I’m going to try and be objective as possible. Those of you that follow this team know the roster was not as good last season as it was in 2023. This year, there will be even more turnover and attrition on the roster, with possibly close to 30 new players not on the roster last season. Some might see that as a negative, but some may just want cleanse this roster some anyway. I’m going to stay neutral now and not inject my personal feelings into this.
I think it’s fair to say that most Miami Dolphins fans understand the need to improve this team in the trenches, both the offensive and defensive lines. On the offensive line, LT Terron Armstead is still on the payroll, but he hasn’t officially made a decision on whether he’s returning or retiring, and to be fair, we drafted a LT in the 2nd RD last season, and being a 2nd RD pick, that means he has a 4 year contract and no 5th year option. If you sit LT Patrick Paul and just use him as a safety net for Terron Armstead, that’s not a great draft pick and usage of it. You could have taken a player that could have given you a much bigger impact at a different position of need, such as interior O-line or defensive line. When you have very little salary cap to play with and a lot of spots to fill, I think it would be an easy decision to play Patrick Paul and and let Terron go, who hopefully retires.
On the offensive line, C Aaron Brewer and RT Austin Jackson are the only returning starters from 2024. If they decide to run with Patrick Paul at LT, that means only the 2 OG positions are open for starting competition, and there isn’t much competition at the moment with OG Liam Eichenberg the only potential player to compete with. On the defensive line, it’s basically DT Zach Sieler, so you can see how badly we need defensive tackles and defensive ends. In the 3-4, we need a nose tackle and LDE, and I know there’s a chance that Calais Campbell returns, but I doubt he plays at the discounted rate he gave us last season, where his play was excellent and so crucial to the defense. You have to think the D-line is possibly even more important than the offensive line right now, though it’s close. Last season we brought in a bunch of bodies, and we lucked out that DE Calais Campbell was still around. You most certainly can’t count on that this season, and especially not at the same price.
At one CB spot, you have an aging superstar in Jalen Ramsey. Opposite him, a collection of huge question marks including our 2023 first draft pick in RD 2 (#51) CB Cam Smith, along with 2024 undrafted free agents CB Storm Duck, Ethan Bonner, Jason Maitre and Isaiah Johnson. If that’s not daunting, The only S on the roster is 2024 6th RD draft pick (#198), S Patrick McMorris. Jordan Poyer was on a 1 YR contract and we should be thankful for that. Jevon Holland will find paydirt elsewhere, so CB and S are two pretty big needs. Not quite as much as the trenches on either side of the ball, but we need players, and we need starters at 3 spots, which is a lot to fill, LCB, FS and SS.
At LB, we have one spot locked up with LILB Jordyn Brooks returning. The rest will be a lot of competition from incumbent players such as OLB Jaelan Phillips who is returning from a devastating knee injury in Week 4. Last year’s impressive rookie OLB Chop Robinson should be competing for more playing time. Then there’s also the bigger question, does OLB/DE Bradley Chubb make his return or he is a post June 1st cut to open up some cap space. There’s also 5th RD (#158) Mo Kamara who will be competing for a LB/DE spot. Both ILB’s Anthony Walker Jr. and Tyrel Dodson are Free Agents, but a reunion with one or both is possible, as long as it’s a fair price.
On the offensive side of the ball, the other glaring need besides the O-line is backup QB. This should be a high priority, finding a competent backup QB who can win a game, if/when starter QB Tua Tagovailoa goes down. Last year that simply was not the case, and you’d think they learned their lesson. There are an awful lot of names on that free agent list, including Sam Darnold, Zach Wilson, Jacoby Brissett, Jimmy Garoppolo, Jameis Winston, Carson Wentz, Case Keenum, Joe Flacco, Marcus Mariota, and then some intriguing ones such as Justin Fields and Daniel Jones. The last two are dynamic players who have struggled, but have upside, at least in Justin Fields case. Daniel Jones might just need the right fit, and I could see him succeeding here in Miami with the talent we have at receiver. Fixing the O-line and D-line are 1 and 2, or 2 and 1 in priority, but backup QB is right up there.
