If NFL analyst Nick Wright has his way, the Miami Dolphins will be parting ways with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Wright floated an idea on FS1’s “First Things First” that could shake up the league in 2025.
Nick Wright Wants To Disturb QB Market With Tua Tagovailoa-Matthew Stafford Trade
Wright suggested that the Dolphins trade Tagovailoa to the Los Angeles Rams to boost their Super Bowl hopes.
“I have one, one-for-one quarterback trade that I would put a phone call in on. I might call Miami and say [Matthew] Stafford for Tua.
“If the Dolphins are like, ‘Man, we’ve got maybe one more year before Tyreek [Hill] burns the building down. We have all these weapons like we’re trying to win right now.’ If you’re Miami, they would be admitting defeat on Tua and just trying to go for it right now,” Wright added.
.@getnickwright wouldn’t trade Matt Stafford, but if he did… he has an interesting trade proposal 👀
“I might call Miami and say Stafford for Tua.” pic.twitter.com/KC4Hf33Tnt
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) January 21, 2025
Tua’s numbers show flashes of brilliance, but his inconsistency has let the Dolphins down. Tagovailoa completed 72.9% of his passes in 2024, with 2,867 yards, 19 touchdowns, and seven interceptions across 11 games. While he led the NFL in completion percentage, his absence in six games due to injuries hurt Miami.
Wright argued that with offensive superstars like wide receiver Tyreek Hill, the Miami-based franchise might prefer a veteran quarterback or more stability. In his mind, Wright has Matthew Stafford, the Rams’ Super Bowl-winning quarterback.
Stafford’s PFN regular-season QB+ grade of 71.9 (C-) shows his declining consistency, but his playoff performances remain valuable. The Rams’ QB threw for 3,762 yards (65.8% completion percentage) and 20 touchdowns in 2024, excelling from clean pockets with a 0.31 EPA per dropback, yet struggled when pressured (-0.46 EPA).
Stafford’s retirement rumors are also making rounds, which would pour water on Wright’s idea if it happens.
Stafford is a known commodity with a championship pedigree. Thus, Wright believes his experience gives him an edge over Tagovailoa and would benefit any playoff contender.
Tua is not all bad compared to Stafford, though. He scored 26.3 points per 100 snaps, compared to Stafford’s 21.7 average. While Stafford was sacked 28 times, the Dolphins’ QB was only sacked on 21 occasions.
Yet, the 26-year-old Hawaii native wasn’t able to lead the Dolphins to postseason success, which is the basis of Wright’s argument. Trading Tua could offer stability but risks sacrificing Miami’s high-scoring playstyle.
With the offseason kicking in, trade rumors will only get wilder, with tons of analyst debates and viewpoints ready to come our way. If Miami does end up towing the line on Wright’s advice, the front office must weigh its options carefully and consider whether giving up on Tua and securing veteran talent is right.
