The first name to fall was an expected one, WR Tyreek Hill who very may not play for any team this season as he still has at least one more surgery and then of course rehab from that procedure. We heard Bradley Chubb’s name as well but he’s yet to be officially cut. A trade seems unlikely, Chubb is currently #11 in salary at his position which is a problem for a 30 year old pass rusher who was tied for 20th in sacks in 2025, and didn’t play in 2024. Teams will just wait for the inevitable cut rather than surrendering a valuable draft pick. These are the obstacles Sully is faced with while trying to improve the roster. Former Dolphins GM Chris Grier has left this team with a mess, and Jon Eric-Sullivan was hired to clean it up. Clean it up he will, but patience is necessary from the fanbase.
In case you didn’t know, NFL Free Agency precedes the Draft by a good month and change, as March 9th will be the day NFL Free Agency begins. More importantly for us, however is the NFL Combine which is just 3 days away, beginning on Sunday February 23 through March 2nd. Our roster will be chock full of drafted, and undrafted players from this upcoming draftand you can expect us to pick low level free agents at a few positions as well to fill in. Sully will have to be prudent while we’re all patient. You can’t realistically expect Sully and Haf to turn it all around in one season. I think the 2027 season we can expect improvement as we will have had 2 drafts to turn over some of the roster as well as having some cap space in ’27 to improve the roster some.
The Malik Willis to Miami talk never stops. I personally think that would be a mistake. We have Quinn Ewers, and we can add another QB in this draft and find an inexpensive veteran QB to round out the QB room and have a nice little competition there. Hey! What about Tua? What about him! All signs point to his exodus, whether it’s via some kind of unlikely trade or a very painful cut which will cost a monumental $99M!!! Even if we somehow find a trade partner we will have to absorb a major chunk of Tua’s salary. It’s the mistake that keeps on giving! Those of you faithful readers know and remember how I railed against giving him that contract and wanted to play him on his 5th year option. It doesn’t matter now, what’s done is done, we just have to take the pain and move on from the mistake that hopefully taught us how NOT to do things. I feel like signing Malik Willis would be a similar mistake, not as costly as Tua obviously, but a big mistake regardless. We should be in good position to draft a QB next year and there should be at least 5 first round QB’s such as Arch Manning, Dante Moore, Julian Sayin, LaNorris Sellers, DJ Lagway, Brendan Sorsby and Jyden Maiavia. Not all of these QB’s will be first round picks, but the point is that next season’s draft will be ripe with options, where this year’s draft has one legit 1st RD prospect that will be going #1 to either the Raiders or some team that pays a kings ransom to to the Raiders.
I’m excited about the combine, I haven’t really dove into the prospects yet, but once the combine gets going, I’ll really get into it and find my list of players I hope we get. The positions we need are everywhere, but I think priorities should be EDGE, CB, WR, OL, S and not necessarily in that order. All are important, premium positions, and since we cut Tyreek and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, and looks like Bradley Chubb is next either via trade or cut, and Chop Robinson is our only EDGE rusher. At CB, we don’t really have a starter on the roster, so don’t be surprised if EDGE or CB is RD 1. The fact that Grier traded up for a complete dud so far in LG Jonah Savaiinaea, and he picked up a dud that played 3 snaps in James Daniels who was also cut, you can see how we may be busy on the O-line as well. Thanks Chris Grier, you fucked us dry you dirty dog! It’s a mess, but I’m confident Sully will be the right man to right the ship here, and Godspeed to him in doing so!
GO DOLPHINS!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
FOIST!
And secondly, Mike E, do NOT forget my guy BYRUM BROWN as a potential QB for us next Draft! 😀
1st RD guy?
Godspeed…or whatever narcotic your deity chooses to self-medicate with.
🙃
”you fucked us dry you dirty dog”
😂
😁
Good write Mike.
There is always a little bit of need in picks, but I want to see us go BPA as much as we can, no matter the position. We needed a DT, and we took Grant who had a very mediocre rookie season. Hopefully he can progress under this regime.
If we take BPA, we have a better chance of making this team the best it can possibly be in the long run, rather than just taking the best at a position of need, which isn’t necessarily the BPA on the board. I don’t love the two CBs that should be available at 11, so I’d rather go BPA, whether that is edge, OL, S, LB, or whatever
Mike E,
I think there’s probably a $$$ threshold Sully will not cross as it pertains to signing Malik Willis, but I’m sure there’s mutual interest in reuniting in Miami.
I also think the ball is in Malik’s court: he can chase the $$$ to become an immediate starter in a likely foreign offensive system (probably the end of his potential career trajectory), or he can choose to take a ‘hometown discount’ as it were, to remain in good hands with Sully and Hafner.
If I were Malik? I’d come to sunny Miami, no income tax, and stay with Sully and Hafner on a discounted FA deal… also knowing that Bobby Slowick could probably bring out the best in his offensive system, being they seem to be a match.
AGAIN, I want to express there is likely a $$$ number that Sully will not cross. So if Malik wants to exceed that number, sorry, we’re not interested. JMO
Here’s my thoughts on Malik to Miami. Unless you think he’s your guy down the line, don’t spend more than a couple of million on QB because you may have a guy in Quinn, and you should have an excellent shot at a franchise QB in 2027.
That’s pretty much where I’m at as well. Though, I’d be willing to spend a little more (not much more) than you would for Malik Willis.
IF I was a gambler (which I am not), I predict Malik will chase the $$$ (once in a lifetime opportunity) and price himself out of our range. That would be… unfortunate for Malik and his long-term $$$ earning power and potential as a future QB.
Mike E.
says:
February 20, 2026 at 2:44 pm
1st RD guy?
———–
Absolutely, contingent upon how he (Byrum Brown) does in ’26, now with Auburn. He threw for over 3,000 yards and rushed for over 1,000 yards last season with USF.
YES… he’s a STUD… and a prototypical QB for the new NFL. Though he’s not as big as Cam Newton, there are shades of Cam Newton in Byrum Brown’s game.
