Finsmob Unleashed

Let me preface the discussion with the admission that I love to watch De’Von Achane play. He’s the most electric RB we’ve had here in quite some time, probably since Reggie Bush was here about 14 years ago. I swear on the bible that Tua would have had significantly worse stats if RB De’Von Achane was not on this team. How many times did we see Tua throw a screen or a 1 or 2 yard pass for big gains? Last season we didn’t have TE Jonnu Smith who was another playmaker who turned either nothing or a negative into something. I’m not comparing Jonnu Smith to Achane because Achane is so much better and so different. However, they both served a similar purpose while they were here, turn nothing into something. Now Achane is a ballcarrier so he got a lot more touches than Jonnu did, and it seemed almost every time he took a handoff he was 5-6 yards downfield in a flash.

The factors that should determine whether Achane stays or goes is what compensation can we get for him, what salary do he and his agent want, and what type of salary does GM Jon-Eric Sullivan deem appropriate for a 190 pound running back. Let’s be fair about this, try to be realistic about it before you jump out of your chair. Achane is not a grinder, not a back that wears a team down, and to be fair, he’s not a finisher, not a guy that will punish a defense in the 4th quarter when you’re trying to keep the ball away from the other team. If Achane and more likely his agent decide they want either a contract that mirrors Bills RB James Cook contract which is 4 YR/$46M, that’s a tough one. The Bills have Josh Allen, and as long as he’s there, they’re contenders. The Miami Dolphins at present time are rebuilding and we recently have sent more talent away from the team than we’ve brought in.

Think about where this team is right now. Clearly the team is rebuilding and we’ve had quite the exodus of players with expensive contracts. De’Von Achane may be becoming one of those players. I know some of you couldn’t bear to part with Achane, but if we got an early 2nd RD pick and turned that pick into a better than average starting OG or OT or EDGE rusher, that player is more important than a RB, it just is. Especially considering how much difficulty we’ve had filling either of those positions. If you look at the teams that have won the SB the last 10 years, not one of them feature an expensive RB. Seahawks had RB Kenneth Walker who is now on the Chiefs. Eagles had Saquon Barkley who despite big salary numbers overall, was very small and backloaded to the option years where he will never make it to. KC Chiefs had Isiah Pacheco who was on a minimal contract, and also keep in mind that each and every one of those RBs is around 215 lbs or more. Don’t hate, building a team around a 190 pound RB doesn’t win championships.

So what type of compensation do I think would be fair for a RB on his last year of his contract and seeking a big contract nearing $50M? I’d take an early 2nd RD pick and a late RD pick and find me a stud OL/EDGE/CB/LB. Keep in mind we still have Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon, and both of those guys are not too far off of what the Green Bay Packers had in Josh Jacobs 5’11 222 and good ole Chris Brooks 6’1 219. Jaylen Wright is 5’10 208 and Ollie Gordon 6’2 225. I’m not saying Jaylen Wright is as good as Josh Jacobs was in his early playing days before the injuries, but Jaylen Wright was never going to get real opportunities here with De’Von Achane on the roster. I understand that RB’s are sometimes undervalued, and some teams have bucked that trend. If you watch the 2026 NFL Draft, Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love is probably going top 5, but to be fair, Love is probably better than Achane is and is also 6′ 212 lbs. He’s built to last, and that’s a theme in general for most of the RB’s I’ve mentioned on the last few SB teams.

I know some of you will say Achane is more than a RB, he’s a WR too. Don’t hate me, but paying Achane after his 1838 total yards season would resemble paying Tua after 2023. Achane is talented, but this was the first season he went over 1500 total yards. I think Bijan Robinson is a very good comparison for Achane, but of course Bijan Robinson 5’11 215. He’s played nearly every game save one since he came into the NFL, and he’s totaled 1463, 1887 and last season 2298 total yards. I know Achane has managed to stay healthy the last 2 seasons, but last season was the only season where he was near top 5 (Achane was #6 last season). Achane was #12 in 2024, and then #58 in 2023. So basically, one very strong season, and one good one, and that’s it. If we’re going to pay him a reasonable salary, I’d say keep him. If we have to pay him more than $11M annually, and we can get an early 2nd RD pick and more in the 2026 draft, or maybe a 2027 1st RD pick, I’d take those picks and never look back.

GO DOLPHINS!!!