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Offseason In Review: Miami Dolphins

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For a team that has made two playoff appearances over the past three years and has not lost 10 games since 2019, vibes sure don’t seem great in Miami. Mike McDaniel has moved closer to the hot seat, despite coaxing dramatic Tua Tagovailoa improvement and leading the Dolphins to back-to-back playoff berths for the first time since Dave Wannstedt‘s tenure more than 20 years ago. GM Chris Grier also has not enjoyed a banner year, having seen his Tyreek Hill rework and Jalen Ramsey extension not prove fruitful.

The Dolphins have battled cap trouble in multiple offseasons, and this one brought a historic dead money charge thanks to the Ramsey trade. McDaniel may need a third playoff berth in four seasons to keep his job — as odd as that sounds for a franchise that booked two playoff appearances from 2002-21 — pointing to Tagovailoa’s health potentially determining the HC’s long-term fate. Regardless of Tua’s status, the Dolphins have some questions to answer after some notable offseason roster subtractions and storylines.

Trades:

Reminding of the 2019 Odell Beckham Jr. trade that belatedly included an Olivier Vernon–Kevin Zeitler swap, the Dolphins and Steelers folded the Smith transaction into the Ramsey-Fitzpatrick blockbuster. Almost six years after he forced his way out of Jacksonville, Ramsey burned more bridges in Florida. After it was over, the former All-Pro cornerback set a non-quarterback dead money record, tagging the Dolphins with $35.86MM — spread between 2025 and ’26.

The latest Ramsey chapter of discontent emerged in April, when the Dolphins and the aging defender agreed to pursue a trade. This came months after Grier had signed off on a market-topping extension, representing the second time Ramsey had become the top CB earner.

Extended soon after Patrick Surtain reset the market in September, Ramsey played reasonably well in 2024. Pro Football Focus ranked him 11th among corners, but considering he missed nearly half the 2023 season, the nine-year veteran did not justify Grier’s decision to both rework his Rams deal upon arrival and then sign off on a new one 18 months later.

Grier has become the rare GM to cave repeatedly to disgruntled players. It was not even known if Ramsey was even disgruntled last year, but after Grier reworked the Xavien Howard and Tyreek Hill deals to throw significant guarantees their way, he paid Ramsey ahead of an age-30 season. Ramsey is tied to a three-year, $72.3MM extension that runs through 2028. This reminded of the Howard and Hill adjustments since Ramsey also had multiple seasons (two) left on a contract. The Dolphins doing that extension and then trading him less than a year later proved quite costly.

Teams balked at taking on all of Ramsey’s guaranteed money for 2025, depressing the value of a player probably headed to the Hall of Fame. More significantly, Ramsey was believed to be at odds with McDaniel’s leadership style, potentially calling into question the atypical HC personality’s fit in the locker room. The draft-day report called the Ramsey-McDaniel relationship “irreparably broken,” and the former Super Bowl winner had harbored issues with the Dolphins’ (in his view) “willingness to accept mediocrity.” but the team needed — rather than see the Ramsey dead money hit the 2025 payroll exclusively — to drag this out until after June 1.

While the buildup did not look great for the Dolphins, Grier crafted an interesting solution. The Dolphins agreed to pay $7MM of Ramsey’s 2025 compensation, sweetening the deal for the Steelers, who are paying nearly $20MM to the soon-to-be 31-year-old CB. This was a somewhat surprising salary split, but the Dolphins took on more money by reacquiring Fitzpatrick. That became the most fascinating component of that two-trade day, seeing as the Dolphins — in Grier’s first months as a GM with roster control — traded Fitzpatrick early in his second season.

A dispute between Fitzpatrick and the Dolphins led to his exit after just 18 games. The 2018 first-round pick (and his mother) objected to the Flores-led coaching staff using Fitzpatrick as a box player during the team’s 2019 training camp. This came after Miami primarily used Fitzpatrick at corner as a rookie.

While 2019 featured Grier at the controls, previous front office boss Mike Tannenbaum drafted Fitzpatrick. Grier traded him — days after giving the player’s camp permission to seek a trade — as the Dolphins continued a teardown that included swaps involving Ryan Tannehill and Laremy Tunsil. Six years later, Fitzpatrick joins a team that made strides in this rebuild but has not approached the ultimate goal.

