There could be a lot of changes with the Miami Dolphins this offseason. It’s possible that no change will be off the table, including a new direction behind center instead of Tua Tagovailoa.
Pro Football Sports Network’s Ian Cummings explored that possibility in his latest 2026 NFL mock draft on Saturday. Cummings predicted the Dolphins to select Oregon quarterback Dante Moore at No. 3 overall.
“A former five-star recruit who went through a ‘trial by fire’ at UCLA in his first year, Dante Moore has rebounded after waiting his turn behind Dillon Gabriel, and he’s been one of the biggest risers of the 2025 season,” wrote Cummings.
“As of this writing, Oregon hasn’t played a formidable defense yet, but the Penn State game is a proving ground for Moore. If he holds this trajectory, he can be an early first-round talent in the mold of C.J. Stroud — with easy mobility, arm talent, accuracy, and anticipation.
“With the Dolphins on track for a reset, Moore could be a target for them.”
Moore is quickly rising draft boards due to his strong start to the 2025 college campaign. CBS Sports’ Mike Renner also had Moore as a top 12 selection in his new 2026 NFL mock draft on Wednesday.
“Moore has been the breakout star at the quarterback position this season,” Renner wrote. “In four games this season, his arm talent and athleticism are on full display.
“He’s averaging over 10.0 yards per attempt so far. If he continues to impress this weekend against Penn State, Moore could even soar higher than [No. 12].”
Oregon’s Dante Moore Becoming Top QB Prospect
Entering this fall, pundits had high expectations for the 2026 quarterback class. A lot of the big-named signal-callers have struggled. However, Moore is emerging as the fastest-rising quarterback prospect.
In four games this season, Moore has completed 74.7% of his passes to go with 10.1 yards per attempt. He also has 11 touchdowns and just one interception.
Moore will have to continue his pace against tough competition coming up on Oregon’s schedule. But as Cummings and Renner explained, should Moore do that, he will solidify himself as a top 2026 quarterback prospect.
In Cummings’ new mock, Moore was the third signal-caller off the board at No. 3 overall. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers went No. 1 and 2, respectively, in Cummings’ latest mock draft.
Could Dolphins Replace QB Tua Tagovailoa?
It’s early for 2026 NFL mock drafts. Not only does Moore still need to prove he can produce his fast start against tougher competition, Tagovailoa still has an opportunity to turn things around in Miami.
It wouldn’t be shocking if that happens. Just two years ago, Tagovailoa led the NFL with 4,624 passing yards and posted 29 touchdown passes.
If Tagovailoa leads a resurgence in Miami, then the Dolphins won’t be picking at No. 3. They also won’t have much motivation to draft a quarterback to replace Tagovailoa.
They might not have much motivation to do that anyway. Tagovailoa’s four-year, $212.4 million contract extension didn’t kick in until this year. After 2025, he will have three years remaining on the deal.
In 2026, Tagovailoa will possess a $99.2 million cap hit if the Dolphins move on from him.
Granted, just because the Dolphins draft a quarterback in the first round doesn’t mean the franchise will part with Tagovailoa immediately. That cap hit drops to $31.8 million in 2027.
But it probably makes more sense for the Dolphins to give Tagovailoa at least another year to return to his 2023 form. That especially makes sense if Miami changes coaching staffs; the team could see if Tagovailoa plays better under a new head coach.
In six NFL seasons, Tagovailoa is 38-27 as a starter. He owns a 68.2% completion percentage and 7.6 yards per pass average with 105 touchdowns and 48 interceptions.
This season, he has a 69.7% completion percentage with five touchdowns and four picks. But Tagovailoa is averaging just 6.5 yards per attempt.
Tagovailoa also has a 6-8 record since the start of the 2024 season.
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