The potential strength of this team at the moment is at WR, and RB. WR Tyreek Hill, despite the dropoff last season is one of the best in the business, but they need to be careful with him in 2 regards. I think they should ask the players how they feel about him being a captain next season, and if they vote NO, he has to accept that. The other part is they have to find a way to get him involved as much as possible, last year was ridiculous. He caught 30 less passes last season, but he had an 800 yard dropoff in yardage which is about half the yardage he had last season, and also a drop in half fro receiving TD’s, 6 last season compared to 13 in 2023. WR Jaylen Waddle’s drop was not as significant, but with the turmoil always swirling around Tyreek Hill, I’d like to see Waddle take on a larger role. The deoth at WR is a bit troubling although I see a lot of upside in SWR Malik Washington. WR Tahj Washington will get more of a chance, but it’s hard to imagine that WR Erik Ezukanma, who once showed loads of potential will manage to finally stay healthy and put it all together. I think a bigger bodied WR should be in the cards, either in the draft or Free Agency, or both.
At RB, you have to love the versatility, and newfound durability of RB De’Von Achane. Achane gave the Dolphins 1500 yards from the LOS last season and played in every game, 907 yards rushing and 592 yards receiving. If he can stay healthy and have a better O-line and be able to run both inside and outside, he could have a 2000+ yards from the LOS season. After him is last years 4th RD pick (#120) who looked so promising, but was never really given opportunities with only 68 carries and 3 receptions. We traded away our 2025 3rd RD pick to go into the 4th RD last year, so you would have hoped for more production, and it better come this season. After those two though the cupboard is bare, so we will be bringing in at least one vet and probably another either in the draft or as an UDFA. TE’s Julian Hill, Tanner Conner and Hayden Rucci will all begin on the roster but hopefully we can upgrade from at least 3 of those guys.
On Special Teams, both K Jason Sanders and P Jake Bailey will return, and K Jason Sanders had a fantastic 2024 season, converting 37-41 FG tries, including an outstanding 12-14 from 50 yards and beyond. P Jake Bailey also had a nice season, close to his career best average per punt at 47.1, and his best net at 40.7. As for the rest of the special teams unit, KR/PR Malik Washington seems very qualified and of course the wonderful ST’s coordinator Danny Crossman was given his walking papers, so you’d have to think our special teams unit can only improve.
So I’ve laid out the groundwork that needs to be done, and as anyone with eyes can see, it’s pretty extensive and of course will need to be done without a generous amount of cap room. Of course the latter can be remedied, but that comes at the cost of restructuring contracts you may truly regret having next year and beyond, and we can only hope that Chris Grier is a fair steward of such things and knowing that he at least should be on the hot seat if the team falters this season, that he resists the temptation to mortgage the future. We know that we brought in Coach Bobby Slowik who will join the staff as Senior Passing Game Coordinator, along with OC Frank Smith and QB’s/Passing Game Coordinator Darrell Bevell. I wouldn’t mind if HC Mike McDaniel would relinquish the playcalling to one of those guys, but with his job also potentially in peril if this team doesn’t perform well, that would be a tough choice for McDaniel to make.
I hope you enjoy this article, I left as much personal negativity towards this team as I possibly could and tried to be fair in my assessments. I don’t expect 100% agreement all around, that’s not what I’m looking for. I do think though any reader can see just how much needs to be done in this offseason, armed with 10 draft picks, #13, #28, #98, #115, #135, #151, #156, #226, #233 and #252. At the moment, Spotrac shows us in the red, at -$7.68M under the cap. That really puts pressure on Grier and Mike McDaniel to not only hit on a few draft picks, and by hit, I mean getting significant plus playing time this season, as well as hitting on free agent signings all over the roster, and expect a lot more 1 year contracts as the cap will force this, even with the increase this season. As I outlined, there are just so many roster spots up for grabs, starting ones as well, so this will be quite the daunting task. Let’s hope both GM Chris Grier, HC Mike McDaniels and our collective stomachs are up for it!
GO DOLPHINS!!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
Observation…
Chris Grier seems to highly value DTs, CBs, WRs, and RBs (<- under Coach McD).
What we do in FA regarding the O-Line (Guard positions) will likely dictate when we address the O-Line again in the Draft. I do NOT believe we'll be taking an O-Lineman in the 1st round, but that's just based on Grier's history and/or Draft board priorities.
2025 is a huge year for Grier, McDaniel and Tua.
ya think? At least 2/3 will be gone if they don’t make the playoffs
That’s what I’m saying. You can’t miss the playoffs two years in a row after starting off making it the first two years. That’s not progress.
and lose both playoff games . It’s great to make the playoffs, but you have to win something when you do.