Byrum Brown is 6’4″, 231 pounds.
He’s the duel-threat QB you’ve and we’ve been looking for.
Thanks M – I’ll keep my eyes on him
You know eyes, my guy! Yes… definitely keep your eyes on him.
I see y’all talking about Drew Allar again… hmmmmm. I’ll say this: if somebody can unlock his potential, he could become a good-very good QB in the NFL. He just doesn’t have ‘IT’. He’s not a gamer, more of a classic choke artist.
Great kid by nearly every account, and I’m rooting for his success!
I MUST maintain my grade out of principle: late 4th-5th rounder… though I CAN see somebody reaching for him in the 3rd round, which I will predict. Great size, great arm, and he can run. And he’s SO easy to root for.
I’m sorry, but I’m NOT using one of our 3rd rounders to reach for Allar. We’ve got too many other areas to address. JMO
And I quite honestly try to keep my pro-PSU bias checked at the door… I hope y’all have seen that over the many years.
And speaking of being honest and PSU, I can’t seem to NOT draft Dani-Dennis Sutton on like 75% of mock-draft simulators… so there’s that!
Yes, I feel DDS is going to be a STUD at the next level. Give him to me in round 3.
I’ve seen Allar play several times. I wouldn’t touch him. He is going to need A LOT of coaching and development. I’d prefer to draft a kid…if you’re going to draft a QB….like Shough last year.
Good write, Mike. We’re in such an unknown place as fans right now. We all know this is going to be a rebuild over the next 2 years and it will be up to a lot of young players and hopefully quality coaching.
QB’s I would take and where:
4th round – Garrett Nussmeier
5th round – Sawyer Robertson, Drew Allar
7th round – Cade Klubnik, Cole Payton, Joe Fagnano
UDFA – Haynes King, Joey Aguilar, Preston Stone, Luke Altmeyer, Behren Morton
I say take them all and let camp sort ’em out.
I liked Preston Stone in 2023. He had a good year. Started out 2024 good and tore and ACL. Came back with NW last year and had a so so season. He has a career low comp %. Other than that, he has promise.
If Haynes King and/or Joey Aguilar go undrafted I would grab one or both of them.
Thank you, Mike E.!
We are starting over…I love it.
I believe we take BPA, based on the new regime’s board, if that’s ok….lol
No doubt that’s how they should approach it. But the LOS and secondary has to be addressed. I feel like the team has 20 DBs but many of them are banged up and average talent. We need some top talent in the room.
Absolutely…
We start with the draft..
No thank you on Allar…wasted pick on flyer for a QB, imo.
It’s only a waste if you can’t develop him. He has the size and arm talent and athletic ability. You have to bring out the best in him, if he has it. I’d rather draft him than another 6’1 QB who won’t make it in the NFL. They said Josh Allen wouldn’t be a good NFL player. He was too inaccurate, very low completion percentage. I get the criticism though. If we’re going to take a QB, he’s a guy I would want to take a flier on
I think Sully is going to bring QBs from every avenue in the next two years.
How could I forget Mr. Division II???
Add Minnesota State-Morehead QB Jack Strand to the top of the UDFA list!
He’s 6’5, 240 and in 4 college seasons has thrown for 13,161 yards and 126 TD’s. He’s a gun slinger with a strong arm though I hate his throwing motion. It comes from playing baseball where he was a standout also. He does have good accuracy with that side arm motion.
Kid also has some brains with a 3.87 GPA as an Engineering Physics Major.
Being a taller QB, I guess he can get away with that side arm motion a little easier than others.
Malik Willis =\< Matt Flynn until proven otherwise
One QB trade I might think about is the 49er’s drafted Indiana QB Kurtis Rourke 6’4, 220 pounds last draft in the 7th round.
I would offer the 49er’s our 7th for Rourke. He’s their #3 QB behind Mac Jones but was their #2 when Purdy was out. Rourke has 1 year in the Shanahan system under his belt now.
People weren’t all that crazy about him but did you know he played almost the whole 2024 season with a partially torn ACL. He still carried the team to a 10-2 record, threw for over 3000 yards, 29 TD’s and only 5 INT’s. He had surgery right after the season ended to fix it and then still threw at his pro day less then 2 months later.
They can have Tua for Rourke, straight up!
I know we are all pulling for it, but realistically, is anyone trading for Tua?
Only one I can think of is the Cardinals if they trade away Murray. Even with that, I think we would have to trade a pick with Tua for a team to take on that contract.
I could see them trading Tua and a 3rd just to get him off the books for good this year and also clear 11m in cap this year.
Jeff Darlington still has deep connections with the Dolphins and Ross. Darlington said that there is “no way” Tua will be on the Dolphins roster in 2026.
from what I’ve read, we would have to take on a significant portion of his salary. That’s the only way it will get done.
Indiana just gave Curt Cignetti a pay raise. He is now the highest paid college HC at 13.2m per year through 2033. This put him just above Lane Kiffin and Kirby Smart at 13m per year and Ryan Day at 12.5m per year.
I am hearing the Cowboys and their new DC Christian Parker really want Minkah in a bad way.
Combine schedule:
All on-field workouts will air on NFL Network and stream on NFL+.
Per Ben Solak:
Edge – This is a good year to draft any sort of Edge player but it’s a bad year to get any elite Edge player.
IOL – This is a good year to get an OG but a bad year to get a big center.
CB – This is a good year to get a slot CB but a bad year to get an outside CB with size.
Safety – This is a good year to get a deep safety but a bad year to get a box safety.
ILB – This is a good year to get a difference maker but a bad year to get one if you don’t have a top 10 pick.
OT – This is a good year to get a starter for 2027 but a bad year to get one to start in 2026.
WR – This is a good year to get bodies in the bullpen but a bad year to get the next elite guy.
TE – This is a good year to get undersized TE’s but a bad year to get any significant blocking ability.
DT – This is a good year to need John Franklin-Myers (free agent DE from the Boncos) but a bad year to get an impactful DT on 3rd down.