Fitzpatrick, 28, should have more good football left than Ramsey. The three-time first-team All-Pro combined for 15 interceptions from 2019-22, excelling as a deep safety while helping to elevate the Steelers’ defense into a perennial top-10 unit. Over the past two years, the Steelers became underwhelmed by Fitzpatrick’s lack of splash plays; he has one INT since the start of the 2023 season. The 2023 slate, however, brought an increase in box snaps compared to his usual free safety role. Last season did not reverse Fitzpatrick’s downward playmaking trend, but he suited up for 17 games and will have a chance to play a lead role in a Dolphins team that lost Jevon Holland and Brandon Jones over the past two offseasons.

As a Dolphins rookie in 2018, Fitzpatrick primarily played corner. He rotated between the boundary and the slot, playing more inside. That will not be his role this time around. Set to deploy Fitzpatrick at safety, the Dolphins also reworked his contract.

Previously attached to a four-year, $72.98MM deal, the eighth-year vet is now on a two-year, $33.1MM accord that provided a new signing bonus and dropped his 2025 cap hit to $4.5MM. That provided a cash influx for a player who had played out the guarantees on his Steelers deal. Despite Grier trading him so early in his career, Fitzpatrick is now interested in a long-term Miami future.

The Dolphins showed interesting hesitation about paying Smith, whose Miami debut doubled as his best season. Smith smashed career-high marks with 88 receptions, 884 yards and eight TDs last year, helping a Dolphins team that saw Hill’s production nosedive and Jaylen Waddle regress as Tagovailoa missed time.

The Steelers came up as a Smith suitor in May, and while the veteran tight end expressed a desire to stay in Miami while the sides discussed an extension, the parties could not hammer out one. Roughly a month after the initial rumor, Jonnu and Arthur Smith — the former Titans OC and Falcons HC — reunited yet again.

This marks the second time an Arthur Smith team traded for Jonnu Smith, but this trade preceded an extension. Jonnu Smith had been tied to a two-year, $8.4MM deal — one agreed to after the Falcons made him a cap casualty soon after firing Arthur Smith. The Steelers gave Jonnu a one-year, $12MM extension, pushing his deal through 2026. The trade brought less than $3MM in Dolphins dead cap, but it leaves a significant question at tight end. With limited options in terms of proven receiving TEs by early July, the Dolphins threw a Hail Mary of sorts.

Waller, 33 next month, retired last summer after rumors pointed to an exit for weeks. The former Raiders Pro Bowler burned the Giants, having sustained another hamstring injury (leading to a five-game absence) and retired after the 2024 draft. No word about a Waller comeback had surfaced, but after the Dolphins acquired his rights via the pick-swap trade, Waller let it be known he wanted to play in Miami or stay retired.

The Dolphins stashed Waller on their active/PUP list for ramp-up purposes. Miami has him on a one-year, $2MM deal with no guarantees. While this profiles as a flier, the Dolphins’ TE depth chart is desperate for this Waller reemergence to commence in earnest. Miami did not draft a tight end and has none on the roster who have delivered a 210-yard season. Waller accumulated 552 in a disappointing Giants season and is among a select few with two 1,100-yard years on his resume.

The Dolphins will almost definitely not be getting prime Waller form, but something in the range of his Giants work would be a lifeline for a team desperate at this position. Waller missed eight Raiders games due to hamstring trouble in 2022, following a $17MM-per-year extension agreement, and some Las Vegas staffers expressed frustration about his slow recovery. Waller also missed six games in 2021. This is a buyer-beware situation, making the Dolphins’ visit with Noah Fant — who signed with the Bengals soon after — rather interesting.

Extensions and restructures:

Add Sieler to the list of Dolphins Grier has extended with more than one year left on a previous deal. Sieler did not hold in but let it be known he wanted a new deal after back-to-back 10-sack seasons. Because this extension is tacked onto a through-2026 pact, the veteran D-tackle is now signed through 2029.

Originally a waiver claim (from the Ravens) in December 2019, Sieler arrived to close out Grier’s first year as the team’s front office boss. Sieler operated as more of a Christian Wilkins sidekick from 2020-22, and the Dolphins did well to extend him at what turned out to be a below-market rate. Paying Sieler before being unable to come to terms with Wilkins, Miami observed its waiver-claim find combine for 24 TFLs over the past two seasons.

