Dolphins predicted to trade for Vikings QB to replace Tua Tagovailoa as Aaron Rodgers rumors swirl image
The Miami Dolphins have to make a statement in 2024 and reach the playoffs at a bare minimum if Mike McDaniel wants to keep his job and continue to build upon the foundation he has laid in South Beach.
McDaniel has worked alongside GM Chris Grier to build a talented roster, but the Dolphins have struggled to break through in the ultra-competitive AFC.
In his first season leading the Dolphins in 2022, they finished with a (9-8) record and snuck into the playoffs, where they fell to the Buffalo Bills in a close matchup in the Wildcard Round.
In 2023, it appeared as if Miami took a major leap forward under McDaniel and his high-octane offense. The Dolphins finished the regular season with an (11-6) record, but were blown out by the Chiefs in the Wildcard round of the postseason, in a 26-7 loss.
Most people in NFL circles believed McDaniel’s squad would continue to ascend in 2024 and potentially break through in the AFC and make a run in the playoffs. Instead, the Dolphins regressed and finished with a (8-9) record while missing the postseason.
Suddenly McDaniel went from being one of the hottest young innovative coaches to entering 2025 on the hot seat — and it’s safe to say that anything less than a trip to the playoffs — will mean the Dolphins will clean house and start over at the end of this season.
One of the biggest question marks for Miami is QB Tua Tagovailoa, who has played as well as the elite QBs in the NFL at times, but been inconsistent at others.
The most alarming part about the Dolphins franchise QB has been his injury history. Still, Grier and the Miami brass opted to give Tagovailoa a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension with $167.1 million guaranteed last July before the start of the 204 campaign.
At the time, the $53.1 million-per-year new-money extension was the second-largest four-year agreement in NFL history, coming in a shade over Jared Goff’s $53 million deal and just behind the $55 million per year on Jordan Love’s four-year contract and Joe Burrow’s and Trevor Lawrence’s five-year contracts.
In his first two seasons with McDaniel as the head coach in Miami, Tagovailoa thrived. In 2022 and 2023, he ranked second in the NFL in pass yards per attempt (8.5) and passer rating (102.9), fourth in total passing yards (8,172) and fifth in passing TDs (54).
But the Dolphins QB has a scary injury history, particularly when it comes to concussions. He missed significant time in his first three NFL seasons, with concussions being a major cause in several instances. In 2023, he showcased his promise and ability to stay healthy, leading the NFL with 4,624 passing yards while playing all 17 games.
But in 2024, Tagovailoa suffered yet another concussion and it appeared as if his NFL career was in real jeopardy. He only ended up missing four games, but the Dolphins offense plummeted to dead last in the NFL during that stretch and they lost all four with his absence.
Even with the recent contract extension, there have been questions about Tagovailoa’s future with the Miami Dolphins.
With the rumors heating up linking Aaron Rodgers to the Minnesota Vikings, TWSN believes the Dolphins should make a trade for second-year QB JJ McCarthy to replace Tagovailoa:
McCarthy will be an interesting trade target due to his pro-ready skills. McCarthy finished college with 6231 yards and 48 touchdowns over 481 completions with just 11 interceptions during that time. McCarthy reads defenses well and is able to anticipate throws extremely well, navigate the pocket the extend plays, and throw on the run outside of the pocket as well. McCarthy has great leadership skills, and for a team like the Miami Dolphins, he’d be ideal.
Tua Tagovailoa has been good for Miami, but it’s clear changes are needed as they’ve reached their ceiling with him. Tagovailoa has performed great against bad teams, but when it comes to facing a top team in a meaningful game, he can’t play consistently. When it comes to having to make a big play, Tagovailoa has struggled, as when he’s asked to make a big play throwing down field, his throws get more reckless and of his seven interceptions this season, six have come from 10 or more yards down the field.
With McCarthy they’d be getting a more efficient quarterback that they wouldn’t have to worry about sporadic play. McCarthy is also a bit more mobile than Tagovailoa to make plays outside the pocket and throw accurately off-platform. If the Dolphins want to advance their offense, McCarthy is the way to do so. For the Vikings, they can get draft capital in return.