Kelly: Dolphins offense still has work to do | Opinion
The Miami Dolphins entered the 2025 offseason pledging to improve the offensive line and add more playmakers to the team, but it can be argued that the roster took a step back talent wise based on the moves made in free agency and the 2025 NFL draft.
While the team’s top four playmakers - Tyreek Hill, Jayen Waddle, Jonnu Smith and De’Von Achane - are all returning, the offensive line lost its anchor - Terron Armstead - to retirement, and the success of the offensive line, the team’s most troublesome unit in 2024, is now in the hands of two unproven youngsters.
Does Miami have enough weaponry to deliver a 10-win season?
Take a look at how the Dolphins post-draft offensive depth chart stacks up.
QUARTERBACKS (3)
▪ On the roster: Tua Tagovailoa, Zach Wilson, Quinn Ewers (R)
▪ Analysis: Tagovailoa has led the NFL in passer rating (2022), yards passed for (2023) and completion percentage (2024), proving that he has what it takes to be one of the NFL’s premiere passers. But what the 2020 first-round pick hasn’t proven is that he can be durable, or win tough games against playoff caliber opponents. Not all of Miami’s struggles in those games have been his fault, but heavy is the head that wears the crown, and that’s Tagovailoa, who makes $44 million a season. Miami also needs Tagovailoa to step up as a leader in 2025. Miami targeted Wilson in free agency because the coaches feel they can help the second-overall pick in the 2021 draft clean up his game, making him more decisive and less erratic. Ewers was added in the seventh round of the 2025 draft because Miami needs a third arm for the offseason program and training camp. But the former Texas starter has an uphill journey to earn more than a practice squad spot.
RUNNING BACKS (4)
▪ On the roster: Devon Achane, Jaylen Wright, Alexander Mattison, Ollie Gordon II (R)
▪ Analysis: Achane produced 1,499 yards and scored 12 touchdowns on his 207 carries and 78 receptions in 2024. But his yards-per-carry average reduced drastically in the second half of the season. Wright, a 2024 fourth-round pick, gained 249 rushing yards on 68 carries, but fell down the depth chart in the season for unknown reasons. Mattison has started 26 of the 89 games he’s played in during his six NFL seasons, and the 26-year-old has averaged 31.3 rushing yards per game and 3.9 yards per attempt during his career. Gordon is a powerful north-south runner whose 2023 rushing totals (1,732 yards and 21 touchdowns) led the entire FBS. But 2023 Doak Walker Award winner was available in the sixth round because he had a less than stellar 2024 season, for various reasons.
RECEIVERS (8)
▪ On the roster: Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Malik Washington, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Dee Eskridge, Tajh Washington (IR in 2024), Erik Ezukanma, Tarik Black.
Analysis: Hill and Waddle both had disappointing seasons for their talent level, and paychecks, collectively contributing 1,703 yards and eight touchdowns. That’s a far drop from their 2023 totals of 2,813 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns on 191 catches. Plenty of their struggles had to do with injuries - theirs and Tagovailoa’s - and the hope is they’ll live up to their talent level in 2025. Miami added Westbrook-Ikhine because he’s scored 19 touchdowns on his 126 receptions the past five seasons. Malik and Tajh Washington and Dee Eskridge are three young receivers worth more of an investment. This unit needs more size but hasn’t been able to count on Ezukanma since the team selected him in the fourth round of the 2022 draft. Ezukanma is on borrowed time at this point and needs to live up to the talent he flashed as a rookie during the 2022 exhibition season.
TIGHT ENDS/FULLBACKS (6)
▪ On the roster: Jonnu Smith, Julian Hill, Pharoah Brown, Tanner Conner (IR in 2024), Hayden Rucci; fullback Alec Ingold.
▪ Analysis: Smith set franchise records for receptions, yards and touchdowns from a tight end last season, earning his first Pro Bowl nod. But he’s a one-dimensional tight end, and the Dolphins need someone who is effective working in-line because Hill struggled last season, and Durham Smythe got released this offseason and sagned with the Raiders. Miami added Brown, a seven-year veteran who has started 54 NFL games and produced 752 yards on 72 receptions during his career, with the expectation that he’d challenge Hill, who happened to be pound-for-pound one of the strongest Dolphins players. Hill must focus on cleaning up his game and becoming more disciplined. Ingold earned a Pro Bowl berth in 2023 but was limited to 337 offensive snaps last season, which could hint he’d on the way out if he doesn’t find a way to become more productive. Miami has spent two seasons investing in Conner and has yet to receive a return. Rucci is a youngster who impressed as an undrafted rookie last camp, and will get a continued look during the offseason program.
DOLPHINS OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (15)
▪ On the roster: LT Patrick Paul, OG James Daniels, C Aaron Brewer, OG Jonah Savaiinaea (R), RT Austin Jackson. Backups: OG Liam Eichenberg, OT Larry Borom, OT Kion Smith, C Andrew Meyer, G Chasen Hines, OG Braeden Daniels, OT Jackson Carman, OT Ryan Hayes, OT Bayron Matos.
▪ Analysis: The Dolphins offensive line was a disaster last season, contributing to the offensive struggles that led to a massive drop-off from the run game, and 43 sacks of the quarterback. And making matters worse is the fact Terron Armstead, the five-time Pro Bowl left tackle who stabilized the line for the past three seasons, has retired, and Kendall Lamm, the reliable backup, has signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. Paul, a 2024 second-round pick, has talent, but is relatively unproven, and struggled in his limited opportunities last season. Miami signed James Daniels to fill one of the two starting guard spots, and he should be an upgrade over Robert Jones, who signed with Dallas as a free agent. But Daniels is recovering from an Achilles injury he suffered last September. Jackson is also recovering from a knee injury he suffered last November and should be 10 months into his rehabilitation by the time the regular season arrives. Miami traded up to draft Savaiinaea in the second round because he was viewed as one of the 10 day-one starting offensive line prospects available in the 2025 draft. Miami loves his athleticism and the way he anchors as a pass blocker, but Savaiinaea has technical aspects of his game that need to be cleaned up. The Dolphins would benefit from adding more depth to this unit, so it’s wise that general manager Chris Grier hasn’t closed the door on Isaiah Wynn, a 2023 starter, possibly re-signing. When healthy Wynn has shown he’s better than Eichenberg, who was re-signed despite his struggles as a 52 game starter. Grier has a high opinion of Smith, but that hasn’t been proven on the field. And Borom, a free agent signing, was one of the worst rated offensive tackles in the NFL last season.