QB – This is a good year to need Fernando Mendoza but a bad year to need anyone else.
I agree 100% on his draft assessment for: Edge – I don’t see any got to have players at Edge. IOL – We can really fix this IOL this draft, I’m praying we do. OT – Yeah, there are no Joe Alt’s this draft. He even says, like I did, Mauigoa will be on OG in the NFL. WR – Said it before, there are no elite WR’s this draft. The ones with any size may not even break a 4.5 forty. TE – I agree. The good blockers are on day 3. DT – don’t see any with a pass rush or can disrupt consistently on 3rd down other than a day 3 guy in Gracen Halton. QB 100%.
yes, there may appear to be no elite WRs in this draft, but you really never know. Look at Nacua in the 5th a few years ago.
This fits with what several of us want in this draft. Focus on building the rest of the team, snag a QB late to compete with Ewers.
CB – I think there are some CB’s with good size. Every CB doesn’t need to be 6’2, 198 pounds.
Safety – I think there are safeties almost in every round who could play deep or in the box starting with Haulcy and Thieneman.
ILB – He’s referring to Reese and Styles who he thinks both are top 10. I still think guys like Trotter can become difference makers.
One comment Solak made I found interesting and he specifically named Hafley was that CB size does not matter to Hafley.
“Those defenses that prioritize interchangeability and quickness over size and stopping power — like the Jeff Hafley unit in Green Bay and the Chris Shula group with the Rams — will find plenty of options available.”
So basically, I think RAS will really come into play with the CB’s. The smaller guys who have played boundary like Ponds and Terrell will be in play as much as any other CB.
Ponds is pound for pound as good as any CB in the draft, IMO. He is also probably the highest graded CB when it comes to tackling. Ponds graded 94% in tackling and 93% in run defense. He can hit like a box safety.
And there are some big RB’s and big WR’s in the Big Ten.
Allen and Singleton from PSU would be good additions to a roster. They are solid number 2’s, and would be good in an offense that platoons RBs.
Quinn Ewers NFL QB comparisons are all over the place and most don’t look good. The best comparison I’ve seen is Bo Nix with most of them being like Colt McCoy or Davis Mills.
Quinn has supposedly worked on some things that were considered weaknesses going into the 2025 draft like his footwork, building out his frame for durability, and his lower frame to be less of an arm thrower.
I noticed a lot of times last year he still had that tendency to stay flat footed in the pocket, especially when throwing the ball. He was able to make some nice reads and move safeties to get guys open.
Watching a lot of his old interviews, my biggest takeaway is that he’s really laid back and that can come off as a detriment sometimes as someone lacking in urgency. A lot of times, the QB is gonna need to lead with some passion and drive and I’d like to see that from him in addition to all of the QB processing and physical things he needs to work on.
We don’t get to see his drive and determination while putting in the work off field so it’s hard to judge where his ceiling is going to be, but odds are he could be Andy Dalton at best and Colt McCoy at worst. I still don’t see him being our guy the way I didn’t see Tua being our guy when he was at his best.
Odds of finding a guy are really low though, especially this year. We just need to build the team correctly and have solid coaching and maybe we can have a year like Seattle.
you’re right, the odds are against him. But I would draft a QB this year because you never know when you’re going to hit on one. Tua at his best, for a year/year and a half was very good in this offense. Unfortunately he couldn’t beat the better teams, and injuries have plagued him.
really laid back – I can see your point but could also mean he doesn’t get rattled easily and keep his composure. I would like to see more passion and drive also. Tua was no help to him as a mentor but a detriment in that regard.
I will take the Davis Mills comparison. That would put him as a quality #2 for a long time once we find “the guy”.
I don’t see the Bo Nix comparison. He’s more like a Mac Jones to me but maybe not as good, yet.
I like the way Ewers looked for us at times, and to come in at the end of the season to start with only a week’s practice with the starters is even harder. He was once an elite prospect as high school QB, I think he could potentially develop into a good starter. We’ll see, but I do want to draft Drew Allar as well
yeah, I’d like Allar or Nussmeier
Yeah he showed some flashes, but he has a lot of work to do off the field to even get to that Sam Darnold level. Unfortunately as fans we don’t have a window into that work.
There’s a Netflix documentary called Quarterback that follows Mahomes, Cousins, and Mariota as they navigate their lives and you can see how hard Mahomes works even while have elite physical skills, Kirk has nice skills but he’s limited, but you see his focus is more on being a husband and father. Then you have Mariota who barely has a work ethic and low self esteem.
You get to see the different levels of what it takes to be successful in the NFL. I’d love to have that insight with Ewers.
Brian, I am assuming you are referring to Kaytron Allen. I would actually like him over Singleton. I would take Kaytron especially if he makes it to #111. He needs to get better as a receiver and maybe pass pro. I would then unload Gordon for a late round pick.
I would take Singleton over Allen. He’s much more explosive, can play on third downs, and is a good receiver out of the backfield. They are projected to go around the same spot, but IMO Singleton is the superior back .
Singleton has that potential. I don’t think he was given that opportunity at PSU. I feel like we already have singleton though. Like if you were to smash Achane and Wright together you get Singleton.
They used Singleton and Allen almost equally, although Allen seemed to get more touches down the stretch this season . Their numbers over the course of their careers are pretty similar.
yes, there may appear to be no elite WRs in this draft, but you really never know. Look at Nacua in the 5th a few years ago.
——-
Exactly, I think there are some guys drafted day 3 who are going to be better than some of these guys drafted in the 1st and 2nd round. It’s that kind of draft for the WR position. Guys on day 3 like Deon Burks, Reggie Virgil, both WR’s from Cincinnati in Cyrus Allen and Jeff Caldwell, Josh Cameron, Eric McAllister and De’Zauhn Stribling. They all have a chance to be really good.
Man, I know I have posted him before, if Eric McAllister is there at #149, I would have to take him. He’s 6’3, 205, projected 4.52 forty and doesn’t go down easy. He even grades well blocking.
