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!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
farting oinking first
🐖💨💨💨
No trades (man that was hard, I could have doubled my picks in each round next year!)
11. Akheem Mesidor EDGE Miami (FL)
30. Olaivavega Ioane OG Penn State
43. Keith Abney II CB Arizona State
75. Malachi Fields WR Notre Dame
87. CJ Daniels WR Miami (FL)
90. Keylan Rutledge OG Georgia Tech
94. Zakee Wheatley S Penn State
130. Marlin Klein TE Michigan
151. Jalon Kilgore S South Carolina
227. Eric Gentry LB USC
238. James Thompson Jr .DT Illinois
There are tons of options this year. I am actually excited to watch the draft this year without Grief picking. (and actually having multiple picks in early rounds!)
I don’t expect us to pick at 30. I think Sully will trade out with the #30 pick. (just because I will be up late watching on Thursday night. LOL)
there is no real benefit to trading Achane
the moves we have made have been primarily based on salary cap issues
Really we are taking our hits now to have room later
but Achane doesn’t cost us much now. If we end up extending him it’s going to take up future cap room when we have room. So for me, Achane, Brooks and Brewer are all ripe for extensions that have them pod well on 2027
this regime doesn’t seem like they are ever going to dip heavily into the free agent market
we are going to have a lot of cap room in 27 and 28
We don’t have to worry about guys drafted in 2026 for 3-5 years
where are we going to spend our cap space in 27 and 28?
I think we spend it on keeping players who have performed well for us
also – we don’t need many more draft picks
11 is a lot
it’s one thing if some one wants to give up a first rounder – but RBs don’t generally get that
I don’t want to give up Achane for a 3rd round pick – we probably won’t be able to replace him with that value
it’s ideal to me to run the offense through Achane and Willis while we go through this transition
I also reject the idea of intentionally trying to lose games – our stripped down roster is the result of cap hell – the presumption that we are trying to get a top draft pick is a bridge too far for me
Piggy – He doesn’t cost us much now but you know he wants a new contract, and he may sit out until he gets one. I think paying him what James Cook just got or more would be a mistake.
We have money to spend in 2027. Why not be be the opposite of Grier and spend it on keeping players instead of bringing in new ones
It’s a great situation honestly
Not sure what the benefit is of trading him
We can “overpay” a RB in 2027 and 2028 if we need to – I would rather do that than being on UFA who are always overpaid
Build through the draft – keep your veterans if you can afford to
Tim’s post from Yesterday:
M13, we’re not going to build a winner in one offseason. Especially with our cap situation. Malik Willis is the key to us being relevant or totally rebuilding. What if he is what everyone saw in a handful of games last year. Maybe that’s who he is now. Build the trenches with him. I’m tired of talking about it. Ewers has shown potential too. Build around them. I’m tired of yeah we can always find that in the mid rounds.
——————————————————————————-
Absolutely!!! I think we all need to keep this in mind. Even with 11 picks, this is just one draft, and not everything can be addressed accordingly. I think you do need at least 1 WR, but the focus should be on OL and defense.
Rich – I agree on building a winner. Just not sure handing out another big contract for a small RB is a good start to building a team that can win any climate against any defense.
Achane is going to get paid and it will be this year!!! The question is will he remain with the Dolphins or be traded.
Yep! Do you think paying Achane a 4 year contract for around $50M is the right move?
Probably not with the team being at least 2 or 3 years from competing for a championship, but I am a big fan of Achane.
I also think Brooks is going to get traded either before or during the draft.
I agree, I think Dallas really wants him
Rich – If we could give Achane a similar deal to what the Eagles gave Saquon, where it’s all backloaded and his first 2 seasons are very team friendly, and we have an out after the first 2 seasons with little dead cap penalties, then I’d do that. Doubt that’s what he’s looking for though, or more likely what his agent is looking for
Honestly, I would like him to stay first, but I would be OK if they traded him. Like you said, backload the contract if you can.
Yes…trade him if you can for nothing less than a 2nd. You don’t build a football team by paying a small RB big money…and that’s what will happen….or at least what Achane will try to make happen. His value will probably never be higher than it is right now. Strike while the iron is hot. How good is he going to be after another 2-3 years of punishment when we actually want him to ball?
I originally said back in January that Paul and Achane would be the only two I wouldn’t trade, but like you said, RBs usually don’t have a long shelf life, so if they can get good value for him, I would be ok with trading him.
OK, so we have only a handful of good vets on the team right now. The question is who will stay and who will go…
Paul—he’s a keeper at a very important position.
Brewer—he’s a keeper right now.
Achane—???? He wants to get paid!!!!
Brooks—I think he’ll be traded before or during the draft.
Sieler—I think he’ll stay for 1 more year. I’m not sure how much value he’ll have next year in a trade.
Dotson—I think this could go either way, but he’s solid, and I wouldn’t mind keeping him until we can upgrade the position.
LOL, I was trying to figure out who Dotson was . . . Dodson. I think you have to keep him if we trade Brooks, right?
Yes, typo. LOL
How many years has he been on the team, and I still do that.