The Miami Dolphins’ dismal performance this season has fueled speculation about the future of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, with one suggestion coming in quite shockingly from an NFL executive. Miami stands at 1-6 and is set to play the Atlanta Falcons in Week 8, with the team’s offense and Tua’s own unsteady play becoming so hard to avoid.

As tweeted by Barry Jackson on X, ”An NFL executive wondered, simply as an opinion, to @SandoNFL whether a trade among Tua ($54 M guaranteed next year), Lawrence ($37 M guaranteed next year), and Kyler Murray $39 M) could help any of them. Would they all be “mid”, as the kids say, wherever they are?”

The comment underscores growing concern over Miami’s direction and suggests that moving on from Tua could open the door to a $230.5 million-caliber talent like Murray.

In spite of the NFL executive’s trade talk, the Arizona Cardinals would not think about trading away Kyler Murray. With $65 million in dead cap if released this year and a mere $14 million in available cap space, trading away Murray would dramatically limit roster flexibility.

Despite adversity and Jacoby Brissett playing better than him, the bottom line makes release or trade not feasible until at least 2027. The Cardinals will be staying with their franchise quarterback and will be scheming based on his return after the bye week.

Through five games in the 2025 season, Kyler Murray has shown flashes of his trademark dual-threat ability but has yet to find a consistent rhythm as the Cardinals sit at 2–3 in the games he has played. Murray has completed 110 of 161 passes (68.3%) for 962 yards, throwing 6 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. His accuracy has been sharp, highlighted by a 74.2% completion rate against the Titans, but he’s struggled to generate big passing plays, averaging 6.0 yards per attempt and posting a passer rating of 90.1 across the stretch.

On the ground, Murray has logged 29 carries for 173 yards (6.0 yards per carry) and 1 rushing touchdown, remaining an elusive threat outside the pocket. His best rushing performance came against Seattle, where he racked up 41 yards on 5 attempts. Overall, Murray’s mobility and composure have kept Arizona competitive in tight games, but the lack of offensive support—and a few costly turnovers—have limited his ability to close out wins.

Kyler Murray is currently sidelined with a mid-foot sprain that has kept him out since Week 5. Fortunately for Arizona, the injury was not severe enough to land him on injured reserve, meaning a return could be near. With the Cardinals heading into their bye week, there’s optimism that Murray could be back on the field by Week 9. His limited participation in recent practices is a positive sign, though the team has yet to confirm his official status for the upcoming matchup.

The trade scenario reflects more than just salary figures; it’s a commentary on the Dolphins’ performance and perceived limitations at the quarterback position. Tagovailoa’s issues, along with the frustrating 1-6 start to the franchise, have called into question whether the team must revolutionize itself in order to stay competitive within the AFC.

Murray, with top-level seasons in the Cardinals and shouldering an enormous contract, is the kind of profiled player who can upgrade the Dolphins’ offense. In contrast, Tua’s current performance and his contract promises create a huge imbalance for the Dolphins.

Sources indicate that while Miami’s locker room remains largely intact, the relationship between head coach Mike McDaniel and Tua needs repair. As Dianna Russini of The Athletic notes, McDaniel “has not lost the vast majority of Miami’s locker room despite a 1-6 start,” but his rapport with Tua is strained, which indirectly affects the team’s atmosphere. NFL insiders also describe the Dolphins as a franchise in need of structural change, with personnel decisions and draft strategy leaving the roster patchwork at best.

For comparison, Kyler Murray has been playing more consistently. In the first five games of the 2025 season, Murray has had a passer rating above 70. He has shown the type of consistent productivity Miami has been missing.

What’s wrong with Tua Tagovailoa?

Tua Tagovailoa’s issues go beyond one bad game and have impacted the Dolphins’ offense for most of the 2025 season.

Even in his better performances, like against the Jets and Panthers, he has been streaky, not able to repeat the accuracy and timing that made him the league’s top quarterback in 2022 and 2023. In comparison to 2024, when at least he had a solid passing attack, 2025 has witnessed regression in accuracy and decision-making.

Tua is struggling through the 2025 season, posting uneven performances that have weighed heavily on Miami’s offense. In seven games, he has completed 139 of 205 passes (67.8% completion rate) for 1,313 yards, throwing 10 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. His passer rating has fluctuated, highlighted by a 24-27 loss to Carolina where he went 27-of-36 for 256 yards and 3 TDs, contrasted sharply with a 6-31 defeat at Cleveland where he completed just 12 of 23 passes for 100 yards and 3 interceptions.

Tua has also struggled in the pocket, taking multiple sacks per game and losing three fumbles already this season, leaving the Dolphins’ offense sputtering and forcing the defense to shoulder a heavier load.

Tua’s difficulty largely comes from his failure to consistently make intermediate, in-breaking passes, the throws that once consistently defined Miami’s offense. McDaniel’s inability to fill the scheme well has curbed the offense’s creativity and predictability.

The deteriorating performance of Tua is not only affecting him, but is also burdening the rest of the roster. For now, Tua must find a way to reverse this downfall if he hopes to maintain his role in Miami’s locker room.