Grier’s latest early raise bumps Sieler from barely $10MM per year (31st among interior D-linemen) to over $22MM AAV. Sieler, 30 next month, is now being paid more than Dexter Lawrence, Leonard Williams and Daron Payne. This is quite the level jump for a former seventh-round pick, and the Dolphins will count on him once again ahead of an age-30 season. Though, he should have more help thanks to some returning edge rushers.

Chubb was delivering on the November 2022 trade/extension sequence. He posted 11 sacks — his most since a rookie season (12) opposite Von Miller — and led the NFL with six forced fumbles in 2023. Chubb, though, suffered an ACL tear late in a blowout loss to the Ravens in Week 17 of that season. He then missed all of last season, joining OLB mate Jaelan Phillips in seeing injury issues reshape his Miami trajectory. As a result of the missed season, an accepted pay-cut request transpired.

The Dolphins included incentives in Chubb’s rework, and since the former top-five pick missed all of last season, the escalators will be considered not likely to be earned — thus giving Miami 2025 cap relief. Chubb’s cap hit is down to $12.33MM. The two-time Pro Bowler is on track to return for the Dolphins, who have EDGE questions but more depth at the position compared to their Chubb- and (largely) Phillips-less 2024. Phillips, who suffered an ACL tear early last season, also avoided the active/PUP list ahead of training camp.

The veteran duo will accompany 2024 first-rounder Chop Robinson, giving Miami an intriguing pass-rushing boost — provided Chubb and Phillips stay on the field. Miami will be expected to either give Chubb another pay cut in 2026, when his cap hit balloons to $31.2MM, or release him. This will be a critical season for the 29-year-old pass rusher’s value. Phillips is tied to a $13.25MM fifth-year option, cashing in between his Achilles and ACL tears. This will be a pivotal year for him as well.

Free agency additions:

After Isaiah Wynn joined Bradley Chubb in seeing a 2023 injury cost him the full 2024 season, the Dolphins retooled with a player who missed most of that campaign. Daniels would have been a less affordable option had he not suffered an Achilles tear in Week 4. While this is technically a three-year deal, it is more of a “prove it” pact due to its structure.

Even with three void years included in this accord, the Dolphins can cut Daniels (due a $3.48MM guarantee on Day 3 of the 2026 league year) for just a $4.8MM dead money charge in 2026. Despite being a seven-year veteran, Daniels had age on his side. The former second-round pick heads into an age-28 season. If he can recapture his pre-injury form, the Dolphins will gain considerable value.

Daniels finished ninth in pass block win rate in his 2022 Steelers debut and was second only to Quenton Nelson in run block win rate before going down last season. PFF ranked Daniels 33rd among guard regulars in 2023. He will be an upgrade from Robert Jones; the Dolphins hope the three-year Steelers starter can return to a form that saw him miss only two games from 2021-23.

Wilson nearly fetched as much guaranteed as Trey Lance and Mac Jones combined, representing a lingering belief in the former No. 2 overall pick’s arm talent. Even as Wilson did not threaten Jarrett Stidham for Denver’s backup job last season, he has made 33 career starts. Highlighting Wilson’s experience may not be the best way to go here, considering the Jets benched him three times — at one point demoting him to the third-string level — during an erratic tenure. Despite being supported by a top-five defense in 2022 and ’23, Wilson went 12-21 as a starter in his three-year New York run. The Jets needed to take on rookie-contract money in order to fetch a Day 3 draft pick from the Broncos last year.

The Jets saw a failure to add a veteran behind Aaron Rodgers prove costly in 2023, as Wilson’s reset program returned to center stage. Tua Tagovailoa‘s unreliability makes this situation resemble the Jets’ 2023 blueprint, but Wilson having shown more evidence in incapability that year makes this Miami setup perhaps even shakier.

If Tua goes down again, the Zach Wilson Experience will hit South Beach. That is a frightening proposition. But the Dolphins pounced on Wilson on Day 1 of the legal tampering period, rather than waiting out the veteran QB2 market. This points to McDaniel belief he can coax better play from the one-time top prospect, though the Dolphins were believed to be interested in Andy Dalton before he re-signed with the Panthers. Wilson, 26, is definitely another way to go.

