Chris Grier’s draft footprint in Miami could be about to shrink fast.
By the time training camp dust settles, the Dolphins may have only a handful of his picks left standing, with Jon-Eric Sullivan set to wipe away much of what Grier left behind on the roster. Austin Jackson is the longest-tenured of those selections, but even his future has been clouded by contract and health questions.
Still, a straight release doesn’t look realistic. Miami reworked part of Jackson’s deal this offseason to open up cap space, and while an IR stint is possible, the Dolphins are not expected to cut him outright.
Beyond Jackson, the picture gets murkier. De’Von Achane and Patrick Paul are the only players who look like true locks as the franchise moves toward 2026 and beyond. Everyone else is in the middle of a fight that will be decided in camp.
The 2021 class is already a cautionary tale. Miami made seven picks that year, and none are still on the roster. Jaylen Waddle and Jaelan Phillips were traded, three others remain in the league, Liam Eichenberg may never play again because of health issues, and both Larnel Coleman and Gerrid Doaks - seventh-round picks - have been gone since 2022.
Cameron Goode, a 2022 pick, is another name on shaky ground. He was one of four players drafted that year, but Channing Tindall, Erik Ezukanma and Skylar Thompson are already gone.
Goode is facing heavy competition at linebacker after the Dolphins added several players at the position, both through the draft and after it. If he doesn’t survive roster cuts, that class will be officially wasted.
The 2024 group is no sure thing either. Malik and Tahj Washington are both fighting uphill, even with Miami’s receiver room lacking depth.
Malik has the better path, but the Dolphins added several free agents and also drafted three wideouts, so nothing is secure. Malik will need to show real progress to stick, while Tahj’s odds are even slimmer.
Jaylen Wright has a better shot than the Washingtons, thanks to the depth chart at running back, but he is not untouchable. Miami is rebuilding, and if the numbers get tight, Wright could be the odd man out. If Wright and both Washingtons are released, Robinson and Paul would be the only players left from the 2024 draft class.
The 2025 class, though, looks far safer. It’s difficult to see any of the eight picks getting cut this year.
In Grier’s final draft as Dolphins general manager, the team did well. Jonah Savaiinaea is the most likely to be moved on from eventually, but that probably won’t happen until after 2026.
The rest of the class has either already contributed or shown enough growth and upside to fit into Miami’s new schemes.
In Other News...
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Slowiks arrival gives the Dolphins a clear direction, but it also puts the spotlight on how quickly the group can come together after so much change around the quarterback room and the skill positions. Camp will now be less about refining an established system and more about figuring out what this version of the offense can actually become, which is exactly why the biggest question still hangs over the whole operation. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Fans Just Got A Brutal Reality Check On This Rebuild
The early read on Miamis rebuild is not as bleak as some fans might fear, even if the ceiling still looks limited. With a revamped coaching staff and roster in transition, the Dolphins are being sized up against a schedule that will ask plenty of them right away, and the betting market is already hinting that this team may still scrape together enough to avoid the bottom of the league.
There is at least some cautious optimism baked into the projection, from young offensive pieces to a few structural reasons the offense could be steadier than expected. Still, the bigger question is whether that is enough in a division and matchup slate that leaves little margin for error, and whether Miami can turn a reset year into something more than a long grind toward respectability. [Read more 🡒]