The Dolphins went into this offseason with one clear goal: tear it down and start over. Miami moved on from the Tua Tagovailoa era as Jon-Eric Sullivan and Jeff Hafley joined the franchise, then kept stripping the roster down by trading away Minkah Fitzpatrick and Jaylen Waddle and cutting ties with Tagovailoa, Bradley Chubb and others.
There were additions, of course, through the draft and free agency. But Vinnie Iyer of Sporting News still handed Miami a “D” for the work it did, and the reasoning starts with a roster that looks rough in a lot of places.
“Willis got a lot of money to replace Tagovailoa to launch the Hafley era,” Iyer writes. “Unfortunately, the line is rebuilding and not much is there offensive skill wise after the splurge on De'Von Achane and neither Tyreek Hill nor Jaylen Waddle back, either.”
That’s the heart of the concern heading into 2026. Malik Willis is now the starting quarterback, and Miami paid up to get him, but the risk is obvious: he has not logged many NFL starts, yet he received a sizable payday. By the start of 2027, the Dolphins may be looking at him more as a backup than a long-term starter.
The problems don’t stop there. The receiver group is in rough shape after losing Waddle and Hill, and the heavy investment in De’Von Achane leaves even less room for optimism elsewhere on offense.
The defense has its own issues. It was already a major problem last season, and while Miami did add some help, including draft picks Chris Johnson and Jacob Rodriguez, those moves may not be enough to change the outlook. In fact, the defense could end up worse than it was in 2025.
Miami also absorbed massive dead cap hits while moving on from a long list of players. Between the money committed to Willis, the holes at receiver and the unanswered questions on both sides of the ball, there just isn’t much here to get excited about for 2026.
That’s why the grade stayed stuck at a “D.” Even in a rebuild, the Dolphins enter the season with enough uncertainty that a collapse - and maybe the No. 1 overall pick - is very much on the table.
In Other News...
Jacob Rodriguez May Be Forcing A Dolphins Decision Already
Jacob Rodriguez arrived in Miami with a rsum that already made the Dolphins comfortable spending a second-round pick on him, even with Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson in place at linebacker. The former Texas Tech standout, a converted quarterback, has been working through the usual rookie transition while also drawing attention for the instincts and playmaking that helped him stand out in college and put him near the top of the national awards conversation.
What has made Rodriguez even more interesting is how quickly he has fit into the Dolphins environment. He has been outspoken about the teams facilities and overall player care, and he and the rest of the rookie class have leaned into the work ethic the staff wants ahead of training camp. For Miami, the bigger question is no longer just how Rodriguez develops, but how soon his presence forces a real decision on the linebacker room. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Fans Will Notice Jonah Savaiinaea's Latest Reset
Jonah Savaiinaeas reset comes with a familiar look and a cleaner fit. After Kion Smiths release opened up No. 71, the second-year Dolphins offensive lineman is back in the number he wore before, and it is part of a broader offseason shuffle that has touched several players. Kenneth Grant has moved to No. 78, Ollie Gordon to No. 0 and Storm Duck to No. 29, small changes on paper but the kind of details teams often hope signal a fresh start.
For Savaiinaea, the bigger change is where he lines up. The Dolphins are moving him from left guard back to his natural spot at right guard for the 2026 season, a switch they believe can help him settle in after a difficult rookie year. Miami is still looking for stability up front, and Savaiinaeas return to a more comfortable role is one more attempt to get the offensive line pointed in the right direction. [Read more 🡒]