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If the Dolphins move on from Tua Tagovailoa this offseason, the Jets have been floated as a potential landing spot
The Miami Dolphins have had a busy start to the offseason. After firing head coach Mike McDaniel in a surprising move, the team quickly replaced him with former Green Bay Packers‘ defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. The work is only just getting started, though, as the team has some big questions to answer over the next few months. The biggest of the bunch involves the future of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
After another season full of struggles, Tagovailoa was benched late in the 2025 campaign by McDaniel. While it remains to be seen how Hafley and his new coaching staff view Tagovailoa, it’s fair to assume he could be on the move this offseason. And should that happen, one NFL insider believes that the New York Jets could be a plausible landing spot for the former first-round pick.
Tua Tagovailoa Linked to Jets Early in Offseason
When teams bring in a new head coach & general manager, there are times when a new era means change at quarterback too.
It remains to be seen what happens with Tua who dealt with injuries in 2024 & a benching in 2025. I
If the #Jets end up with Darrell Bevell at OC, it’d be… https://t.co/dC9kR7K3Gw
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) February 3, 2026
The Dolphins selected Tagovailoa with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, and after a slow start to his career, it seemed like the arrival of McDaniel helped unlock him under center. In 2023, Tagovailoa led the league with 4,624 passing yards, which helped him earn the first and only Pro Bowl selection of his career.
Throughout his career, Tagovailoa has struggled with injuries, particularly concussions. While he stayed healthy for the entire 2025 campaign, the wheels fell off as the offense buckled under Tagovailoa’s struggles. In just 14 games, Tagovailoa threw a career-high 15 interceptions, and he struggled to consistently push the ball downfield throughout the year.
While it’s going to cost the team a ton of money to move on from Tagovailoa, regardless of whether they trade or cut him, the belief across the league is that a change of scenery would benefit all parties involved. Assuming Tagovailoa is on the move, NFL insider Josina Anderson believes the Jets could be a potential landing spot, especially if they hire Miami’s quarterbacks coach and pass game coordinator, Darrell Bevell, to be their new offensive coordinator.
“When teams bring in a new head coach & general manager, there are times when a new era means change at quarterback too,” Anderson wrote in a post on X. “It remains to be seen what happens with Tua who dealt with injuries in 2024 & a benching in 2025. If the Jets end up with Darrell Bevell at OC, it’d be interesting to see if those two reconnect in Florham Park, should he depart the Dolphins.”
What Should the Dolphins Do with Tua Tagovailoa?
GettyMIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 12: Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins looks to pass the ball during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Hard Rock Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
At this point, it seems like the Dolphins’ best path to building a contender involves eating a significant portion of Tagovailoa’s deal and moving on from him. The rest of the roster needs a ton of work, and with a new coaching staff coming into town, it makes sense to wipe the slate clean and start from scratch, no matter how painful it may be.
Trading Tagovailoa would save Miami the most money, but it remains to be seen if the front office will be able to find a willing trade partner, especially if his getting released becomes inevitable. The team could hold onto him, but it’d be better to just cut its losses and move on from him, no matter how painful that may be. Regardless of what happens, the Dolphins’ decision on Tagovailoa’s future is arguably the most important storyline of their offseason now.
Owen Crisafulli Owen Crisafulli is a Breaking News Writer at Heavy. In addition to writing for Heavy, Owen works as a Content Producer for More Views Media. His work has also appeared on ClutchPoints, The Sporting News, Athlon Sports, Basketball Network, and FanSided, where he shared his insights on a variety of sports topics primarily surrounding the NFL, NBA, and MLB. More about Owen Crisafulli
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