NFL executives anticipate the Miami Dolphins exploring alternate options at quarterback this offseason, including Kirk Cousins, after Tua Tagovailoa’s performance at the end of the regular season and postseason.
The Dolphins lost three marquee matchups in a row to end the season. Tua had a terrible outing in cold weather against the Kansas City Chiefs Saturday night to end the Dolphins season.
Following the Wild Card loss, Tua backed off any discussion of signing an extension with the Dolphins this offseason. Unless a signing happens following the late-season collapse, Tua will head into the 2024 season on the last year of his rookie contract after the Dolphins picked up his fifth-year option last offseason.
The Miami Dolphins are expected to shop Tua
According to Mike Sando of The Athletic, a few NFL executives expect the Dolphins to explore shopping Tua to teams with indoor stadiums or who play in warm-weather cities. The Atlanta Falcons are an obvious choice because they play in a dome and would compete in a toasty-NFC South division:
The equation here is that Cousins and a draft pick (or picks) would be better than continuing with Tagovailoa. The Dolphins do not have third- or fourth-round picks in the upcoming draft, so they could use the capital. Cousins, a free agent in March, would have to prioritize Miami as his preferred landing spot, which seemingly would be easy for him, given what the Dolphins offer in terms of McDaniel’s personality, the scheme and weaponry.
“Your upside with Tua certainly seems limited,” an exec said, “so let’s say you can trade him. I would be exploring, ‘OK, Tua, we can win games with, probably not winning a championship with. Kirk Cousins, we can win games with, probably not winning a championship with. But our resources are better spent on Cousins plus draft picks than they are on just Tua…
“If you could get a 2 and a 3 for Tua and sign Kirk, I’d want to make sure I felt comfortable about having him for three years from a health standpoint,” a different exec said. “I do think Tua works much better in a domed stadium where you know half your games are played in pristine conditions.
Would Kirk Cousins sign with the Dolphins?
Cousins has expressed interest in re-signing with the Minnesota Vikings this offseason. However, Cousins’ biggest stipulation for next season is that he signs with a team that can win. Because of the Vikings’ cap space issues with wide receiver Justin Jefferson, Cousins’ best bet to join a winning team might be elsewhere.
Cousins would have an excellent chance to make a Super Bowl run in Miami. He’d have Tyreek Hill and Jalen Waddle to work with. When healthy, Vic Fangio’s defense has the talent to be one of the better units in the league.
Cousins to the Dolphins is a storyline fans of the Vikings and Dolphins should watch around the start of free agency in March.
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