Jets predicted to trade for Tua Tagovailoa amid unexpectedly great fit

The New York Jets need to add a quarterback this offseason. Justin Fields didn't work out in 2025, and with the need to see what the young offensive skill players have in 2026, adding a veteran quarterback is a must.

There are a few interesting options this offseason, with Kyler Murray, Malik Willis, Joe Flacco, and Kirk Cousins some of the most notable. But the best option for the Jets might actually be a different quarterback.

As Bradley Locker of PFF.com predicts, the Jets might be the best landing spot for Tua Tagovailoa. Adding a division rival's quarterback to be the Jets starter is an odd choice, but there's a good reason why this move would be an unexpectedly great one for the Jets.

Why Jets trading for Tua Tagovailoa would be a great fit

"With the Jets bringing in Frank Reich as their new offensive coordinator, landing an accurate quarterback who can attack horizontally seems most logical for this West Coast scheme - and Tagovailoa has proven capable of that throughout his career," Locker writes.

The Miami Dolphins are looking to move on from Tagovailoa this offseason. The Jets could swoop in and be a trade partner. While trading Tagovailoa to a division rival might be an odd choice, it makes plenty of sense.

Not many teams would be willing to trade for Tagovailoa, but the Jets, with Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey likely on the hot seat for 2026, adding a veteran quarterback is a must.

While Tagovailoa won't cost the Jets much in a trade, they have the money to bring in talent this offseason and could even pull off a Brock Osweiler-esque trade.

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If the Jets take on all of Tagovailoa's contract, they could land extra draft capital from the Dolphins. The Jets have money to spare and are much more than a quarterback away.

Tagovailoa, more likely than not, won't be their starter beyond one season. But if they can bring him in for very cheap, or even acquire draft capital from the Dolphins to trade for him, then it's a move that would make a lot of sense for the Dolphins.

He's a good enough quarterback to get the young receivers the ball for the Jets in 2026, and with how much Brady Cook and Fields struggled this past season, Tagovailoa would be a breath of fresh air in New York at quarterback.

They might not even have to trade for him, as the Dolphins might cut him, and the Jets could swoop in and sign him to a deal like what the Pittsburgh Steelers did with Russell Wilson.

Tagovailoa is a scheme fit and would be a surprisingly good addition this offseason for the Jets. He's affordable thanks to the Jets' cap space, and he would give the Jets plenty of opportunity to analyze their young talent during the 2026 season.

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