The only scenario where a Tua Tagovailoa trade makes sense for Jets

Among the New York Jets' options for starting quarterbacks in 2026, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa would likely receive the least amount of support around the fan base. He wouldn't be the worst the team has ever had, but that's a pretty low bar to clear.

Miami's new brain trust, general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley, are expected to cut ties with the former No. 5 overall pick this offseason. While the most optimal way to move on from his four-year, $212.4 million contract is to trade him, unsurprisingly, there aren't many teams willing to take on that burden.

The most likely outcome is similar to what the Arizona Cardinals did with Kyler Murray: cut him outright, and eat the guaranteed money. But according to one NFL executive, there is one way an opposing team would take on Tagovailoa's contract.

CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones says a high-ranking league executive would trade for Tagovailoa's albatross of a deal if Miami attaches their 2026 first-round pick.

Should the Jets consider trading for Tua Tagovailoa if they get a first-round pick?

In a trade that would be incredibly reminiscent of the 2017 Brock Osweiler salary dump that saw the Houston Texans send out Osweiler's $16 million salary, a 2018 second-round pick, and a 2017 sixth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a 2017 fourth-round pick, the Jets could hypothetically do the same with Tagovailoa.

Of course, the deal wouldn't be about the player. Sure, Tagovailoa would likely get some playing time with the Jets given their current quarterback situation, but the real bonus is the No. 11 overall pick.

New York could add a third first-round pick to their already loaded arsenal of draft capital and add another player who hopefully helps turn around the franchise.

Tagovailoa wouldn't be in New York any longer than one season in this alternate reality as well. According to Spotrac, the contract he signed in the summer of 2024 has a built-in out after the 2026 season. You could cut him and incur only $34.8 million in dead cap as opposed to the $99.2 million Miami stands to take on for doing it now.

Essentially, the Jets would be buying a draft pick from the Dolphins, and as Jones noted, that's not something the NFL would likely approve of.

Of course, this idea was broached by an opposing executive, and not Miami itself, and it's incredibly unlikely that the Dolphins would be willing to fork over their premier draft chip just to free up some cap space.

We'll see how Miami ends up figuring out their Tagovailoa situation, and if the Jets end up maintaining a level of interest in the quarterback as a free agent.