The Miami Dolphins’ decision to bench starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sent shockwaves around the NFL. For the New York Jets, the decision is fantastic for their future hopes—just not in the way many would have guessed.

Tagovailoa’s benching doesn’t come as a surprise around the NFL. The Alabama product leads the league in interceptions, and the Dolphins have been eliminated from playoff contention following their latest loss to Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

What happens next, though—following the Tua benching—could change the New York Jets’ fortunes.

Tagovailoa’s benching affects 2026 draft

For as bad as Tagovailoa has been this season, he is still a serviceable starting quarterback. He’s led Miami to the playoffs twice and has a 120-59 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

Injuries and ineffective play have derailed the first-round pick’s productive path forward.

Moving on from Tua will cost the Dolphins $99 million in dead cap—a charge they could spread out over the next two seasons. With his benching, though, it certainly seems like his time in South Florida has come to an end—regardless of how it’s done.

Like the Jets, there are plenty of teams in need of a new quarterback going into the 2026 offseason. Among them, the Las Vegas Raiders, Arizona Cardinals, and many others are in contention with New York for the top overall pick.

Where Tua ends up could have a direct impact on the 2026 NFL draft. While unlikely, a team like the Raiders, currently slotted with the second overall pick in the upcoming selection process, could look to acquire the Dolphins’ starter in a trade.

Should that happen, it’s doubtful that the Raiders would be “in” on the Fernando Mendoza sweepstakes.

It’s also hard to believe Raiders head coach Pete Carroll would want to hitch the remainder of his career on a rookie quarterback compared to a veteran who has a winning record as a starter.

And that would open the door for the Jets to get their guy.

Jets draft plans

It should come as no surprise that the Jets seem to love what Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner, has done throughout his collegiate career. They have scouted him at Indiana multiple times this season, and he’s a perfect fit for their offensive system.

Mendoza to the Jets seems like a match made in heaven.

New York currently sits with the fifth-overall pick, though. If the Jets lose out in the remainder of their games, they could get as high as third overall. The Raiders and New York Giants are the only teams that seem to be ahead of them.

Big Blue doesn’t need a quarterback, having already taken Jaxson Dart last season. The Raiders getting Tagovailoa would be massive as well.

If nothing else, the benching of Tagovailoa will open up trade conversations with several quarterback-needy teams. New York wouldn’t want him, but they won’t stop him from going to other teams that are ahead of them in the draft.

It would make a potential trade-up a little bit easier for the New York Jets, thus altering the organization’s quarterback fortunes.