The quarterback carousel might be spinning again. NFL insider Benjamin Allbright has identified four signal-callers he expects to be "on the move in the next few weeks," and the list includes a familiar name: Tua Tagovailoa.
According to Allbright, teams have already placed calls to gauge the availability of Tagovailoa, Cleveland Browns third-stringer Dillon Gabriel, former Minnesota Vikings first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, and ex-Indianapolis Colts starter Anthony Richardson. None of the four are projected to start Week 1, which makes them intriguing trade chips as rosters get finalized.
Tua's Rocky Road
Tagovailoa's journey since leaving Miami has been anything but smooth. After the Dolphins decided to move on following six seasons, he landed with the Atlanta Falcons, hoping to compete with Michael Penix Jr. for the starting job. But with the regular season just two weeks away, it's looking increasingly like he might be the odd man out again.
At 28, Tagovailoa should be in his prime, but his market has been ice cold. Even quarterback-needy teams like the Browns, Cardinals, Jets, and Vikings passed on signing him. Now, with the season looming, it's hard to imagine a team suddenly developing a need for his services.
Fans on social media are skeptical that any of these four will actually be traded. One X user wrote, "Why anybody would want to waste resources on McCarthy, Gabriel, or Tua, I have no idea." Another added, "There's no way teams are actually interested in these 4 QBs." A third questioned, "Would someone actually trade for Tua or is it more contingency if he gets cut?"
What Went Wrong?
It wasn't long ago that Tagovailoa was viewed as the next great NFL quarterback. In 2023, he led the league in passing yards, made the Pro Bowl, and guided the Dolphins to the playoffs with an 11-6 record. The following year, despite missing five games, he topped the NFL in completion percentage.
But the 2025 season was a disaster, and Miami decided to blow it up and rebuild. Now Tagovailoa is fighting for a backup role in Atlanta, and his preseason performance has reportedly created an "impossible" quarterback situation for the Falcons, as recent reports have highlighted.
Could a Trade Happen?
Allbright's report suggests there is at least some interest, but the question is whether any team is willing to give up assets for a player who was available for free just months ago. The same applies to McCarthy, who hasn't lived up to his draft billing, and Richardson, whose inconsistency plagued his time in Indianapolis.
Gabriel, a rookie, might have the most trade value given his upside, but even he is a long shot to move before the season starts.
For Tagovailoa, the window for a second act is closing fast. He's no longer seen as a franchise cornerstone, and his best hope might be to stick with the Falcons and wait for an injury to open a door. But as the NFL landscape shifts, stranger things have happened. Just ask the quarterbacks who are considered elite — the list is short, and Tagovailoa is no longer on it.
With training camps winding down and final cuts approaching, the next few weeks will be critical for these four quarterbacks. Whether they're traded or released, one thing is certain: the quarterback market is always unpredictable.