His highest ranking is #147 and that is by PFF.
Half of me wants the team to finish the season and up with a top 3 pick in the 2027 draft. The other part of me wants the team to do the best they can this year as I want things to look up and not still look bleak.
With next years QB draft class, I would not take a QB with that 1st pick. Say we have picks #3 and #35 to start out. I would take WR Jeremiah Smith at #3 and then QB Brendon Sorsby at #35. It will be fairly easy to get a good QB prospect in the 2nd round.
Right now we are looking at Arch Manning, Dante Moore, Julian Sayin, Jaden Maiava, LaNorris Sellers, Dillon Raiola, Brendon Sorsby, Darian Mensah, Sam Leavitt, Byrum Brown, Trinidad Chambliss, DJ Lagway, Nico Iamaleava, John Mateer, Josh Hoover and Conner Weigman.
That’s 16 QB’s next draft with good to very good potential. Some will be day 3 guys but there are a few more day 3 guys I didn’t mention.
2027 could be one of the deepest QB draft classes in NFL history.
You know me; I dislike drafting wide receivers in the first round, but if Jeremiah Smith is available, I would choose him. He is one of the exceptions to my rule, lol.
I think we’ll stick with the Green Bay model of grabbing WR’s in the 2nd or lower for most of the time.
i like them to win every game i watch. 🙂
BBM,
I don’t think we can get cute with the QB pick next year; we have to pick the best available .
Maybe not
Don’t get me wrong, I get what you’re thinking and like the gamble, but we can’t fuck around with whatever pick we have, unless someone we want is gone and we can get our next choice in the second , or trade up a bit from the second .
When’s the last time we had a consistently competent o-line? Wannstedt?
wow. Unfortunately, I think you’re right. We have had a good line for a year here or a year there, but not consistent.
push that shit out to Albany- I want a snow day Monday!
I’ve heard reports (allegedly from insiders) that Sully would be more than willing to trade down from R1P11, in order to gain more draft picks.
Not sure how I feel about that in such a mediocre draft-class. To me, it would depend on who is still on the board @ R1P11: I wouldn’t pass on a blue-chip talent.
However, IF we feel all the blue-chip talent is gone @ R1P11, by all means, trade down.
And IF we can get more ammo for the ’27 Draft… DO IT!!!
^^^
I would take the trade down.
Keep in mind we could trade down and gain more picks in next years draft- it doesn’t have to be this year.
Vikings WR Ronald Moore dead from self inflicted gunshot wound. Awful.
Damn… 😞
Rondale- autocorrect…
I knew who ya meant, Bro… read it earlier. Sad story.
Very sad
So the Combine begins next week. There will be several things I’m looking at. Among them on a short-list?
— Jermod McCoy’s progress
— Joshua Josephs’ speed and agility
— Dallen Bentley’s drills and speed
— Hezekiah Masses and Jadon Canady’s drills and speed
— Caden Curry’s overall scores
— Matt Gulbin’s overall scores
— Olaivavega Iones’s drills and speed
Brian, Iones would be an OUTSTANDING trade-down candidate!
Hope he shows some agile stuff at the Combine.
Agreed. I don’t think he’s going to slip too far though. It seems that some team has taken a G earlier than they were projected to go in for he first in the last 2-3 drafts.
The way Sully and Haf talk, they want tough LOS and go from there.
Just bonded an 83yo man for Possession of Cocaine and Drug Equipment Possession.
You go Grandpa!
Maybe Great Grandpa, lol
Crazy night. Just got a call from a Russian dude from New Jersey trying to get 2 Russian dudes out of jail here on the panhandle while their address says they are from Hollywood, FL. I told him they can’t get out for 2 reasons, 1 they both have ICE holds and 2 they both have a NO BOND for Weapons Trafficking. In 14 years doing this, I don’t remember ever seeing someone charged with Weapons Trafficking.
Russian Maffia maybe???
Stay safe BBM, you don’t want to be on the bad side Teddy KGB
BBMike – I grew up in Brighton Beach, the headquarters for the Russian Mafia. They’re all over the place. Pretty sure the restaurant in my shopping center is a front for the Russian Mafia and probably doing money laundering there. The place never seems to be busy, but they do big parties there, all Russian.
Dang, I am sure these guys are connected.
https://phinphanatic.com/miami-dolphins-beat-writer-floats-unexpected-tua-tagovailoa-solution-01kj0dwajsdr
I like this idea a lot. I would prefer not to have him around and this way we could still trade him if a team loses their starting QB and feels like Tua could help them
Someone else floated that idea out a few weeks ago.
Not quite California, but in my area of NJ, we’re supposed to get 20″-28″ of snow beginning tonight through tomorrow
Hey, do you folks in NJ/NY need some of those violent immigrants removed? I know a guy….
OT For gold 🇨🇦
Well that was fast and shitty
The one time Hellebuyk beats Binnington
do you believe in miracles
I believe in Miracle Whip 🤪😎
your goalie played out of his mind
Ours played better- they outshot us 2-1 in regulation time
That is MY Goalie 😎
his Winnipeg goalie Hellebuyk
got it- I didn’t get the reference. Thanks for the goalie Toba!
USA USA USA
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
🥇🥇🥇
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
🥇🥇🥇
Congrats US. I only woke up 1/2 way through 3rd period
Can’t wait for our Dolphins to win something of importance. Might have to wait a couple of years . . .
Intense game. I wish guys didn’t get ejected for fighting. It would’ve been even more intense. I don’t know how those guys do some of the things they do on skates. Unreal.
Bri – Someone here mentioned the idea of putting Tua on IR or some NFL columnist?
Another columnist. Can they do that if he’s not hurt though?
Either Texans or Browns did it with DeShaun Watson
In addition, he’s not physically right, anyone saw that who watched last season
Damn it, I slept through the game, lol. I looked it up and I swore it said 12:10 PDT.
Oh well, congrats to US hockey on double gold! Slayed the dragon.