A touchdown machine in 2024, Westbrook-Ikhine will almost definitely be an upgrade on last year’s Odell Beckham Jr. version. The tertiary Titans target caught nine TD passes on just 32 receptions. While that will be difficult to sustain, Westbrook-Ikhine (10 combined TDs from 2021-23) played a regular Tennessee role (between 370-480 yards each year from 2021-24) and is qualified to operate as Miami’s WR3 alongside Hill and Waddle. This is a much more affordable option than Cedrick Wilson Jr., who flopped on a three-year, $24MM deal. NWI’s consistency should matter for a Dolphins team that may need more from this spot after trading Jonnu Smith.

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The Dolphins’ cornerback group looked thin before the Burns and Kader Kohou ACL tears in camp. Sheffield (zero starts since 2020) and former UDFA Storm Duck started the team’s preseason opener. Jones opened that game with Miami’s second-stringers. While the ex-Patriots and Raiders starter has impressed in spurts — most notably via his two-pick-six Raiders entrance during Antonio Pierce‘s interim HC period — but has been waived twice since 2023. The Dolphins have seen next to nothing from 2023 second-rounder Cam Smith (153 defensive snaps in two seasons).

The Dolphins discussed deals with Asante Samuel Jr. and looked into James Bradberry this offseason. Neither has signed as a free agent. Ditto Rasul Douglas, who drew the most interest from Miami. (Though Samuel had not ruled out the Dolphins, his ex-CB father was rather critical of Grier and McDaniel.)

The Dolphins were in on Douglas at multiple offseason junctures, but their offer did not sway the two-year Bills starter. The sides were not too far apart, as of July, and Douglas remaining available this deep into camp points to the CB waiting for an injury or disappointing performances to create a need. Otherwise, the 29-year-old cover man will need to accept his market did not take off like the third-contract-seeking CBs PFR’s top 50 had rated higher.

The Dolphins have looked into trades here, keeping such a move on the radar when the post-preseason trade window opens fully. A waiver claim should be considered likely at this rate. They also were connected to Jaire Alexander before his Ravens deal. As for Hilton, he had been on Miami’s radar for a bit. The former Steelers and Bengals slot corner is now 31 but has held a regular inside role in all eight of his NFL seasons. Despite the Bengals’ defensive decline, PFF graded Hilton as a top-20 corner in each of the past two seasons.

Stonehouse seems like a player that should have required more than $75K guaranteed. He broke Sammy Baugh‘s preposterously longstanding yards-per-punt record as a rookie, booming kicks at a 53.1-yard rate. He matched that figure in 2023, though he suffered ACL and MCL tears in his non-kicking leg during a blocked punt in 2023. Stonehouse still averaged an impressive 50.6 yards per boot in 2024, making it rather surprising the Titans nontendered him as an RFA.

Re-signings:

Added via waivers as the Seahawks overhauled their linebacking corps in-season, Dodson started three Dolphins games last season. The Dolphins saw promise and prioritized Dodson via negotiations and a slightly upped offer before the legal tampering period. The former Bills UDFA intercepted three passes in just eight Dolphins games, adding four pass breakups during a promising start with his third NFL team. He joins Willie Gay and K.J. Britt as options alongside Jordyn Brooks; even at barely $3MM per year, Dodson — who made a career-high 107 tackles last season — is the highest-paid Brooks sidekick option.

Notable losses:

Injuries dogged Armstead throughout his Miami stay, following the decorated left tackle from New Orleans. But the $15MM-per-year blocker resided as Miami’s top O-lineman. Considering Tagovailoa’s health struggles, plenty of pressure will be on 2024 second-rounder Patrick Paul as he takes over. Considering RT Austin Jackson suffered a setback in his recovery from a knee injury, the Dolphins are in dire need of Paul developing swiftly on the other side.

Armstead, 34, cited knee trouble in his retirement call. The 12-year veteran was under contract for two more seasons, and his retirement — processed after June 1 for cap purposes — will leave Miami with nearly $20MM in dead money from 2025-26. The post-June 1 move will at least keep the 2025 pain below $9MM. Still, Armstead played well when available and suited up in 15 games last season. PFF graded the five-time Pro Bowler as the NFL’s fourth-best tackle last season.

