Tua Tagovailoa would be a disastrous backup QB plan for the Jets

With just a couple of days left until NFL teams must submit their initial 53-man rosters, New York Jets fans should plan on seeing Darren Mougey pull off the unexpected.

That’s not to say Mougey has a blockbuster move planned. Trading for Patriots star cornerback Christian Gonzalez is likely a tough ask, even as rumors mount about his long-term future in New England. But final cuts typically feature plenty of veterans who surprisingly become available either via trade or free agency.

Only months after signing a one-year prove-it deal with the Atlanta Falcons, Tua Tagovailoa might find himself looking for a new team. The longtime Dolphins starter has been competing with Michael Penix Jr. for the starting job, but the early results haven’t been pretty.

Things are bad enough that iHeartMedia’s Benjamin Allbright reported that teams have already called the Falcons about acquiring the seven-year veteran.

Allbright noted the Browns’ Dillon Gabriel, Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy, and Colts’ Anthony Richardson could also be moved. Gabriel and McCarthy have at least two years of team control remaining, and Richardson is a pending free agent. 

Darren Mougey and the New York Jets must stay far away from Tua Tagovailoa

Even before Cade Klubnik’s rapid ascent up the depth chart, we’d pondered whether the Jets should pursue a veteran backup via trade. While evaluating Raiders third-stringer Aidan O’Connell’s potential fit, we also argued that trading a draft pick for a backup quarterback didn’t feel worth it.

Those comments came just over a month ago, and plenty has changed for both the Jets and the other 31 teams. Bailey Zappe has possibly played his way off the 53-man roster, and Klubnik is all but officially the No. 2 behind Geno Smith.

The Jets have not confirmed whether they’ll carry a third quarterback on the 53-man roster; NFL rules allow a practice-squad quarterback to enter games in an emergency situation.

There is absolutely no reason for the Jets to add Tagovailoa. Atlanta only guaranteed him roughly $1.21 million, so they can afford (pun not intended) to cut him loose without any financial penalties. The Dolphins are covering the $54 million in guaranteed money.

Forget the fact that Tagovailoa played his first six seasons in Miami and ask yourself what he’d truly bring to the Jets besides experience. He’s an injury-prone quarterback who has suffered multiple concussions and never looked like a top-10 quarterback during his Dolphins tenure. Even at his best, Tagovailoa was far closer to No. 16 than he was to No. 10.

Based on recent trades involving non-quarterbacks, the Jets might only need to give up a late-round pick, a backup, or both. But how much value does Tagovailoa have at this point in his career? If you’re a team willing to trade for a quarterback, then it’d make more sense to add Gabriel or the Titans’ Will Levis.

Depending on how the market shakes out, the Jets must instead turn their attention to someone like Case Keenum or Gardner Minshew. Both have been successful starters and high-tier backups, and they’re perfect fits for the No. 3 role.

We’ll pass on Tagovailoa, though. Someone else can determine whether he’s worthy of being a backup, and they can subsequently prepare themselves for immense disappointment. 

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