The Miami Dolphins are in a tough place with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. After making him one of the richest players in the NFL, the sixth-year signal caller has regressed over the past two seasons, and his contract now looks like one of the worst in the entire league. But according to one league insider, there is a potential trade out there that could help them get out from under Tagovailoa’s massive salary.
Could Dolphins Deal Tagovailoa Ahead Of The NFL Trade Deadline?
Ahead of the upcoming trade deadline, multiple NFL writers at ESPN recently collaborated on an article that highlighted every team’s potential activity. In the section covering the Las Vegas Raiders, insider Seth Walder cooked up an idea involving Tagovailoa and the Dolphins.
Via the hypothetical proposal, the Raiders would send a 5th round pick to Miami. In return, Las Vegas would receive Tua Tagovailoa, as well as a second round pick in each of the next two drafts.
ESPN trade proposal from Seth Walder:
Raiders get: Tua Tagovailoa, 2026 2nd Rounder, 2027 2nd Rounder
Dolphins get: 2027 5th Rounder
https://t.co/Cgov4uCGXK— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) October 29, 2025
It would be a blockbuster move for both teams. In order to get out from under the $70 million that they are set to pay Tagovailoa over the next two years, Miami would have to include the two valuable second rounders. It would free up the necessary cap space in order to enter a full rebuild, and the team could get a jump start on their next chapter to align with the potential firing of head coach Mike McDaniel.
Miami Sends QB & Two Draft Picks To Raiders In Hypothetical Trade
The Raiders would be taking quite the risk, but the assets may be worth it. In the article, Walder calls the hypothetical deal the “Brock Osweiler trade on steroids”, which refers to the time that the Texans and Browns made a similar swap. Las Vegas would absorb the guaranteed money that remains on Tagovailoa’s contract, which they could be in position to do, given their salary cap projections for 2026 and 2027.
Tua Tagovailoa has 4 touchdowns vs. the #1 pass defense in the NFL.
We’ve been critical, so we better keep that same energy and praise. https://t.co/qnDRA92WLT pic.twitter.com/YxIv2QFM52
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) October 26, 2025
In exchange for the financial burden, the Raiders would receive two early picks that could be useful for their own rebuild. They could follow in the steps of the Osweiler trade and release Tagovailoa before he ever plays a snap for the team, or they might give him a shot to revamp his NFL career. With Las Vegas struggling to find their answer at quarterback in recent years, it might be worth a flier to see if Tua has anything left in the tank with a change of scenery.
The move has little to no chance of being made. But Walder’s blueprint (so something like it) could be what the Dolphins explore during the impending offseason, using the Osweiler deal as an example and benchmark.
The NFL trade deadline is set for November 4th.
