The six Dolphins offensive issues that need clarity, and what to know on each
There’s a lot of serious stuff to be resolved with these 4-7 Dolphins over the final six games, and we’re not even talking about their longest of long shot odds for a wild card berth.
There’s a coach’s job to be saved, a quarterback’s Dolphins career to be salvaged and a salary cap mess to be navigated.
Over the coming days, we’ll examine six issues on each side of the ball that have a screaming need for clarity over the final half dozen games.
Let’s start on offense:
▪ Should Tua Tagovailoa return as the unquestioned 2026 starter - or at all?
As NFL Network said, Tagovailoa’s and Mike McDaniel’s futures are likely married. Likely is the key word here.
For McDaniel to win enough games to convince owner Stephen Ross to keep him another year, Tagovailoa almost assuredly needs to play well – and that probably would result in McDaniel getting a fifth season and Tagovailoa a seventh.
If McDaniel’s offense falters and the team loses a lot, then McDaniel likely exits and the new coach would figure out whether to make it work with Tagovailoa or sustain the crushing cap consequences of parting ways this upcoming offseason (without anyone necessarily as good or better available to replace him).
Commit these numbers to memory: Tagovailoa’s $54 million salary next season is guaranteed, and his cap hit will jump from $39.1 million to $56.1 million, not ideal for a team that’s $11.6 million over next year’s projected cap, per overthecap.com.
If they move on from him this offseason, the Dolphins’ 2026 cap hit for Tagovailoa would be:
1). $99.2 million if he’s cut before June 1.
2) $45.2 million if he’s traded before June 1.
3). $67.4 million if he’s cut after June 1, with another $31.8 million on Miami’s 2027 cap.
4) $13.4 million if he’s traded after June 1, per overthecap.com.
The view here: Unless the opportunity to land a top quarterback suddenly falls in Miami’s lap (unlikely, with the Dolphins 11th in draft order), then go one more year with Tagovailoa while drafting a quarterback (if there’s a promising one available) in the first three rounds next April.
While Tagovailoa hasn’t been very good (88.1 passer rating), he hasn’t been atrocious, either. He has a higher passer rating than Bo Nix, Bryce Young (who’s on the ascent) and Trevor Lawrence, among others.
His 17 TD passes top the totals of Jalen Hurts, Jordan Love, Caleb Williams and Lawrence (among those with at least 10 starts).
His 68.3 completion percentage (albeit boosted by a lot of short throws) is ninth in the league and better than the accuracy rates for Lamar Jackson, Love, Hurts, Justin Herbert, Aaron Rodgers, Matt Stafford and Patrick Mahomes.
The 13 interceptions (tied with Geno Smith for the league lead), combined with unacceptable performances against Indianapolis and Cleveland -- on top of the durability questions and the limited mobility and the shaky arm strength -- all suggest he’s likely not the long-term answer.
It’s now clear to everyone with eyes that Tagovailoa must be close to perfect to overcome all of the physical limitations working against him. But even if he’s not Mr. Right, he might remain Mr. Right Now for 2026.
Incidentally, the question “What do the Dolphins have in Quinn Ewers” should be on this list. But it’s not on this list because McDaniel - who needs to save his job - has said he’s going to play the quarterback that gives the team the best chance to win. And Tagovailoa likely would need to unravel over multiple games for Ewers to earn a shot.
▪ Should the Dolphins prepare a mega extension for De’Von Achane, who likely will seek one heading into the final year of his rookie contract?
The answer seems obvious - Yes! - barring a major injury or an unexpected regression over the final six weeks.
A point of reference might be James Cook’s August extension with Buffalo (four years, $48 million with $30 million guaranteed).
But even that might not be enough to satisfy his Roc Nation representation, considering he ranks fourth in scrimmage yards, third in rushing yards and second in yards per carry.
The Dolphins have had so many draft misses that they really need to start doing whatever it takes to keep the ones they hit on.
As we noted in our Friday six-pack here, Achane is the first Dolphin with back-to-back seasons of 900 plus rushing yards since Reggie Bush did it in 2011 and 2012. His 5.5 rushing average on 470 career carries would rank among the best all time if he can somehow sustain it. Jim Brown averaged 5.2, Mercury Morris 5.1, Gale Sayers and Barry Sanders 5.0.
▪ Can Austin Jackson’s health be trusted to give him another year at right tackle?
Next Sunday against New Orleans, Jackson seems positioned to return from a toe injury that has sidelined him since the opener. He’s fine when healthy, but the problem is that he has played in just one of Miami’s last 20 games since last Nov. 4, because of knee and toe injuries.
