The NFL trade deadline came and went, but it’s never too early to look at potential trades for next year, especially at the quarterback position.
Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa could both use a change of scenery. It wouldn’t be a bad idea if the Cardinals and Dolphins swapped quarterbacks to kick off the 2026 offseason. Drafting a quarterback next year might no longer be the best path because there’s no surefire prospect at the position, and there’s now talk of the ’27 class being better.
Instead of forcing another year with these two inconsistent quarterbacks, the Dolphins and Cardinals should have them trade places and become bridge quarterbacks. And there’s also a good chance that a trade could revive their careers. We’ve seen failed first-round quarterbacks excel after changing teams, from Baker Mayfield to Sam Darnold to now Daniel Jones.
A quarterback swap also worked well for the Rams and Lions back in 2021, when they executed the blockbuster involving Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff.
And I promise this is the last NFL Fact or Fiction this season that mentions Murray and Tagovailoa either being benched or moved. But the last time that occurred, Tagovailoa threw four touchdowns against the Falcons before crashing again the following week against the Ravens.
Manzano’s view: Fact
It’s becoming increasingly likely that Tagovailoa and Murray will headline this upcoming offseason’s quarterback carousel. Tagovailoa has struggled for more than a year now, while Murray might have been quietly demoted by the Cardinals (3–5) this week after Jacoby Brissett was named the starter against the Seahawks.
It wouldn’t be a bad idea for these two quarterbacks to trade places. For all his flaws, Tagovailoa has at least shown that he’s capable enough to get the ball to his playmakers, which Murray has failed to do with second-year wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. On the other side of this scenario, Murray might benefit from a change in coaching philosophy, whether that’s with Mike McDaniel or a different coach in Miami.
It doesn’t bode well for Murray that coach Jonathan Gannon immediately named Brissett the starter for the Week 10 matchup in Seattle. Last week, Gannon waited until the end of the week to make the announcement, giving Murray a chance to prove he’s ready to play after weeks of dealing with an injured foot. Now there’s talk of Murray needing more time to heal, which could also be a nice way of saying the 2019 No. 1 pick isn’t technically being benched.
There was no need to wait because Brissett has given this offense a spark. And if Gannon gets fired, maybe a new coach would prefer to keep Murray. Murray is not a fit for how Gannon and offensive coordinator Drew Petzing want to operate on the field.
Now, Murray and Tagovailoa each have lucrative contracts, with plenty of guaranteed money remaining for 2026. With a potential lackluster quarterback class next year, it might be better for these two teams to start one of these veterans next year and take their chances with the ’27 draft class. Contracts get swapped, and the two signal-callers get a fresh start. If it doesn’t work out, both can be released the following offseason.
If the Dolphins aren’t interested, Murray could still have a good amount of suitors because the scouts aren’t high on next year’s draft. The Jets are focused on 2027 after the two splash trades they made on Tuesday, sending Sauce Gardner to Indianapolis and Quinnen Williams to Dallas. Murray’s contract isn’t as big as Tagovailoa’s and his athleticism could add another element to an offense.
For the Dolphins (2–7), they might have to trot out Tagovailoa again until they’re able to move his contract. However, they don’t need to force this partnership another year. And they can call Arizona and ask about Murray.
