The New York Jets are being predicted to swing a trade they will almost surely regret amid rumors that Dante Moore may not enter the NFL Draft.
The New York Jets are widely expected to select Oregon Ducks quarterback Dante Moore with the second overall pick of the NFL Draft, but is it possible they go in a different direction?
There has been speculation that Moore could return to Oregon for a year, with some suggesting Moore might go back to school just to avoid the Jets.
So if Moore does forego the draft, what will New York do under center?
Well, Bleacher Report's Alex Ballentine has predicted that the Jets will swing a trade for Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, where New York would send a fifth-round draft pick to the Dolphins in exchange for Tagovailoa, a 2027 second-rounder and salary compensation.
"The Jets are uniquely positioned to help the Dolphins out. They have $93.7 million in cap space, which is plenty to take on a significant portion of Tagovailoa's contract before cutting it in 2027 with little additional cost," Ballentine wrote.
Ballentine actually thinks acquiring Tagovailoa would be a good idea even if the Jets did draft Moore in order to have some experience on the depth chart.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images.But in that case, couldn't New York just re-sign Tyrod Taylor or maybe go out and add someone like Andy Dalton if he is cut by the Carolina Panthers?
The very idea of absorbing a "significant portion" of Tagovailoa's salary sounds brutal, even if the Jets could technically cut him after the 2026 campaign. And there would still be a tough financial hit for Gang Green under that scenario.
I do understand the importance of having a veteran signal-caller, but again, New York could just try and retain Taylor or find another, much cheaper option than Tagovailoa.
Tagovailoa was benched by Miami after 14 starts in 2025. During his time on the field this past season, he threw for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.
Yes, the former first-round pick led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards as recently as 2023, but injuries have clearly affected him, and his impressive 2023 campaign may have been more the result of having Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle than anything Tagovailoa really did.
This would be a typical Jets move to make though, wouldn't it?