He is frageel enough to be put on IR after sneezing too hard
LOL! True!
I suppose putting him on IR would give him a chance to regain some of what he used to be, but don’t think someone would trade for him before the trade deadline, because he’s not going to be in football shape, he’ll just be getting fat sitting an his ass, he made his money
Biggest con job ever, he always just wanted to get that 2nd contract, selling his house should’ve been enough of a clue for Grier
Steve – could he be less in shape than Philip Rivers? I mean c’mon
Having three 3rd round picks allows us to maybe reach for a QB prospect who has some things to work on but the measurables are there.
Maybe Nussmeier. I still think his HC Kelly screwed him up. He was better early on in his college career. Has some game. Does make a bonehead throw every now and then.
Dante Trader Jr. is going to be part of our secondary. I liked him when we drafted him and he developed as the season went on. He’s a versatile DB.
If Ty Simpson somehow falls to #75 I am taking him. Don’t see that happening. I still see someone taking a flier on him in the 1st. A team with 2 picks in the 1st round like Jets or Rams with their second 1st at #29. Or then maybe Jets at #33.
I remember someone mentioning putting Tua on IR. I think Kyle Crabbs even referenced it in one of his video’s. Do it, create a roster spot and trade him if the opportunity comes. If no trade, 2027 it becomes very easy to cut ties.
If we get a trade before the deadline, we don’t have to eat the extra 3m salary guarantee for 2027 and will clear 21.6m in 2027 cap. No trade, we eat the 3m salary guarantee and still clear 18.6m in 2027 cap.
If a starter goes down for a contender before the trade deadline, I could see Tua getting traded this year. That team would only be on the hook for the remainder of his base salary. They can cut him in 2027 and only be out his 3m salary guarantee.
If Tua does not get traded before the deadline, I don’t see him getting traded in the offseason. He will cost the team trading for him 37m in 2027. With the huge QB draft class in 2027, I just don’t see a team going that route.
Everyone’s cap gets tight going into the season. Here’s a scenario.
If a contender’s QB goes down and trades for Tua with 10 games to go in the 2026 season. That team would be on the hook for about 23m left of Tua’s base salary. In turn, the Dolphins would clear about 19.8m in 2026 cap.
The team trading for Tua may not quite have that 23m in cap space left. Since the Dolphins are clearing 19.8m by about the middle of the season they are probably not going to need it for the 2026 season. Instead of carrying it over, the Dolphins could agree to pay more of that 23m for a much higher 2027 draft pick.
The team trading for Tua can then cut him in 2027 and only be out the 3m salary guarantee Tua has for 2027.
Say the Dolphins agree to pay 15m of that 23m for a much higher 2027 draft pick. The team trading for him would only be on the hook for 8m in 2026 and 3m in 2027. The Dolphins would still have 4.8m in cap cleared to be carried over to 2027.
MF13 Read the Comments and see if you see what I see lol
Dri Archer!!! 😀
Yeah, man… sad what happened off the field with him, which is why he quit football after such a short stint. 😦
Dri Archer was De’Von Achane before De’Von Achane was De’Von Achane. ..
Say a prayer for the world tonight, if you have it in you. In just a couple of days, there will be no going back.
Yes, I’m talking about the war-phase of WW3 beginning. 😦
Was the Canadians losing both gold hockey medals to the Americans the final step in the breaking of the 7th seal?
Mexico just started a war with the cartels today. One cartel leader El Mencho was killed today in a raid. It’s getting ugly. The cartel armies are blockading cities and airports as we speak.
Cartels are striking near tourist areas as well.
Can you trade players on IR? I don’t understand these machinations.
He can be one of the ones you can designate to bring back. You are allowed 8, then 2 more if your team makes the playoffs. That said, Tua would have to be on the initial 53 man roster then put on IR. If he is on IR prior to the start of the season (not league year), their season is done.
Ty Simpson will be throwing at the combine to help/solidify his draft stock. Mendoza will not be throwing at the combine but will at his pro day.
My daughter and son in law left this morning for Puerta Vallarta.. plane was diverted to Cabo , refuelled and flew them straight home without them getting off the plane ..
We are supposed to leave for Mazatlan in 3 weeks … 😵💫
@flasportsbuzz
Three tidbits about clients from Drew Rosenhaus to Josh Moser on his weekly WSVN-Fox segment just now: 1). Minkah has not requested a trade. Drew did not want to discuss whether trade talks are ongoing (as Jordan Schultz reported). 2). Dolphins indicated in releasing Tyreek that they want to get younger. There was no discussion of him returning at lower salary. 3). Dolphins have not approached Sieler about a restructure/pay cut etc.
CavalierKong
says:
February 22, 2026 at 10:16 pm
Was the Canadians losing both gold hockey medals to the Americans the final step in the breaking of the 7th seal?
———-
😆
Nah, it doesn’t work that way! 😉
I’m talking about a full-on war in Mexico with the cartels (it WILL spill over our border, being we’re implicated), and the imminent war with Iran.
And for whatever it may be worth, last I’ve heard regarding the Nancy Guthrie abduction? It was very likely cartel-related. Don’t know if it’s true or manufactured (who the heck knows?), but there’s that.
Hearing that also.
Got in an argument with another Dolphins fan who says we should trade down in the 1st for DE/Edge Akheem Mesidor at about pick #20. I could clearly see he was a homer. It was like trying to change the POV of a Karen.
No way I am going to draft a player that early who will be 25yo when drafted. He will be almost 30 when he completes his rookie contract.
MikeE, I that weather dude Ryan Hall is live now showing pictures people are sending into him. You guys are getting buried.
You ain’t kidding! I think we have 21″ now and it’s still snowing and supposed to get another 5-6″ in the next 24 hours
do you have a snowblower?
I heard you guys are going to get a clipper system Wed-Thur and get a few more inches on top of it. lol
they are talking another 4-5” here Friday. We only got about 4” today, but had a foot on the ground
I think I heard that Hovland MN got about 35 inches in 18-20 hours last week. It’s like Christmas for a lot of Minnesotans. Sleds come out. Skis come out. Everybody goes outside.