Chosen 55th overall out of Houston, Paul was a key 2024 backup but did not work as the Dolphins’ true swingman. Lamm filled in for Jackson, while Paul logged 248 LT snaps in place of Armstead at points. Paul has impressed at Dolphins camp, but a Jackson absence to open the season would leave the Dolphins threadbare at RT. Ex-Bears swingman Larry Borom resides as the next-best option, though Eichenberg has a tackle background. Tackle may be another place to watch for a late-summer Dolphins roster augmentation.

PFR’s No. 6 free agent, Holland landed with the Giants on a three-year, $45.3MM deal. The Dolphins used the 2021 second-round pick as a four-year starter. Like Wilkins last year, Miami passed on applying the franchise tag to its top free agent.

Pro Football Focus’ No. 3-ranked safety during Vic Fangio‘s 2023 DC one-off, Holland graded as the advanced metric’s site’s 56th-ranked player at the position under Anthony Weaver last season. The Dolphins have Elijah Campbell tentatively plugged in alongside Minkah Fitzpatrick, though Ifeatu Melifonwu‘s mid-camp debut would stand to give him a decent shot at winning this job. Campbell has made three starts in five seasons.

The Dolphins extended an offer for Calais Campbell to come back, but the suddenly nomadic stalwart rejoined the Cardinals. The 2010s All-Decade-teamer and former Hurricane back in the mid-aughts delivered five sacks and 12 TFLs, strengthening his Hall of Fame case. Miami used Calais Campbell as a full-time starter at age 38. The team turned to the draft to help replace him.

Miami has 2024 fourth-rounder Jaylen Wright readying for RB2 duty, though the team still drafted a back for a third straight year (Ollie Gordon, Round 6). A healthier De’Von Achane season relegated Mostert — the NFL’s 2023 TDs leader, with 21 — to part-time duty; he logged only 278 snaps last season. The Dolphins had given Mostert a slight raise, but his eight-year partnership with Mike McDaniel ended via this release. Mostert, 33, caught on with the Raiders.

Fuller, 30, remains in free agency. The Dolphins had given the longtime Commanders cog a two-year, $15MM deal. Cutting bait one year in set the table for a full-on overhaul at corner. Poyer, 34, has not retired and, like Micah Hyde last year, is holding out hope for a Bills call. Catching on after a Bills release, Poyer gave the Dolphins 16 starts last season. PFF graded him 59th among safeties. In losing Holland, Ramsey, Poyer, Fuller and Kohou, the Dolphins’ secondary has an outlook that points to Storm Duck Fresh Prince finale memes.

Draft:

A Dolphins-Grant connection surfaced during draft week, and the team indeed beefed up its defensive interior. Quietly ranking in the top 10 against the run and pass last season, the Dolphins could still have a much better front seven compared to their first post-Wilkins group. With Chubb and Phillips already accompanying Sieler and Chop Robinson, Grant will benefit.

Part of Michigan’s national championship-winning defense in 2023, Grant operates as a strong run deterrent at 330 pounds. The Wolverines aligned Grant as both a nose tackle and three-technique option. He did not tally a four-sack season but did add 12 TFLs during his two-year starter tenure. Grant’s presence boosted the Wolverines’ front seven under Jesse Minter and Wink Martindale. Grant could aid Sieler and the team’s first-round OLB troika soon.

Viewing the Patriots as a threat for Savaiinaea, the Dolphins traded up 11 spots. They sacrificed their third-round pick to do so. Arizona used Savaiinaea regularly at guard and tackle. He was a freshman All-American guard before being shifted to tackle during his final two years, splitting time between both edge spots last season. Though, the 324-pound blocker did not earn first- or second-team all-conference honors during his three-season Tucson run.

Turning 21 earlier this year, Savaiinaea is set to be a Day 1 guard starter in Miami. This did sacrifice a second-day draft choice for a team that has lost considerable talent during the past two free agency periods. Like they did with Wilkins (via Grant), the Dolphins circled back to replacing Robert Hunt a year later.

