miami Dolphins Get: QB Kyler Murray

The Cardinals and Dolphins find themselves in the exact same situation. Both teams spent a first-round draft selection on a small, injury-prone quarterback, and paid him more than he was worth. Now, both teams are stuck in no-man’s-land, and desperately need a new quarterback.

The Cardinals currently hold the No.6 pick in next year’s draft, but will likely not have their pick of signal callers to choose from, with the New York Jets and Las Vegas Raiders sitting ahead of them. The same can be same for the Dolphins, who hold the No. 11 pick.

Enter, trade talks.

But, why would either of these teams simply swap one expensive contract for another? Well, if the trade was executed after June 1st of 2026, the dead cap hit for both teams would be significantly less. Tagovailoa would have a $13.4 million dead cap hit in 2026, and Murray would have a $10.4 million dead cap hit. Both teams could then release their new signal callers in 2027 (if desired), with a $13.4 million dead cap hit for Tagovailoa and a $7.2 million dead cap hit for Murray.

In other words, a straight swap would allow both teams to reset the course of their franchises within just two seasons, while also saving a ton of money.

Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis Colts Get: QB Tua Tagovailoa, salary compensation

Miami Dolphins Get: 2027 5th rounder

Earlier this season, the Indianapolis Colts were soaring. Quarterback Daniel Jones had found his groove in Indy, and the Colts held the No. 1 seed in the AFC for over two months.

Then, disaster struck. Jones tore his Achilles in Week 14, and with no options, the team turned to 44-year-old Philip Rivers to come out of retirement and lead their team in Week 15. Yes, that Philip Rivers.

Clearly, the Colts need a quarterback. But, having traded away their first-round picks in 2026 and 2027 for cornerback Sauce Gardner, they are running dangerously low on draft capital.

Enter, Tagovailoa. Though Tagovailoa has his faults, he is certainly a capable thrower behind a good running game and a strong offensive live. The Colts, of course, have both. More crucially, the Colts are also projected to have nearly $50 million in cap space next year. If the Dolphins are willing to eat some salary, this deal makes sense for both sides. The Colts get a temporary fix at quarterback, and the Dolphins can pivot in a new direction.

Las Vegas Raiders

Las Vegas Raiders Get: QB Tua Tagovailoa, 2027 2nd rounder

Miami Dolphins Get: 2027 6th rounder

Quarterback Geno Smith is not it, and the Raiders know it. They will likely move on from the 35-year-old next offseason, and take on a $18.5 million dead cap hit in the process.

However, with a projected $106 million in cap space in 2026, the Raiders are one of the few teams that could move on from their starting quarterback, and still take on Tagovailoa’s contract as is. This trade makes sense for the Dolphins, as they would rid themselves of Tagovailoa’s entire contract with no strings attached. But, why would the Raiders make this move?

Well, if the Raiders are not entirely confident in the quarterbacks in this year’s NFL draft, having Tagovailoa operate as their bridge starter in 2026 wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world. At worst, he’d get at least 8 games every season playing in a dome, with running back Ashton Jeanty and tight end Brock Bowers as his weapons. And, as previously mentioned, the Las Vegas Raiders currently do not hold the No.1 pick in the 2026 NFL draft. If another team takes their preferred quarterback, maybe they give the Dolphins a call in June.

What team do you think should trade for Tua? Should the Dolphins just release him and take on the dead cap hit? Let us know down below!