And then we had a week with temps in the 50s.
I would like to report there is no snow in either Las Vegas or St Petersburg, FL.
M13, just a rumor, but rumor from the Jets camp is they are currently favoring Edge David Bailey over Arvell Reese and Ruben Bain as their pick at #2 and may be leaning WR with their second 1sts round pick.
If true, that would be… horrific.
Randy, Gennings Dunker is not just strong, he’s country strong. He’s known for winning hay bale throwing competitions. lol
I remember stacking hay bales on the trailer and up in the barn like it was yesterday.
The USS Gerald R. Ford is nearly in place. The next 24-48 hours is going to be very tense in the Middle East and the world.
If you haven’t filled up your vehicle with gas, today would be a good day to do just that.
The firepower Tehran is facing is like nothing they’ve ever seen before. But they’re fucked in the head anyway.
This is all true. But the greater question is if Russia and/or China decide to get involved and at what capacity.
And if the Ayatollah is on his way out, he will likely activate any and all sleeper cells here in America.
Another question? If Iran and its allies can manage to shut down the Straight of Hormuz, it will cripple global oil exports. That will severely hurt global markets which are already hurting very badly.
This is WW3-type stuff we’re looking at here.
BBM,
Yeah, I’m not sure I should even admit it but I took part in a few hay bale tosses. Lol
You always wanna be on the flatbed and not in the barn.
I was only 152 pounds in HS. I could lift and stack but I couldn’t throw them much at all. lol
Talk from combine already was that CB Jermod McCoy was ready to come back and play toward the very end of last season. Things fell apart for the Vols so he decided to shut it down and focus on the draft. It was said, if they had made the college playoffs he would have played.
I’d heard the exact same thing.
I’d take a trust, but verify approach: we’ll see how McCoy performs at the Combine.
Definitely!
Kyle Crabbs mentioned hearing about it also. He is at the combine rubbing elbows with other team media types.
M, they are also evacuating all nonessential personnel from the embassy in Lebanon.
Damn, I hadn’t heard that. Thank you for the update, Brother.
The world is on fire right now.
Or perhaps, the world is a powder keg right now, about to be lit on fire would be the better statement.
BBM,
I find it very interesting how VERY differently the various mock draft simulators view prospects. I usually go through PFF, but I’ve done several others recently: it’s CRAZY!
And I’m talking outside of the ‘general’ top-50 prospects.
I know. I am sure they each have a couple former armchair GM’s like us making their rankings. lol
Crabbs also mentioned that Safety McNeil-Warren could be very high on the Dolphins list as much as they could take him in the 1st round after trading down. Says he has heard some other teams have McNeil-Warren that high also.
‘MAN-CRUSH’ here, on EMW!!!
I’m almost certain EMW will be gone by pick 43. If we end up trading down to the bottom of the 1st to accumulate more draft picks, I view EMW as a potential target, to be sure.
Makes you wonder with them shopping Minkah.
people have been comparing him to Nick Emmanwori
Hey, not sure if we will get less video’s from Ryder or not. Probably stay the same, but he got hired as a scout for an FCS college team. Not sure which one though.
NICE!!! CONGRATS to RYDER!!!
Now I remember, he was hired as a scout for Tennessee Tech as he lives in TN. TN Tech went 11-1 last year but lost in the 1st round of the playoffs to North Dakota.
he’s gonna start every team meeting saying “we’re back people”
😆
LMAO
Jeff Darlington said the ugly truth about Dolphins’ faith in Tua Tagovailoa
If this is really how they feel, they need to move on and never look back.
By
Brian Miller|Feb 21, 2026
Over the last week, Kim Bokamper has turned to criticising the quarterback, joining season-long Tagovailoa critic Joe Rose on WQAM. This week, they had former Dolphins beat writer and ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington on the show. Needless to say, Darlington didn’t deliver any non-critical news either.
Darlington doesn’t see a pathway for Tagovailoa to return to the Dolphins because, from what he sees and believes, the quarterback may have already lost the trust of the front office long before Jon-Eric Sullivan and Jeff Hafley arrived.
It would make a lot of sense that internally, the Dolphins are second-guessing the mistake of extending him. There was never a reason to. For Tagovailoa, there were too many question marks, and Miami could have had him play on the 5th-year option and then used the Franchise Tag to keep him for a sixth season. At that point, they could evaluate him without dealing the franchise a potentially record-setting cap hit.
If McDaniel was dumbing down his offense, so to speak, to protect his quarterback, then he is as much at fault as anyone. It should have been at that point that a change was made. It also brings doubt into the conversation between McDaniel and the team’s executives. Was McDaniel forthcoming with his personal assessment of the QB, or was he assuring ownership that he could fix him?
The avenues for Tagovailoa’s departure haven’t changed. Release prior to June 1st, after June 1st, via trade, or after the 2026 season is over. No matter how it plays out, Tagovailoa is gone.
The Darlington news, however, is new. If the front office, excluding Sullivan, has lost faith in the QB and even slightly believes that he is “skittish,” there is no way he can return to the team next year.
I’d go further than skittish and just call it what it is, fucking selfish! Me over the team, Me over winning, My safety and well being over anything. That’s fine if you feel that way, just fucking retire!
I like Jeff. He’s always politically correct…lol.
You can trust what he says also. He’s usually fact based and not opinionated, not one of them talking heads.
I’m not sure if anyone posted this on the last page;
Dolphins Hire Former Titans GM to Oversee Personnel
The Miami Dolphins have hired former Titans general manager Jon Robinson as their new senior personnel executive. His role will be to serve as Jon-Eric Sullivan’s right-hand man and assist with the draft process.
Jon Robinson was a long-time scout for the rival Patriots. After 7 years as a scout, he was promoted to the director of college scouting for the team. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers found his work impressive and later hired Robinson as their director of player personnel, a rather high-ranking position in the front office. This dug the path for him to become the Tennessee Titans general manager from 2016 through 2022.
