Tua Tagovailoa
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CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin proposed a "wild" four-team trade that would see the Miami Dolphins replace quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with San Francisco 49ers' Brock Purdy.
Football fans have to wait two more weeks for the start of training camps around the NFL. Until then, readers can expect some more fun, hypothetical trade proposals. On Monday, CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin pitched a whopper of a trade that will probably top all other pitches in terms of craziness. It involves Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Benjamin proposed the Dolphins trade Tagovailoa to the New Orleans Saints as part of a four-team deal. In return, Miami would receive San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy.
The Dolphins would also send a 2026 second-round pick to the 49ers in the trade.
Here’s the full proposal:
“The 49ers just paid Purdy, which is completely understandable, but we know Kyle Shanahan has an affinity for his old pal Cousins, and we know Cousins is currently blowing in the wind, awaiting an opportunity as Atlanta’s No. 2. The Purdy-to-Cousins swap might be a downgrade in 2025, but adding a couple of early-round picks could help San Francisco replenish its greater infrastructure,” wrote Benjamin.
“Miami, meanwhile, might embrace a more dynamic signal-caller for Mike McDaniel’s timing-based offense, while sending Tagovailoa to another former left-handed quarterback in Kellen Moore, whose Saints are sorely inexperienced under center.
“Even considering Tua’s injury history, you can bet veterans like Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave and Brandin Cooks might prefer a proven passer as Moore installs his offense.”
Tua Tagovailoa Included in ‘Wild’ NFL Trade Proposal
While Benjamin’s logic for the four-team trade proposal made sense, it’s difficult to tell how serious he was about the possibility of the trade actually happening.
Benjamin pitched the Dolphins-49ers-Saints-Falcons trade in an article entitled, “Five wild NBA-style trade proposals for the NFL.” Benjamin’s objective appeared to be name five crazy trade proposals more for entertainment purposes as opposed to deals that could actually occur.
The possibility of Tagovailoa getting traded somewhere this summer is very close to having a zero percent chance of happening. But if the Dolphins were to entertain potential replacements for Tagovailoa, Purdy makes sense given his experience with Kyle Shanahan.
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel coached under Shanahan and runs a similar-styled offense.
Purdy didn’t receive any first-placed votes for the MVP award in 2023, but he finished fourth in voting with 97 voting points. Quarterback Lamar Jackson won the award in 2023 while Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott and 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey finished second and third, respectively, in front of Purdy.
Prescott and McCaffrey didn’t receive any first-place votes either.
Despite being the last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, Purdy earned the starting job with the 49ers in Shanahan’s offense. In 40 NFL games, Purdy has averaged 8.9 yards per pass and posted a 104.9 passer rating. He has 64 touchdowns and 27 interceptions with 9,518 passing yards.
Purdy is 23-13 in his career as an NFL starter.
Tagovailoa Facing Tremendous Pressure in Miami Entering 2025
Again, the likelihood of a Tagovailoa-Purdy swap is extremely remote. But what the wild trade proposal might say is how badly Tagovailoa and the Dolphins need a great season in 2025.
The Miami quarterback is 38-24 in his NFL career. He led the league in passing during 2023 and helped the Dolphins earn playoff berths in 2022 and 2023.
It was the first time Miami made the postseason in back-to-back years since 2000-01.
But that’s not enough to justify Tagovailoa’s four-year, $212.4 million contract. He’s getting paid to be an elite quarterback, so Dolphins fans want to see the organization take the next step — win the AFC East and make a playoff run.
Until that happens, NFL pundits are going to continue to devise wild trade proposals that see the Dolphins give up on Tagovailoa for other quarterback options.