For you hardcore fans that watch, and have been watching this team for a long time, or even just for a short time, you want to go into the season feeling like this team is a contender, not only for the division crown, but for the AFC Championship as well. If you watched our team last season, you understand that a lot of things have to go well in order for that to happen. I’m going to outline those things, and give you something to look forward to for this upcoming 2025 season.

We’ve already added some talent in the 2025 NFL Draft, some that were drafted and some that were UDFA’s, Undrafted Free Agents. The Miami Dolphins drafted 8 players, and signed an additional 16 players that were not drafted. Let’s start with the ones we drafted.

Last season, the offensive line was a sore issue for this team. Despite the fact that LT Terron Armstead managed to play 15 games with a bad leg, there were injuries all along the line last season. The Dolphins had plans of starting OG Isaiah Wynn but he was unavailable due to injury. That forced the Dolphins to pivot to Liam Eichenberg to replace Wynn at RG and Robert Jones played LG. 2020 1st RD Pick Austin Jackson was set to play RT and he did, but injuries forced him to miss more than 1/2 the season. OG Isaiah Wynn only managed to play in 6 games, starting 3. Swing Tackle Kendall Lamm was pressed into action and played the remainder of the season at RT when Jackson went out. The Dolphins added big OG Jonah Savaiinaea from Arizona in RD 2, and earlier in Free Agency, the Dolphins picked up OG James Daniels from the Steelers.

The plan for the O-line is to have 2nd year OT Patrick Paul play LT, and next to him will be the veteran James Daniels. Aaron Brewer who played a full season last year will be back at OC, and then the rookie will play RG, Jonah Savaiinaea, with RT Austin Jackson next to him. Obviously, the Dolphins and fans alike hope that this group is ready and able to play a full, successful season. We need health to be on our side for a change, and if we could manage to have all 5 starters play the whole season, it could really make a difference in a positive way. We did add a few depth players, OT Larry Borom from Chicago, OG/OC Liam Eichenberg was re-signed for depth at OG and C, and then a player who was on the Practice Squad in 2024 like OT Jackson Carman, and 2024 7th RD pick OT Ryan Hayes. I feel the crux of this season resides with the success of this unit. QB Tua Tagovailoa has to stay healthy if this team is realistically going to compete for the division and beyond, so the Offensive line is crucial in not only protecting Tua, but the run game needs to make big strides compared to last year where we leaned on RB De’Von Achane too much, and were just awful in converting short yardage situations like 3rd and short and 4th and short. Just abysmal! The Dolphins were 24th in the league at converting 3rd Downs to First Downs at 36.32%. That’s ALL 3rd Down conversions. I don’t have the 3rd and short and 4th and short, but if you watched the games, we failed far too often.

Fortifying the interior of the offensive line could make a significant difference. The 2 OG’s that should start in ’25, LG James Daniels and rookie RG Jonah Savaiinaea should enable this offense to run inside the tackles as well as outside, where we spent too much time the last season. If you want to convert short yardage plays you must get push in the middle. You can’t expect your RB to have to go all the way to the outer perimeter of the O-line, it takes too long and gives the defense too much time. You need the shortest distance from point A to point B, which is pretty much straight ahead. The Dolphins also brought in a very physical blocking TE in Pharoah Brown, and we’ll likely be seeing a lot of 2 TE formations with Jonnu Smith and Pharoah Brown. Jonnu Smith was great last season as a receiving TE and will continue in that role, but Brown can mix it up in the trenches and will help in those short yardage situations.

The defense last season was somewhat of a pleasant surprise. Then, new Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver had the unit getting better and better as the season went on. RDE Zach Sieler had a great season finishing with 10 sacks for the 2nd year in a row. Having veteran Calais Campbell last year helped a lot, he played all 17 games and played well all season. Calais Campbell has moved on but the Dolphins added two players who should make an immediate impact. In the 1st RD, the Dolphins took Michigan DT Kenneth Grant. Grant has the ability to play multiple spots on the D-line, an odd front which be our base 3-4, or an even front in passing situations like the nickel or dime. He’ll probably be found somewhere in the interior but can and will play DT/DE like Calais Campbell did last season. We also drafted what could be a steal in the 5th RD DT Jordan Phillips. He can also play multiple spots and surely will be counted on to do so this season. Last year we got a nice rookie performance from 2024 1st RD pick OLB Chop Robinson. He just got better and better and I’m sure the Dolphins are counting on him to pick up where he left off. To add, we lost OLB Jaelan Phillips to a knee injury last season, the 2nd season in a row where Phillips missed significant time. He should be back healthy, no one rehabs better than Jaelan Phillips, he’s a monster! We will also see the return of OLB Bradley Chubb who missed the entire ’24 season. Anthony Weaver probably can’t wait to see this whole group together, it really could be fun!