Eagles GM Howie Roseman: Team fighting to keep this championship window open
Chris Bumbaca
USA TODAY
INDIANAPOLIS – The Super Bowl 59 champion Philadelphia Eagles may not look like the 2025 Eagles, but general manager Howie Roseman said Tuesday at the NFL scouting combine fans should trust the front office’s plan – and have a little patience.“Really, we have to do whatever we can to keep this window open as long as possible,” Roseman said.
………That being said, the trenches will always be Roseman’s priority. He never feels like the Eagles have enough linemen on either side of the ball and perpetually remains on the lookout for those positions at every avenue of acquisition, whether it’s in free agency, the draft, after the draft or “on the street,” as Roseman said…..
_________
LMAO…..there’s a difference in philosophy here v CG!
The title of the article was……
“Eagles GM Roseman works the trenches”
lol…yep
When you are strong in the trenches, it makes everyone else job easier. Should be a no brainer, but not to some people.
Eagles will probably take one of the OL or DL we covet. They do need edge though and may go there at #32 as this draft is deep there.
Brandon Graham at 37yo will probably retire and Josh Sweat is a FA they probably can’t afford to resign.
They also have ILB/OLB Zack Baun hitting FA who they may not be able to resign. They may also go Jihaad Campbell at #32.
Then again, they have to replace Becton at OG so there’s that.
Been looking at some 7th round OL if I only take one OL early. Was checking out Alabama A&M OT Carson Vinson, 6’7, 305.
I stopped when I read an article that gave him a 91% comparison to Liam Eichenberg. LOL
Thought that could be just that writer. Then saw in another article:
“Frequently overextends and loses balance against defenders”
Yep, that’s Eichenberg. PASS! lol
He did have a decent Senior Bowl week, though.
One guy I did find was another small school OG from Sacramento State. He’s projected to go 5th to 7th round. Very likely the 5th. Jackson Slater, 6’4, 316. He had a knee injury in November but participated at the Senior Bowl and reported to have a “stellar” week and is participating in the combine. Slater logged 2,985 snaps at left guard, 202 at left tackle and five at center.
“Mark my words – some zone-heavy team is going to steal this kid in the mid rounds and look like geniuses by midseason. The combination of pass protection polish, positional versatility, and untapped athletic upside is exactly what smart offensive line coaches dream about. Give him a year to fully recover and master an NFL system, and you’re looking at a 10-year starter who can play any interior spot at a winning level.”
————
I don’t think he needs a year to recover. He already participated at the Senior Bowl and is going through all drills at the combine. He wouldn’t do that if he wasn’t GTG.
49er’s have approved Deebo’s trade request. Dolphins better not bite.
Why? If he is traded, the 49ers absorb his cap hit in 2025
and his contract is voidable in 2026
if we trade for him – and were able get to not give up a lot
and then we ended up trading Tyreke we appear to come out better both in draft capital and cap space
Arroyo will not work out at the NFL Scouting Combine due to a knee bruise he suffered at the Reese’s Senior Bowl, NFL.com’s Dan Parr reported. Arroyo added that he will be fine and participate in his Miami pro day.
After consulting with doctors again this morning, Carter’s plan is to not have surgery for the small stress reaction in his right foot and work out at his Penn State pro day, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday. Rapoport added that the pass-rushing prospect has reported no pain for the injury and should be OK.
Graham will only do the bench press at the NFL Scouting Combine but will work out at his Michigan pro day, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, per his agent Ryan Matha.
anyone have any thought on Luke Lachey
Iowa has produced some very good nfl tight ends in the past…
IMO he is not nearly as good as the others. Decent receiver but grades at 49% in blocking.
Draftbuzz has him at #10 in their top 10 TE’s. He ranks the lowest in blocking of any TE in their top 10.
Because of that, Draftbuzz has Ferguson, Gadsden and Michell all graded ahead of him.
Kenneth Grant won’t do on-field drills at the NFL Scouting Combine after his MRI showed a mild hamstring strain, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported. Garafolo adds that Grant will be ready for his Michigan pro day.
