The Miami Dolphins look set to get starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa back this week after he missed time following his latest concussion in Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills.
It goes without saying how huge Tua's return is, but that doesn't erase the concern for his overall well-being. While we certainly hope it never comes to this, one more concussion could end the quarterback's career.
Knowing that, the Dolphins may want to give themselves a backup plan for the future. It's clear that neither Skylar Thompson nor Tyler Huntley are adequate options.
One avenue Miami could explore is Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, who FOX Sports' Greg Auman believes could be an option for the Dolphins ahead of the Nov. 5 trade deadline. He proposes a trade that sends Young to Miami in exchange for 2025 third- and sixth-round picks.
If you're a team without a QB of the future, taking a shot on Young is low-risk and low-cost — basically two years and $10 million after this season. The Panthers could wait until they draft a quarterback in April, but the demand might not be as strong then. A team like the Dolphins, unsure if they can count on Tua Tagovailoa due to multiple concussions, would have an inexpensive plan B who would upgrade their backup situation if nothing else.
The Panthers benched Young earlier this season after a year-plus of ineffective play. Carolina first said it doesn't plan on trading him, but head coach Dave Canales seemed to change his tune a bit when asked about Young on Monday.
Dave Canales said five weeks ago the Panthers weren't considering trading Bryce Young. Asked if that has changed, Canales said: "Again, hypotheticals." Added that Dan Morgan and Brandt Tilis are having those types of conversations.
— Joe Person (@josephperson) October 21, 2024
Young is expected to start this week, but that's only because his replacement, Andy Dalton, injured his thumb in a car accident. The fact that the Panthers haven't gone back to Young, even in the wake of Dalton struggling and losing games lately, means there is definitely a chance he gets dealt.
For the Dolphins to pull the trigger on a trade for the Alabama product, they would have to believe he's capable of more than what he's put on tape in Carolina, which hasn't been good.
It stands to reason head coach Mike McDaniel can get more out of him, especially with a better group of weapons. If Miami is thinking that way, it would make sense to take a flyer on Young given the future uncertainty surrounding Tua. The former No. 1 overall pick still has two years left on his $37.9 million rookie contract, and possibly three years when you include the fifth-year option.
But the deal Auman proposes is a bit too rich. A third-round pick alone should be enough, and even that might be too much considering how much Young's value has taken a hit.
