Finsmob Unleashed

Despite the desperate situation both GM Chris Grier and Head Coach Mike McDaniel are in, they need to proceed as responsible stewards for the Franchise, not 2 guys trying to save their jobs. We need difference makers on this roster, and a lot of them. What that means to me, is no trading away picks from the future, and certainly no trading future assets to get players in Free Agency. There are so many roster spots available due to the multitude of 1 year contracts given out last season after signing QB Tua Tagovailoa to a 4 YR/$212.4M contract. When Rock says Tua wasn’t Grier’s biggest mistake, he may be right, he may be wrong, but either way, he was his most expensive mistake. Enough about Tua, this team has to find players that make an impact for this team, and not in a year or two, but now.

I think it would be in the team’s best interest to stay put at #13 and get the best player we can. I have no problem trading back, but if there’s a highly rated player there, get him, don’t get cute and try to get more picks and lose that player. You might just end up with 2 guys who don’t amount to anything when you could have had a safety that changes the secondary, or a TE that transforms the offense, or a lockdown CB, something we haven’t seen here in a while. My point is, we can’t just build the team around Tua hoping we can push him over the hump and make the playoffs and actually compete in a playoff game. I think we could potentially be behind not only the Bills next season, but the Patriots and the Jets as well. The Jets have a new GM, new HC, and 8 picks, #7, #42, #92, #109, #146, #156, #188 and #210. The Patriots have 2nd year QB who might take a step forward in Drake Maye, they have loads of cap space available, tops in the NFL at $125.8M and 9 picks starting at #4 in RD1. Our Dolphins have no cap space, the same guys making the picks that have failed for too long, and GM Chris Grier went all in and failed miserably last season, and let go 2 of our better players to pay an unreliable, oft injured QB who doesn’t play well in either the cold or big games.

Realistically, this season shouldn’t have high expectations unless somehow we have an excellent draft and somehow manage to fill the roster, which at this time looks like close to 30 roster spots, better than possibly expected. In some ways I think that could be a good thing for the team, because with high expectations, we didn’t live up to them at all. My feeling is this team is on a 1 year trial, because unless somehow we overachieve and win a playoff game, or even if I lower the bar a tad and we even actually compete in a playoff game, I think Chris Grier, Mike McDaniel and QB Tua Tagovailoa will all be gone. No new GM is going to want to retain Mike McDaniel as HC, and what GM is going to want to pay a mid QB who can’t play anywhere near up to his huge contract? On the other hand, if Grier gets desperate and uses future assets to try and fix this busted jalopy this season, he should be fired on the spot for that crime.

Every Dolphins fan is worried about the offensive guard spots, believing if Tua has protection, and a bona fide running game as well, this team could compete with the best. While that’s actually possible, what are the odds that GM Chris Grier can fulfill that tall task, and properly identify the right players both in the draft and free agency, with so little money to do so? Well, let’s just say my level of confidence in that duo is truly at an all time low right now. If you have a high level of confidence in Grier/McDaniel, God bless you for you sir, are one supremely optimistic, positive minded son of a gun! The clock is definitely ticking on this regime, although with Stephen Ross apparently asleep at the helm of ownership, maybe that’s only wishful thinking at best.

My plan for this offseason is to go into the draft and get as many impact players as we can. Forget about position, in other words don’t overdraft an OG at #13 when there is a great Safety, TE, DT, EDGE rusher available, just because everyone thinks better OG play will take us to the Superbowl. Honestly, this team is so far from that conversation right now, it’s silly as can be to feel that way. Even the roster spots that at this moment that are filled, there are so many questions. DE/OLB Bradley Chubb, LT Terron Armstead, OLB Jaelan Phillips, I may as well add in WR Tyreek Hill who exited the ’24 season with cryptic messages after the game, after excusing himself from actually finishing Game 17 without notifying his teammates. TE Durham Smythe, RB Raheem Mostert, 2023 2nd RD pick (#51) CB Cam Smith, I mean there really are serious question marks along the top of the roster. Is it possible the team and Hill can mend the relationship? Sure, Coach Mike is everyone’s friend, so it shouldn’t be difficult, but can we really count on Hill? It seemed Hill was just super frustrated by not getting any passes downfield, but when your QB MUST get the ball out in less than 2.0 seconds to try and finish a season (AND FAIL!), this is one of the frustrating aspects of having a fragile QB. Let’s all celebrate Tua’s 72.9% completion percentage when the majority of his passes were 5-10 yards downfield. Of course Hill is going to be frustrated, although for what he get’s paid, he should probably just STFU!

I’m not getting into specifics with the draft just yet, I haven’t done my deep dive at this time, I’m really in a downward spiral as a Miami Dolphins fan right now, I just don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. I will get to it most likely, no promises, but we have in house a bunch of guys, led by BBM who are fully capable of entertaining those that need their draft fix. Thanks Mike! Anyway, maybe the spring weather will pull me out of the winter doldrums, and maybe if the Mets can finally ink 1B Pete Alonso to a contract extension, I’ll start feeling more positive and upbeat.

GO DOLPHINS!!