Tyler Warren has met with the Buccaneers, Colts and Dolphins at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, the Penn State product told reporters on Thursday.
that’s what we want to hear! I wouldn’t be surprised if the Colts traded up for him.
Piggy, Deebo would be good value for a team trading for him. Most of his cap hit is tied up in signing, restructure and option bonuses. A team trading for him has to pick up his roster and workout bonuses which puts his cap hit at about 2.1 mil. I can’t remember exactly but I believe a team trading for him also has to pick up his option bonus. That would put his cap hit at 7 mil, if so.
He would be a 1 year rental.
Thing is, 49er’s can’t trade him until post 6/1 or they will incur an additional 15.1 mil dead cap hit. The draft capital will end up being from 2026.
My guess is the 49er’s will want high draft capital (2026 day 2) because they will take a 31 mil dead cap hit and the team getting him will get him rather cheap.
I don’t want to give up a 2026 2nd or 3rd round pick on a 1 year rental.
Soooo, that said, Grier will probably do it because MM wants a new toy.
I would give up a 2026 3d for that
but I guess that’s me
it only makes sense if the Dolphins move on from 🐆
which I kind of want them to do
I would much rather see a Waddle/Deebo duo paired with Jonnu/Tyler Warren
and getting something for Tyrese in a trade gives us some flexibility to spend 13 on a Tyler Warren type of a player rather than a need on defense or OL
I don’t think Hill is going anywhere this year. It would be a waste of a future 3rd on a 1yr #3 or #4 WR rental when we already have Hill, Waddle, Washington, Jannu and Achane to spread the ball around to.
Last year Deebo seemed to haven’t fallen off a bit. IMO
have fallen, not haven’t
Looking at spotrac, it does look like the team trading a player is also on the hook for their option bonus.
So, he would only cost about 2.1 mil + his incentives (if met) to a team trading for him.
There it is. A week earlier than expected.
“The NFL and NFL Players Association agreed to set the 2025 salary cap at $279.2 million, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.”
Spotrac already updated and shows our current cap at + 9,426,359 and 47 players under contract.
Have to admit, Grier did very well in getting us Brewer and ILB Brooks. Maybe our cap hell has been a blessing in disguise where Grier has to find great value with the little money we have instead of spending draft picks and big money on high end players.
Longer video, watch when you get home. Some really good info from Greg Cosell on the tier 2 QB’s in the draft.
Mason Graham only measured in at 6’3.5 and 296. Wow, he could fall some.
Kenneth Grant 6’4, 331
JJ Pegues 6’2.2, 309
Derrick Harmon 6’4.5, 313, 4.95 forty
Ty Robinson 6’5, 288, 4.83 forty, 1.71 split
DT JJ Pegues and DT Howard Cross II will also be doing FB drills. Cross measured in at 6’1, 285.
WR Savion Williams will be doing both WR and RB drills on Saturday.
Tennessee Edge James Pearce Jr came in at 6’5, 245 and ran a 4.47 forty with 1.58 split.
Mike McDaniel sends clear message to Chris Grier about Dolphins’ free agency needs
Now, they actually have to do it.
ByBrian Miller|Feb 26, 2025
It is amazing how quickly people can see the need for obvious change when they are facing job insecurity. Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel knows what needs to be changed.
McDaniel took center stage at the NFL Combine to meet with the press. His counterpart, general manager Chris Grier, is not meeting with the media in an official manner, leaving McDaniel to address the tougher questions on his own.
McDaniel was asked specifically about Grier’s previous comments about fixing the offensive line, and McDaniel agrees that it is a priority this offseason.
“To me, I’m excited because I think we have a tangible opportunity to improve that starts in free agency with a couple of guys that we have targeted that you think you can get a deal done with them, and that continues into the draft,” McDaniel said. “I think it’s a very good time to have some need. We have – it’s time for us to invest in that position and excited to. That can come – I would expect it to surface itself in both free agency and the draft.”
“To me, I’m excited because I think we have a tangible opportunity to improve that starts in free agency with a couple of guys that we have targeted that you think you can get a deal done with them, and that continues into the draft,” McDaniel said. “I think it’s a very good time to have some need. We have – it’s time for us to invest in that position and excited to. That can come – I would expect it to surface itself in both free agency and the draft.”
