The Miami Dolphins made waves across the NFL landscape this week with a move that felt both inevitable and seismic: benching quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. For the New York Jets, the ripple effects of that decision could end up being a quiet blessing-one that shapes their future under center in a big way.
Let’s be clear: Tua’s benching didn’t blindside league insiders. His struggles this season have been well-documented.
He leads the league in interceptions, and with Miami now officially eliminated from playoff contention after a loss to Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers, the franchise is clearly shifting gears. But while the decision may have been expected, the implications are anything but ordinary-especially for a Jets team eyeing the 2026 NFL Draft with laser focus.
What Tua’s Bench Bench Means for the Draft-and the Jets
Despite the rough season, Tagovailoa’s résumé isn’t without merit. He’s a two-time playoff quarterback with a solid 120-to-59 touchdown-to-interception career ratio.
But injuries and inconsistent play have derailed what once looked like a promising trajectory. Now, with a $99 million dead cap hit looming if the Dolphins move on-likely spread over two seasons-it’s hard to imagine a scenario where Tua remains in South Florida.
That’s where things get interesting for the Jets.
Several quarterback-needy teams are expected to be in the mix at the top of the 2026 draft, including the Raiders and Cardinals. But if a team like Las Vegas, currently projected to pick second overall, decides to trade for Tagovailoa, that could shake up the draft board in a major way. A move like that would likely take the Raiders out of the running for a top rookie quarterback-namely, Fernando Mendoza.
And that’s music to the Jets’ ears.
The Jets and Mendoza: A Potential Franchise Fit
The Jets have done their homework on Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner and one of the most polished quarterback prospects in recent memory. They’ve scouted him extensively at Indiana this season, and by all accounts, he fits the mold of what New York is looking for-a smart, accurate passer who can thrive in their offensive system.
Right now, the Jets hold the fifth-overall pick. If they lose out the rest of the way, they could climb as high as No.
- The Giants and Raiders are the only teams currently ahead of them, but New York might not have to leapfrog both to get their guy.
The Giants are set at quarterback after drafting Jaxson Dart last year, and if the Raiders pivot to Tagovailoa, that would clear a path for the Jets to land Mendoza without mortgaging the future in a trade-up scenario. It’s a domino effect that starts with a benching in Miami and could end with a franchise quarterback in New York.
A Trade Market on the Move
Even if the Jets aren’t interested in bringing in Tagovailoa themselves-and all signs point to them steering clear-they stand to benefit from the market movement he could create. As teams ahead of them in the draft order explore veteran options, the Jets could find themselves in a better position to either stand pat or make a manageable move up the board.
At the very least, Tua’s benching has cracked open the door for quarterback-hungry teams to reshuffle their priorities. For a Jets organization that’s been searching for stability at quarterback for what feels like forever, that’s a welcome development.
So while the Dolphins are dealing with the fallout of a franchise-altering decision, the Jets are watching-and waiting. Because sometimes, the biggest wins come off the field, when the right opportunity quietly lines up in your favor.