Robinson was very successful early on as a general manager. He helped break their playoff drought in 2017. His potential career-defining move came in 2019 when he traded for quarterback Ryan Tannehill, the former Dolphins starter. The Titans found a hunk of success under him, with multiple playoff appearances and successful draft picks.
I know there’s anger and resentment around the Tua situation, but someone should have told him to retire before he even came close to signing that extension. No one had his or the team’s interests at heart. This is where leadership failed to do their job at every level. That’s not even counting all of the on the field stuff with how they handled his hip injury after the draft, his first bad hit from Matt Milano or never getting an o-line.
Hopefully JES and Haf have some slightly better leadership and decision making skills than what we’ve had for the last 40 years.
Do we know for a fact that they didn’t tell him to retire? I’d bet doctors told him retire but he probably just shrugged it off. Things he’s said indicate that many people told him to retire but he wants to do thing he loves, or so he says.
You guys are hilarious! NOT ONE OF YOU would have given up GENERATIONAL WEALTH before getting that contract.
I don’t know if they did, but they weren’t effective enough if they did try.
Chargers center Bradley Bozeman announced he is retiring at age 31. Damn, Chargers now need at least 2 starting IOL. Hope they address it in free agency and not the draft.
Many are projecting the Chargers to take OG Ioane from Penn State at pick #22. That would suck.
Rock,
Tua signed a 30 million dollar contract as a rookie, if that’s not enough for generational wealth, I don’t know what is. Personally I would have retired, I’ve never based myself on how much money I could make and I’ve never had a famine mindset.
As a father, I would never put my life or health in danger for money over being there for my kids. He stayed to prove something to his naysayers. He also didn’t take a team friendly contract, restricting the talent they could bring in or keep.
And all of that was what was best for HIM and his family.
His career is most likely done so look where that got him. Now he has enough money to replace of all his broken parts with cybernetics.
Phillip Rivers’ son is going to follow in his dad’s footsteps and is committing early to NC State over offers from Auburn, Georgia, Miami, South Carolina and BC with his senior year still to be played.
Gunner Rivers is also a QB and was All-State in Alabama at St. Michael’s HS. He’s 6’4, 205 and threw for over 3,100 yards, 46 TD’s and 5 INT’s last year as a junior. In 3 season’s starting in HS he has thrown for 10,200 yards, 111 TD’s to only 15 INT’s. Phillip is also his sons coach at that HS.
I watched his sophomore highlights and the kid has a cannon and good touch. One of his throws on a bomb went at least 60+ air yards and he dropped it in a bucket as a SOPHOMORE in HS. He can make all the throws an NFL QB can make.
He is going to be fun to watch as we close out this decade.
No young man is going to retire when he thinks he can be a great NFL QB. That’s some of the dumbest drek I’ve read honestly. He was a great QB for Bama and he wanted to prove himself like all young QBs. There was obviously lots of risk assessments done and Tua was a part of every single one of them. It would have been illegal for doctors to not include him in medical prognoses. Tua may be physically broken at this point, but he knew more about where his body was than team management. If anyone is at fault, and probably no one is, it’s Tua. He may be more mentally broken than physically. We have zero clue. We are not part of those discussions and that data.
Thinking someone should prioritize their health over proving the haters wrong is the dumbest drek you’ve read? lol I’m glad I’m not influenced by what people say about me online, always going with the mainstream opinion instead of forming my own.
If your opinion was based on real knowledge of anything that would be a start. Tua was in those conversations about his health and knows his body better than anyone including you. Your opinion is based 100% on complete ignorance. There’s not one ounce of data you used to base your opinion. Being a moron who ‘goes their own way’ instead of informing yourself is a terrible way to win conversations. Maybe educate yourself?
Tony Pauline tweeting out some really deep and meaningful information (NOT)
“The future of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa could be publicly announced before the end of the (NFL) Combine.”
Or not……
Here’s some equally engaging news…Rockphin COULD win the lottery this weekend.
Or not……
Or Rockphin could have a foursome with the 3 sister’s of the rock band The Warning.
Or NOT!!!! lol
LOL
I think I have a better shot at the lottery. Unless you’re talking about golf…. No, never mind still a better chance to win the lottery
Of course I was referring to golf 😉
Dolphins Hire Former Titans GM to Oversee Personnel
———
Didn’t see that but just saw Crabbs just put a video out about it. Some notes about Jon Robinson is that apparently his demise in TN was drafting for need over BPA the last couple years and those need picks didn’t work out. He traded AJ Brown and used that pick to draft WR Treylon Burks, bust. Plus Robinson and Vrabel had a bad falling out.
Early on Robinson drafted BPA. In Robinson’s first year drafting, 3 of his first 5 picks went All-Pro and 4 of those first 5 picks have played 10 seasons in the NFL and still playing.
From JES press conference at the combine this morning:
“We’re evaluating the entire roster,” new General Manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said at the Scouting Combine on Tuesday. “As it pertains to Tua, we’ve had conversations with Tua and his representation. Everything is on the table, including the potential of a trade. We don’t know which way that’s going to go. There’s a lot of different factors at play, a lot of conversations being had.”
Either way, it appears Quinn Ewers will start for the Dolphins in 2026, with Sullivan allowing that the Dolphins will draft at least one quarterback.
“Evaluating the roster, Quinn did a nice job toward the end of the year. Excited about what’s ahead for him,” Sullivan said. “Tua, I thought, even though things didn’t go well at the end of the year, did some good things along the way. It’s my job to infuse competition into that room as well as every other room.”
Sullivan said the team has discussed (Malik) Willis, but he’s merely one of many quarterbacks that could be in the plans. “Have we had conversations about Malik? I think anybody who’s potentially in the quarterback market would be lying if they said they were not,” Sullivan said.
Re: Minkah – “I’d kind of throw him in the same bucket as Tua,” Sullivan said. “Everything is on the table with Minkah.”