One thing the Dolphins have to do is figure out the Jalen Ramsey situation one way or another. They can’t let this situation linger, either he’s here, or he’s gone. If we’re going to move on from Ramsey, hopefully it’s a trade. I’ve seen rumors of trades regarding other teams who have similar situations on their hands, so maybe a disgruntled player swap with Green Bay Packers CB Jaire Alexander is possible. No Ramsey is older, and his salary is a little less than Alexander’s. Ramsey’s cap hit in ’25 is $16.6M while Alexander’s is $23.9M. This may not be feasible, or realistic but the Dolphins may need to find 2 starting CB’s if they can’t work things out with Ramsey and keep him, or trade him. They don’t really have a starting CB on the roster, but there are some available players who are Free Agents like Rasul Douglas and a younger player in Asante Samuel Jr. . Douglas is nearly 30 but we could a short contract. Samuel is only 25, but has a shoulder issue. If he can pass a medical, it would be nice to have some young talent but his contract will be steep. We have CB’s Storm Duck and Cam Smith who have started but were shaky. To add, we have two safeties that have started games during their careers, but between SS Ifeatu Melifonwu and FS Ashtyn Davis, they’ve only started 9 games total over the last 3 seasons. The secondary needs to be remedied if we’re truly going to be contenders.

Back to the offense for a moment. Last season, we inexplicably relied way too heavily on RB De’Von Achane. We drafted and traded up for RB Jaylen Wright in RD 4, using a 2025 3rd RD pick to do so. Wright should be seeing a lot more action, and in this 2025 Draft, we selected RB Ollie Gordon in RD 6. Gordon, 6’1 226 has a much more physical style and mentality rushing the football. He could help in the aforementioned short yardage struggles we’ve had. We also brought in WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine into our WR room and he should be a welcome addition. Much like Gordon, Ikhine-Westbrook brings some size to the room at 6’2 211, much larger and more physical than Hill and Waddle and should be a nice big target as well. Westbrook-Ikhine had 9 TD’s receptions last season, 1 more than Hill-Waddle combined. He’s a great red zone threat receiver, I look forward to watching him here in Miami. Of course, the heavy lifting belong to the O-line and our QB Tua Tagovailoa. Tua needs to stay healthy and play smart. Playing smart doesn’t mean playing in bubble wrap, but it means when you’re running outside the pocket, don’t engage a defender, slide. When a defender is making a b-line to you, throw the ball away and don’t hold it and get crushed. That doesn’t mean never take a few yards if the defense gives you running room and there’s no receiver open, it just means run out of bounds or slide to finish the run.

Yes, a lot of things have to break right for us to unseat the AFC EAST CHAMPION Buffalo Bills. We also have to contend with better New England Patriots and NY Jets teams. Fix the secondary and the Jalen Ramsey situation, and even more importantly, learn how to use your rookies and let them help you win. We know Kenny Grant and Jonah Savaiinaea will be used heavily, but use Jordan Phillips a lot, use Ollie Gordon, use Zeek Biggers,. Don’t avoid using rookies you drafted! It’s possible that this year’s defensive unit could be special if both Bradley Chubb and Jalean Phillips can stay healthy, along with 2nd year OLB Chop Robinson. If the big boys are good on the D-line, and the LB’s can get to the QB, the CB and Safety situation may not seem so dire. QB Tua Tagovailoa in addition to playing smart with his health needs to find another level of play. He has to be better against the good teams, teams as good or better than us. This is something he’s struggled with since he’s been here, but if he wants this team to succeed, he has to find another gear., and help this team beat hose teams and win those important showdowns. Do it during the regular season will make it easier to do in the playoffs too.

GO DOLPHINS!!!