The Dolphins have needed linemen for several years now, and fans and media alike have complained about the team’s lack of concern over the unit. Grier laughed it off prior to the 2024 season, saying the media was “more worried” about the offensive line than the team. That proved to be a mistake, as the line struggled all year.Mike McDaniel believes the Dolphins will target linemen in the draft and free agency
While it is impossible to get excited about what might happen when free agency begins, given the Dolphins’ history of doing business, McDaniel made a point to say there are players they are confident they can add.
If Holland leaves via FA, that 2021 draft is going to look pretty rough, considering the players left and the draft capital we gave up in that year.
^
Grier is a decent drafter. The problem is that McDaniel has a terrible set of coaches for building up young men and that’s probably because he goes through a lot of them. We don’t have any later draft picks that have come up and play the game. We can’t even get the early guys on the field consistently. Almost every other team has a 4-7 pick that is starting on the OL, somewhere on the D, that they have built from the draft in the past few years. Our dude is someone we stole from the Ravens. You can’t just steal or buy good players. You have to build them.
And retain them. I think letting them “earn the right to FA” is a cop-out to we (FO) don’t have our shit together to resign/keep our best players.
USA Today, February 28, 2025, Sports
“NFL goes tech for down measures.”
Jordon Mendoza.
_________^
I hope, it should work.
29.Nick Emmanwori S South Carolina
48.Grey Zabel OT North Dakota State
61.Tyleik Williams DT Ohio State
79.Tate Ratledge OG Georgia
98.Dillon Gabriel QB Oregon
115.Demetrius Knight Jr. LB South Carolina
135.Howard Cross III DT Notre Dame
151.Jonah Monheim OC USC
156.Tommi Hill CB Nebraska
226.Andrew Armstrong WR Arkansas
233.Cody Simon LB Ohio State
252.De’Rickey Wright S Vanderbilt
2026 WAS 2nd
Howard Cross is more like a shorter Ogbah, is that why you like him? He was solid for ND.
6’1, 285
I try to get a NT, and a rush DL (used to be called a DE)
I do like Cross as a pass rusher
Same.
I heard the Toledo guy DT Darius Alexander wowed a lot of people with his on field drills. I didn’t watch though. He came in at 6’4, 305, 4.95 forty.
ILB Danny Stutsman surprised me with his 40 time. He tied Jihaad Campbell as the 3rd fastest LB (who tested) with a 4.52 forty.
Good split also at 1.55 and Campbell a 1.53.
Demetrius Knight scored well in just about everything and ran a 4.58.
Francisco Mauigoa helped his stock the most at ILB. Scored very well in everything especially the 40 where he was projected at over 4.7 but ran a 4.6 flat and 1.56 split.
Jay Higgins is going to slide with his 4.82 forty and 1.64 split. He did have the fastest 3 cone out of the 7 who participated in that.
DT CJ West came in at 6’1, 316, 4.95 forty and 4th fastest split at 1.73 for DL.
DE/Edge Shamar Stewart really helped his draft stock. He came in at 6’5, 267, and ran a 4.59 forty, 1.58 split, 40″ vertical, and 10’11” broad. Wow!
Shemar Stewart looked very athletic at the Sr Bowl practices. He and Green probably stood out the most if I remember.
Stewart is very intriguing to me, especially if we Post 6/1 release Chubb.
Not a lot of production in the sack department though
I think I would take Landon Jackson over Stewart.
Chiefs planning to franchise tag guard Trey Smith, hope to work out long-term deal
Stock down
ILB Chris Paul Jr was a productive player at Arkansas and Ole Miss, but his combine workout did not help his case to be a Day 2 (Rounds 2-3) pick. His arm measured 29 7/8 inches, shorter than desired at the position. Paul’s 4.63-second 40, 1.62-second 10-yard split and 9-9 broad jump won’t make it any easier for scouts to overlook his lack of size (6-1, 222 pounds). He showed average stop-start ability and transition from a backpedal, too.
QB Jaxson Dart says he has only met with Browns and Steelers so far.
QB Shedeur Sanders has only met with the Raiders so far.
QB Cam Ward says he has met with Titans, Browns and Jets.
TE Travis Kelce will officially return for another season.
NEW BLOG UP!!!
At 316 pounds, @IndianaFootball defensive tackle CJ West ran an official 4.95-second 40-yard dash. West is just the ninth DT to weigh at least 315 pounds and run a sub-5.0 forty at the combine since 2003