Seven years after the franchise was accused of trying to lose, the Dolphins are back in a familiar spot, and people around the league are asking the same uncomfortable question: are they tanking again?
This time, though, the better read may be less dramatic. Miami doesn’t look like a team actively trying to lose so much as one trying to dig itself out of a brutal financial hole and piece together something workable from what’s left.
The Tua Tagovailoa contract aftermath is a big part of that mess. Miami will take a $55.4 million cap hit this year for a player who is no longer there, and the dead-money total is nearly $183 million. That kind of burden can wreck a roster before the season even starts.
The Dolphins have also made some expensive choices in the present. They paid quarterback Malik Willis on a three-year, $67.5 million deal, and they kept running back De’Von Achane while paying him, too. At the same time, they’ve moved on from players they viewed as part of the problem in recent years and are trying to build around the ones they believe fit the new culture.
That doesn’t mean the wins will come easily. They may lose plenty of games, and the 2026 season could be ugly in stretches. But the point of the plan is different: Miami is trying to clear out the damage left by the previous regime and set up something sturdier for the future.
It may take a while to show. And Sunday’s opener could end up being one of their best chances to get a win this season.
In Other News...
Dolphins Suddenly Have A Week 1 Pass Rush Twist Fans Need To See
The Dolphins are already juggling long-term cap concerns, but for now the focus is on what they can get out of their pass rush in Week 1 against the Raiders on Sept. 13. Miami activated defensive end Clelin Ferrell to the active roster for the game, giving the defense another veteran body up front as the team prepares to open the season with several rookies also expected to see the field.
It is a reminder of how much turnover and uncertainty still sits around this roster, even before the first snap matters. Miamis 2026 cap picture is already lopsided, with more money tied up in players not currently on the roster than those who are, so every live rep from a player like Ferrell carries a little extra weight as the Dolphins try to sort out which pieces can actually help them now. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Week 1 Decision Raises Eyebrows At One Position
Jalen Tolbert being among Miamis six inactives for its first regular-season game is the sort of opening-week roster call that immediately stands out. The Dolphins also sat cornerback Reese Taylor, guard DJ Campbell, tackle Chukwuebuka Godrick, tight end Justin Joly and emergency third quarterback Brady Cook, trimming the game-day group before the season even got fully underway.
The list is notable because Tolbert arrived with the kind of veteran profile that usually suggests at least an early role, and instead he was left on the sideline for Week 1. Miamis choices also came against a Raiders inactive list that included tight end Brock Bowers after a knee procedure, along with Aidan O'Connell as the emergency third quarterback, underscoring how quickly early-season availability can shape a game-day plan. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Opener Could Leave Several Depth Pieces Watching From The Sideline
The Dolphins head into their opener with a healthier roster than many teams can claim this time of year, and the clearest early issue is not who is hurt but who simply will not dress. Miami had only four players on its injury report who fully participated in recent practices, leaving the club with some real flexibility as it prepares for the Raiders.
Even so, the game-day limit means at least five players have to sit, and the bottom of the roster is where the squeeze will be felt. Clelin Ferrells elevation to the 53-man roster gives Miami another active body, but it also points to a familiar Week 1 reality for depth pieces like Justin Joly, Jackson Woodard, Julius Wood, Ryan Miller and Malik Herring, who are expected to be on the inactive list as the Dolphins sort out roles and developmental priorities. [Read more 🡒]