With the Miami Dolphins benching Tua Tagovailoa this week in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers, the NFL quarterback landscape looks more unsettled than ever. There are serious questions surrounding Tagovailoa’s future with the team, especially given the size of his contract, and speculation is growing about how the front office hopes to handle the situation.
Could These Two NFL Teams Swap Embattled Quarterbacks?
Cutting Tagovailoa, whether it be this coming offseason or the next, appears to be the most plausible move. There aren’t many teams that will be lining up to trade for a massive contract attached to what appears to be a broken QB, though there is at least one intriguing possibility involving another undersized and underperforming pass thrower.
Tagovailoa’s benching marks a stunning turn of events for a quarterback once considered one of the league’s rising stars. After leading the NFL in interceptions and struggling through a disappointing Dolphins season, head coach Mike McDaniel has turned the keys over to a seventh-round rookie to finish out the year.
The biggest question lingering for the team during the approaching offseason will be the future of their $53 million per year player.
Kyler & Tua Both Need A Change Of Scenery
On the other side of the ledger sits Kyler Murray. Once a dynamic dual-threat superstar, Murray’s time in Arizona has been rocky. Injuries and inconsistent play have clouded his future with the Cardinals, and there has been no shortage of talk that Arizona could look to move on or at least consider reshuffling pieces at quarterback this offseason.
Kyler Murray gets a fresh start.
Tua Tagovailoa gets a fresh start.Should the Dolphins & Cardinals make this trade to SWAP franchise QBs? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/SEPpng8u6q
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) December 17, 2025
At first glance, a Murray-for-Tua swap has surface appeal. Both quarterbacks have shown flashes of elite talent, Murray with his electrifying play making and Tua with his precision passing in peak years. A change of scenery could potentially revive both careers, and some analysts have floated this exact idea, noting both players might benefit from new environments.
Cardinals Could Likely Get Better Value For Murray
The reality is messier. Tua’s recent benching highlights how much Miami has soured on his 2025 performance, and his $212 million contract still looms large. Teams interested in Tua would need to absorb serious salary and risk investing in a player whose struggles have been well documented this season.
For Arizona, giving up Murray for Tua might not be a clear upgrade. Murray’s mobility and fit within an offense designed around his skills could be more valuable than swapping for a quarterback entering a slump and coming off a benching.
A straight quarterback trade is intriguing as fantasy talk, but the real-world situation makes it unlikely. Both franchises have too much uncertainty, and too many financial obstacles that they’d need to clear before making such a move.