Mentioned as a potential Day 2 option, Ewers saw his stock crater on draft weekend. The Dolphins were mentioned as a possible Day 2 QB suitor, but even with Tagovailoa going down yet again last season, Miami has sunk too much into its southpaw passer to use a notable draft choice on one less than a year after the $53MM-per-year extension.

Ewers led Texas to back-to-back CFP semifinals, though he was not going to be asked back to start over Arch Manning this year. Rather than collect a lucrative transfer sum, Ewers left school early. He will settle for a mere $131K guarantee. Shedeur Sanders‘ fall, though, overshadowed Ewers’.

Other:

Not quite on the Terrell Owens/Antonio Brown level in wide receiver distraction pantheon, Hill is moving up the ladder. Already coming to Miami with significant baggage stemming from off-field trouble, Hill was involved in a strange dustup at a marina in 2023. While Hill’s detainment on a traffic violation hours before the Dolphins’ Week 1 kickoff in 2024 did not qualify as anything close to his college- or Chiefs-years trouble, it provided a bookend to a season that concluded with a bizarre sequence — one that still has teams wondering if the Dolphins will trade him.

Hill refusing to reenter the Dolphins’ Week 18 game and then wishing to move on from the team spotlighted a mercurial figure. Hill steadily walked back his trade stance, but his actions — and antics since — make this an unstable situation. Tagovailoa addressing Hill’s actions added to the weirdness here, and the QB’s comments came after an offseason report that suggested the Dolphins could listen to offers on their top weapon.

Hill avoided a one-sided loss to Noah Lyles with that one-v.-one race being nixed, but the suddenly slimmed down receiver still ran a separate 100-meter dash while rehabbing from wrist surgery. That race came before the 31-year-old playmaker resumed catching passes post-surgery; Hill is not exactly falling in line despite the headaches he caused exiting last season. Hill and Ramsey running amok has created skepticism about the Grier-McDaniel program, even after McDaniel attempted to make clear actions like Hill’s midgame exit would not be tolerated.

The Dolphins gave Hill a $54MM guarantee package after he angled for a redone deal in 2024. They then watched him regress, going from back-to-back 1,700-yard seasons to 959 in 17 games. Hill’s early Dolphins work locked up Hall of Fame entry, but it is fair to wonder if the Dolphins need to consider trading him while value remains.

Miami owes Hill a $15.85MM option bonus by August 31. It would qualify as selling medium if the team bailed now, and dealing Hill would weaken McDaniel’s fourth Dolphins offense. But Hill’s name will be one to monitor before the November deadline, as there is plenty of time for more trouble between player and team.

Slowik, 38, went from the point man during C.J. Stroud‘s Offensive Rookie of the Year season to HC interviewee to Texans extension recipient within a year in Houston. After Stroud did not take a second-year leap — with a crumbling O-line in front of him — Slowik took the fall. He will attempt to rebuild his stock back with McDaniel. The two worked together in Washington and San Francisco.

Top 10 cap charges for 2025:

  1. Tua Tagovailoa, QB: $38.18MM
  2. Tyreek Hill, WR: $27.7MM
  3. Jaelan Phillips, OLB: $13.25MM
  4. Bradley Chubb, OLB: $12.33MM
  5. Jordyn Brooks, ILB: $11.05MM
  6. Aaron Brewer, C: $8.12MM
  7. Jaylen Waddle, WR: $8.02MM
  8. Alec Ingold, FB: $4.82MM
  9. Jason Sanders, K: $4.73MM
  10. Minkah Fitzpatrick, S: $4.5MM

The McDaniel-Grier regime will attempt to blunt the negative momentum with another playoff push. Miami will presumably have a healthy Hill available, and keeping Tagovailoa upright — a task that could certainly be tougher post-Armstead — has unleashed McDaniel’s offense in the past. A healthier front seven should mitigate cornerback concerns to a degree, but coverage issues could crop up early regardless.

Other than Tagovailoa injuries, late-season tumbles headlined by struggles winning in suboptimal weather have defined McDaniel’s otherwise successful tenure. The AFC also looks tougher compared to when the Dolphins last reached the playoffs. Can Miami resurface as a wild-card contender or will Stephen Ross pull the plug on this regime after a stalled ascent?