Coming up this offseason, the Miami Dolphins appear ready to go fishing for a new franchise quarterback. Tua Tagovailoa has already been benched for his poor performance after throwing an NFL-high 15 interceptions. There isn’t an obvious replacement on the roster, but we’re about to see what seventh-round rookie Quinn Ewers is capable of.
However, the Dolphins tried getting out ahead of the problem by acquiring someone who’s proven to be one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks.
According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Dolphins tried trading four first-round picks to move up from the fifth overall pick to the No. 1 selection in the 2020 NFL Draft. If successful, the Dolphins would have drafted Joe Burrow rather than the Cincinnati Bengals.
Of course, the Bengals rejected the Dolphins’ trade offer, and Miami decided to pick Tagovailoa instead.
“Before the 2020 NFL draft, the Dolphins offered the Bengals four first-round picks in exchange for the No. 1 selection and the ability to draft Burrow, league sources told ESPN. The Bengals declined to even engage in discussions and shut down the trade inquiry before it could gain any traction, according to sources.”
ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Dolphins trade offer
Both quarterbacks have suffered serious injuries in their careers, but no one would argue that Burrow has been the far more successful QB.
Now it looks like Tagovailoa may have played his last down in a Dolphins uniform. Meanwhile, Burrow is playing out the string of another season mired by injuries. While the Dolphins and Bengals are in the same spot today, only one of these teams will need a new quarterback this offseason, and the other has one of football’s best.
Related: 2025 NFL QB Rankings: Where’s Tua Tagovailoa?
