Where every player on Dolphin offense stands and the case for/consequences of keeping each
The Dolphins begin the offseason about $12 million over the salary cap and needing at least seven starters and 10 key backups.
Who should stay on offense?
We excluded several players who are no-brainers: tight end Jonnu Smith (will have a $3.5 million base salary and $4.6 million cap hit in 2025 after an exceptional season); and cheap contributors De’Von Achane, Malik Washington, Patrick Paul and Jaylen Wright (who are all on cheap rookie contracts).
We also excluded quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who will be here because he generally played well (tied with Josh Allen for eighth in the NFL in passer rating), because of a massive contract that realistically cannot be escaped this offseason and because Miami simply has no better options.
Examining the case to return - or part ways - with everyone else on offense:
1). Receiver Tyreek Hill:
The case for him to return: He’s still the most feared player and biggest threat on offense, despite the massive drop in production from 2023, from 119 receptions to 81 and from 1799 yards to 959. Hill’s presence theoretically should create opportunities for others, if the offensive line can be augmented.
Financially, there’s no incentive to move on if the goal is to trade him for 2024 draft picks.
There’s a $27.7 million cap hit in 2025 if he’s on the team, but there’s an even bigger cap hit for Miami — $28.3 million — if he’s traded before June 1. So that would make it foolish to trade him before the draft. What’s more, his $27.7 million salary for 2025 is fully guaranteed.
He’s not going to fetch a treasure trove of draft picks, so why trade him for an unequal return (a 2025 second-day draft pick or two) and stomach the dead money cap hit?
Hill’s camp has indicated that he simply wants Miami to bolster the roster because he wants to win. Hill said he made his Jan. 5 “I’m out” comments out of frustration.
The case to part ways: Trading him now would net something in return -- though not nearly as much as the five draft picks that Miami gave Kansas City to acquire him.
If the Dolphins trade him after June 1, his 2025 Dolphins cap hit drops from $27.7 million to $12.7 million.
Plus, the Dolphins would be standing up to a player who quit on them in the fourth quarter of the finale and expressed a desire to play elsewhere afterward.
The view here: Keep him but find ways to get him the ball more. There’s no way to justify the drop in targets from 170 and 171 in his first two years in Miami to 123, and the precipitous drop in deep throws.
The only sensible trade, in our view, that would make sense for Miami would be trading him after June 1 for a very good guard or safety and 2026 draft inventory. Miami then would reap cap benefits.
2). Receiver Jaylen Waddle:
The case for him to return: Waddle will be needed in the post-Hill era, so moving on from him now would be self-defeating. And there’s this:
A Waddle trade isn’t helpful financially, because his modest $8.1 million cap number for 2025 would swell to $15.1 million in 2025 dead money if Miami trades him before June 1.
A post-June 1 Waddle trade would lower his 2025 Dolphins dead money hit to $3.8 million, but a player acquired for him would obviously have a cap hit, too. So there essentially wouldn’t be any cap savings.
The case to part ways: If a team is willing to offer two picks in the first three rounds, perhaps an internal conversation is warranted.
The view here: Keep him because Hill’s Dolphins shelf life seems short, and because Waddle’s deal is still cap friendly this season.
3). Left tackle Terron Armstead:
The case for him to return: He’s still Miami’s best lineman and one of the best left tackles in football. PFF rated him third best among all tackles this season. And he played in his most games as a Dolphin this season (15 of 17). He permitted only one sack before allowing two on a bad knee in the Jets finale.
Also, his $22.1 million cap hit for 2025 would drop only to $18.5 million (on Miami’s 2025 cap) if he’s cut before June 1.
The case to part ways: Miami badly needs the cap space, and his dead money hit would drop from $22.1 million if he’s on the team to $7.8 million if he’s released after June 1.
Also, none of his $13.3 million salary for 2025 is guaranteed. And most significantly, all parties must consider if his knee can be trusted to make it through most of a season.
The view here: Armstead doesn’t deserve to take another pay cut. But a cut to lower both his salary and cap hit would seem the only feasible way for him to return, because of Miami’s severe cap crunch. And if the Dolphins ask him to take a pay cut for a second year in a row, why would he accept that after playing at a high level this season? He could opt to retire instead because of the knee issues.
So a parting seems more likely, but that’s speculative.
4). Center Aaron Brewer:
The case for him to return: He played well for the most part this season; PFF ranked him ninth among centers. His salary ($6.4 million) and cap hit ($8.1 million) are affordable.
The case to part ways: His cap hit drops from to $4.4 million if traded before June 1 or $1.1 million if traded after June 1. He wasn’t as dominant in the running game in the second half of the season, though PFF ranked him 10th among 35 centers as a run blocker for the entire season.
The only reason to trade him would be if the Dolphins end up picking a center high in the draft and he impresses in the offseason program and training camp.
The view here: Keep him.
5). Right tackle Austin Jackson:
The case to return: The Dolphins need him. Mike McDaniel suggested it wasn’t a coincidence that the run game regressed badly after his knee injury. General manager Chris Grier said he was badly missed.
For 2025, $5 million of Jackson’s $10.9 million salary already is guaranteed, making his return even more likely.
The case to part ways: None. He said he will fine for the opener after November meniscus surgery.
The view here: Keep him.
6 and 7). Guards Liam Eichenberg and Rob Jones:
The case to return: They’re serviceable and would have value as low-money backups who can play multiple positions. But they didn’t block well enough, especially in the run game, to warrant returning as starters.
The case to part ways: Miami needs to upgrade at both positions, and paying either more than a backup’s salary isn’t feasible with the Dolphins’ cap problems.
Overall, PFF ranked Jones 60th and Eichenberg 70th among 77 qualifying guards. Jones yielded five sacks and 28 pressures, while Eichenberg permitted two sacks and 29 pressures.
The view here: If either wants to return at the minimum or slightly above, fine. They’re good teammates, tough and have position versatility. But Miami needs better starters.
8). Tight end Durham Smythe:
The case for him to return: He’s reliable.
The case to part ways: None of his $3.5 million salary next season is guaranteed, and that’s too much to pay for a No. 3 tight end. Also, his cap number drops from $4.8 million to $1.4 million with a post-June 1 designation.
The view here: Both parties need a fresh start, and Miami needs the cap savings.
9). Tight end Julian Hill:
The case for him to return: He had several very good blocks on running plays and his $1 million 2025 salary and cap hit are affordable.
The case to part ways: He was less effective, in the run game, in the second half of the season. PFF ranked him worst among 75 tight ends and sixth worst as a run blocker, contrary to the public perception of his blocking skills.
The view here: Keep him as a cheap backup, but find a better primary in-line blocking tight end.
10). Fullback Alec Ingold:
The case for him to return: He’s a model teammate and leader with intimate institutional knowledge of a complex offense. And he makes enough key blocks to be an asset.
The case to part ways: His $3.3 million salary - all non-guaranteed - and $4.8 million cap hit are a bit steep with a team in cap hell, or cap heck, like the Dolphins.
The view here: See if he’s willing to restructure. At the moment, his 2025 Dolphins cap hit would drop from $4.8 million to $1.2 million if he’s cut after June 1.
11). Running back Raheem Mostert:
The case for him to return: He’s just a year removed from a season in which he scored 21 touchdowns and has an affordable $2.4 million salary, none guaranteed.
The case to part ways: Miami has Wright waiting to take carries behind Achane. Mostert is coming off his worst season (two fumbles, 3.3 per carry average) and his $4.1 million cap hit would drop to a $1 million dead money hit if he’s cut.
The view here: The fact the Dolphins played him only one snap (with no carries) in the finale suggests this is the end of his three-year run. He’s still a good player, but Miami needs a big power back to supplement Achane and Wright.
FYI: The Dolphins unrestricted free agents on offense are Eichenberg, Jones, right tackle Kendall Lamm (expected to consider retirement); receiver Braxton Berrios (seems likely to move on after Washington’s emergence as a returner); running back Jeff Wilson Jr., guard Isaiah Wynn and tight end Jack Stoll.
Receiver Anthony Schwartz and tackle Kion Smith are restricted free agents -- Grier raved about Smith last month -- and receiver Grant DuBose is an exclusive rights free agent.
We will examine Dolphins defensive personnel later this week.
This story was originally published February 3, 2025 at 12:38 PM.