Keep in mind that Jackson is due $9.9 million next season (none of that is guaranteed) with a $15.8 million cap hit.
If the Dolphins decide to part ways, his cap hit would be $13.8 million if the Dolphins release or trade him before June 1, but just $4.3 million after June 1 (with a $9.5 million hit in 2027).
The first inclination here: See how well he plays over the final six games. If he’s mediocre or injured again, and if Miami drafts a right tackle in the first two rounds in April, consider making him a post-June 1 cut. But there’s no reason to rush into a decision before the draft.
▪ Is what’s left on the roster at tight end nearly enough to not make this a priority?
On paper, it needs to be a priority. How Greg Dulcich and Julian Hill play -- and whether Darren Waller can convince the team he can stay healthy and produce in 2026 (a highly risky proposition) -- will determine whether this is a neon-flashing “immediate attention” priority or a second-tier need.
Dulcich has impressed everyone (eight catches for 89 yards, decent blocking) since replacing an injured Waller on the 53, while playing 23, 31 and 30 offensive snaps the past three games. Hill, ranked by PFF 53rd of 74 tight ends, has largely been an asset in the running game.
Waller, limited to four games this season, is now eligible to return from a pectoral injury, with an update due Monday.
In a league with mostly non-guaranteed contracts, I would never resent an NFL player demanding more money. But the shame is that Jonnu Smith, 30, was the perfect fit in Miami and has been underutilized in Pittsburgh (26 receptions for 163 yards and 6.3 per catch).
Keep in mind that none of $7 million Steelers salary is guaranteed next season. A return to Miami, where he caught 88 passes for 884 yards last season, would make a lot of sense, if the Steelers jettison him and if the Dolphins and Smith can agree on a salary.
▪ Should James Daniels return at right guard and should Jonah Savaiinaea return unopposed at left guard?
Daniels, who signed a three-year deal with Miami in March but hasn’t played since the opener, needs to make it back from a pectoral injury to convince the Dolphins he’s the same player who remarkably permitted only two sacks over his final 39 games (and 1367 pass blocking snaps) with Pittsburgh. He has missed 23 of the past 24 games, factoring in last year’s torn Achilles in Week 4 for the Steelers.
Daniels, at his best, is far better than Dolphins fill-in starter Cole Strange, who is ranked 73rd of 80 guards by PFF.
Daniels remains a bargain next season ($1.3 million base salary). His 2026 Dolphins cap hit would drop from $4.9 million to $1.2 million with a post-June 1 cut. (It’s $4.8 million pre-June 1.) If he’s healthy, it’s sensible to give him another season.
As for Savaiinaea, he’s coming off one of his two best games against Washington, per PFF. But in PFF’s estimation, he hasn’t played above average in a single game this year and the web site ranks him 80th among 80 guards. He leads all NFL guards in quarterback pressures allowed (30) and has yielded the second-most sacks (four).
Beyond Tagovailoa’s future, there’s no more important offensive issue over the final six weeks than getting a read on whether Miami can confidently project him as an unquestioned starter in 2026.
▪ Excluding Tyreek Hill (who likely will be released from his current contract), are there any long-term top-four receivers on the roster beyond Jaylen Waddle?
Unlikely with Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (a good player who simply hasn’t been a good fit here), Cedrick Wilson Jr. and Dee Eskridge (who probably deserves more of a chance). It seem unlikely with Tahj Washington.
And while the answer is probably yes with Malik Washington, there needs to be more in order to confidently project a top three receiver role next season.
Washington has solidified his future as a returner; among players with at least 10 returns, he’s fifth in kickoff return average (at 26.5) and fourth in punt return average (at 14.8).
But as a receiver, only 12 of 33 receptions have resulted in first downs, compared to 13 of 26 last season. In his defense, he hasn’t received very good blocking; his average yards after catch from the slot (5.8) stands in the top third of the league among receivers and better than his 4.9 last season.
He’s likely a No. 1 returner and top five receiver on a good team, but is he more than that? To be determined, like everything else on this list.
NEWS NOTE
The Dolphins placed inside linebacker Jordan Colbert on injured reserve on Friday, likely ending his season. The team did not immediate fill the spot on the 53-man roster, but one option would be right tackle Austin Jackson, who began practicing last week after recovering from a Week 1 toe injury.
Colbert, who moved from safety to linebacker earlier this season, was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster on Oct. 8. In five appearances this season, he played no defensive snaps and 62 special teams snaps.
Here’s my Friday 6-pack, including the Dolphins’ legwork on Riley Patterson and notes on Jordyn Brooks, Jack Jones and more.
This story was originally published November 21, 2025 at 3:20 PM.