He said of also releasing guard James Daniels: “Availability’s the best ability. … He probably needed a fresh start and so did we.”
“Jaylen is a very good football player. My vision is for Jaylen to be part of this,” Sullivan said. “We are not actively trying to move Jaylen Waddle.”
Sullivan said he will approach the draft with a “best-player-available” approach.
“We’re not looking for quick fixes here,” he said. “We’re looking for something that will last a long time.
“The simplest way to say it is I want good football players.”
It’s the rare top level athlete that retires with years of play left ahead of them. We’ve seen it a couple times before- the LB from San Fran and the RB from Minny come to mind.
The one thing both those guys had in common was a noticeably high level of intelligence. Tua has never struck me as the brightest bulb.
No one really knows what was said to Tua either. The doctors could have easily said that with the proper protection he could play another 10 years. It’s just 100% ignorance to ‘pick a side’ on Tua retiring early without something to go by. Tua retiring before his 6th year would have been far earlier than ANY top player in history.
I don’t blame players for playing as long as they can. Hell, I probably stayed in a job 5 years longer than I should have for selfish, personal reasons. It’s a team’s job to get and keep the right players. It’s on them. We’ll see if this new regime is any better when the pressure is on.
and I don’t mean I should’ve quit five years earlier because I couldn’t do the job… I meant it would’ve been better for my personal health if I had quit earlier.
The only question I have regarding Tua is why did he ever stop training with Nick Hicks? And to my knowledge, he didn’t pick up another trainer afterwards, either.
All I know is that Tua is now physically damaged: it’s his hip… not to mention the multiple concussions incurred over a relatively short timeframe.
Can he recover from his hip? Possibly, by being a backup QB in ’26 and allowing that hip to heal. However, he’ll still be one more concussion away from likely having to retire.
My prediction is that nobody is going to trade for him: we’ll have to cut him.
Without naming a name, I think Sully has ruled out drafting Akheem Mesidor.
Due to his age.
I had an argument about that with a Dolphins fan a couple days ago who thinks we should trade down to about #20 and draft Mesidor. I think not.
I would take him in the 4th and hope I can get a a good 4 years out of him. At the start of the 2025 season, he was projected as a 6th rounder. Now he should be taken in the 1st. Not me.
Agreed.
Hafner talked about having players (specifically on Defense) who can play both 3-4 and his 4-3 base. As that pertains to EDGE, I think he’s looking for players at or above 250 pounds. JMO
Theory: when we play in the Wide-9, we’re not looking to go outside and around a Tackle, we’re looking to go inside and destroy from there. Better have solid tacklers/penetrators at the CB position, IF that’s the case, regarding the Wide-9.
I should also say, it seems Hafner can make the most out of anything. His schemes are very versatile, so perhaps he needn’t even utilize the Wide-9, contingent upon who we bring in.
BBM,
I hear you on the age of Mesidor. He is not going to have as many years as others. I do think there are a couple mitigating factors. If you feel the guy is a high end guy, getting 5 years of low pay/high reward for a guy isn’t all that bad. Also, I do believe pass rushers really don’t come into their own until they’ve been in the league a few years.
I think age matters, but I think it really starts to matter for edge rushers a few years past 30. I’m not suggesting they draft Mesidor, but I wouldn’t worry too much about his age. His age also might be a plus in the leadership department. The wear and tear could also be a concern with age.
That’s why GM make millions…tough decisions.
Sully specifically laid it out, that he doesn’t want to draft a player who goes on their 2nd contract around 30 years old. I’d SWEAR, he was talking specifically about Mesidor.
But who knows? It’s SMOKE SEASON!
M13,
I have never understood pretending that defensive players aren’t expected to play lots of different formations. It’s like saying a team is a zone vs man running team when every team runs both.
I want players who can do whatever I need them to do. I assume that’s why they target high RAS guys. Those are usually guys who are athletic enough to do whatever is needed. Really good athletes who are smart, can play in any system you run….simple size can be an issue, but it can also be mitigated with other factors.
It’s the Goldilocks factor. You want a guy who’s quick enough to play a Wide 9, for instance, but if that guy has the power to move down a couple spots along the line….he’s the best of all. It’s great when you can find unicorns. Lol
M13,
I’m fine with whatever Sully said. As I said, I get the age thing. The NFL is getting younger and younger.
Agreed!
Randy,
It’s all about the TAPE. Combine scores and RAS scores should cause us to go back to the TAPE. Perhaps a player was played out of position? Perhaps a player wasn’t utilized properly in the college system he was in? THESE are the things the Combine scores and RAS scores reveal.
I know ya know: just because a player KILLS the Combine or RAS scores, that doesn’t necessarily translate to play on the field.
Personally? I use RAS scores as a tie-breaker between two players who are graded equally.
And to be perfectly honest with ya, Randy? I’ve been burned in the past by favoriting prospects with high RAS scores vs their tape. No more.
Man, some players fell in this one. It’s a lot of picks but I traded Jonah for a 2026 4th and a 2027 6th. Then I traded Minkah and a 2027 6th for a 2026 4th, 6th and 2027 5th. Then I traded down twice. lol
BBM’s Post Taking Out El Mencho Mock Draft
32. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren S Toledo
43. D’Angelo Ponds CB Indiana
51. Blake Miller OT Clemson
64. Emmanuel Pregnon OG Oregon
75. Keylan Rutledge OG Georgia Tech
87. Gracen Halton DT Oklahoma
90. Devin Moore CB Florida
110. Dani Dennis-Sutton EDGE Penn State
111. Garrett Nussmeier QB LSU
128. Joe Royer TE Cincinnati
149. Eric McAllister WR TCU
187. Marlin Klein TE Michigan
199. Mason Reiger EDGE Wisconsin
228. Jimmy Rolder ILB Michigan
2027 SEA 3rd
2027 CIN 5th
“We will make a conscientious effort to maybe be a little bigger in that room…Waddle and Malik (Washington) will help (the room). To say we’re going to have a room of 5’9” guys would be a lie.” — Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan