Kelly: Ranking the Dolphins’ position needs as free agency approaches | Option
This is the most pressure-filled offseason the Miami Dolphins have experienced in two decades, if not more.
The entire roster needs to be overhauled in an offseason where everyone in the organization knows the team’s executives and coaches are on unstable footing. If South Florida’s NFL franchise doesn’t win double-digit games everyone will be fired.
That’s the position owner Steve Ross put everyone in by keeping things status quo, and openly saying he expects better from his franchise in 2025. Now general manager Chris Grier and coach Mike McDaniel can’t afford a misstep in rebuilding the roster.
But there are so many holes to fill and so little cap space to work with at the moment.
Here’s a look at how I would rank the Dolphins’ position needs heading into the start of free agency, which is set up by next week’s NFL Combine.
SAFETY
The only safety under contract on the roster is Patrick McMorris, last year’s sixth-round pick, who played sparingly after coming off injured reserve late in the season. Jevon Holland won’t be tagged and is expected to leave in free agency, and Jordan Poyer’s play last year hints he’s no longer an NFL starter. Elijah Campbell, a special teams ace, is also a free agent, so Miami needs to add at least three safeties this spring. It will likely be a mix of veterans and rookies.
OFFENSIVE LINE
The Dolphins need to add two starting guards unless Liam Eichenberg, Robert Jones or Isaiah Wynn are re-signed, and that doesn’t even address the unit’s overall depth. The Dolphins will either lower Terron Armstead’s salary or release the five-time Pro Bowler and elevate Patrick Paul to the starting spot. If Armstead departs Miami will need to add two offensive tackles because Kendall Lamm will either retire, or play for a team closer to his North Carolina home. Expect Miami to address this unit with veterans and draftees.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Zach Sieler is the only defensive lineman on the roster, and he’s one of the NFL’s biggest bargains (set to earn $7.8 million in 2025), so expect him to ask for a raise this offseason. Miami would love to re-sign Calais Campbell, but the 17-year veteran must decide if he plans to continue playing, and he might prefer to leave the Dolphins to join a contender chasing the Super Bowl win that has eluded him if the money offered by Miami isn’t respectable. Miami needs to add two 300-pound run-stuffers and a nose tackle unless Campbell, Benito Jones, Da’Shawn Hand or Matt Dickerson are brought back. Last year Miami signed three veterans to minimum-salary deals and only Jones made it onto the 53-man roster. Miami can’t take that approach again this year.
INSIDE LINEBACKER
Jordyn Brooks had a productive 2024 season, one that hints he can anchor Miami’s defense for years to come if he can stay healthy. But Miami needs to find a run-stuffing inside linebacker who can help the defense tighten the screws. Tyrel Dodson, a free agent, is more of a weak-side linebacker like Brooks. He will be signing with the highest bidder and that might not be Miami based on the productivity he had last season. Re-signing Anthony Walker Jr. is a possibility, especially since his injury history won’t make him expensive, and he’s a South Florida resident who intentionally came home last offseason. Miami needs more than one inside linebacker unless they plan to re-sign Duke Riley because Channing Tindall, a 2022 third-round pick, hasn’t proven he can be counted on.
QUARTERBACK
Tua Tagovailoa is the only quarterback on Miami’s roster, which is problematic considering he missed six and a half games last season because of the concussion he suffered in Week 2, and because of a hip injury that forced him to sit out the season’s final two games. Re-signing Tyler “Snoop” Huntley is an option, but the goal should be to add a quarterback who can win half the games he’s asked to start. That wasn’t Huntley last season. Adding a veteran like Marcus Mariota, Jimmy Garoppolo, Joshua Dobbs could get the job done, but it would be cheaper to draft a quarterback like Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart, Syracuse’s Kyle McCord and and Alabama’s Jalen Milroe in Day 2 or 3 and have him develop on a rookie deal for his first four years. Problem is, could a rookie keep this team afloat if Tagovailoa is sidelined another six games?
CORNERBACK
Cutting Kendall Fuller earlier this month makes this position jump up a couple spots on the needs list because whoever lines up opposite Jalen Ramsey will be consistently attacked. Young players such as Cam Smith, Storm Duck and Ethan Bonner haven’t proven they can handle that starting boundary role. So Miami would benefit from adding a veteran, especially since Kader Kohou is a restricted free agent this offseason. Expect Miami to extend Kohou the right of first refusal tender ($3.2 million), but it’s not out of the question that some team might bid higher (think three years, $15 million) hoping the Dolphins are tight on funds and opt not to match an offer sheet for Kohou, who had a productive third season in 2024.
TAILBACK
De’Von Achane had a productive second season in the NFL, taking over the starting role from Raheem Mostert, who was released earlier this month. The Dolphins have Achane under contract for two more seasons at a cheap rate, but there’s only rookie tailback Jaylen Wright behind him on the roster at this time. Mostert is unlikely to be re-signed, and the word on the street is that Jeff Wilson Jr. is seeking a fresh opportunity elsewhere. Miami needs to add at least two tailbacks before training camp arrives, but they could be late-round draft picks or inexpensive veterans since Miami’s top two backs have upside.
TIGHT END/ FULLBACK
Jonnu Smith set franchise records for the position last season, and remains under contract for another season. Julian Hill leapfrogged Durham Smythe on the depth chart as Miami’s in-line tight end, which explains why Smythe got released earlier this month. Tanner Conner and Alec Ingold still have upside when healthy (neither was last season), but Miami would benefit from adding another in-line player unless Jack Stoll is re-signed. This is a good tight end draft class and going that route could position Miami well when Smith’s contract expires at the end of 2025.
EDGE RUSHER
This position has a solid trio of potential starters in Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips and Chop Robinson if Chubb isn’t released as a June 1 cut, clearing $19.5 million in cap space. That money couldn’t be used in free agency, but would set up the franchise well for future years. If Chubb is released edge rusher jumps to the top of the list of position needs because Phillips is rehabbing an ACL tear he sustained in late September, Robinson hasn’t proven he’s an every down player, and Emmauel Ogbah is a free agent. You can never have enough pass rushers, so don’t be surprised to see Miami add a couple of inexpensive players in free agency.
RECEIVER
Miami has a solid trio in Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Malik Washington, who had a promising second half of a rookie season, if Hill isn’t traded (and he likely won’t be because Miami can’t get adequate value for him on the trade market). Hill and Waddle are also one of the most expensive receiver duos in the NFL, so expecting Miami to sign or trade for an expensive veteran is unrealistic. However, the Dolphins would benefit from adding some size to the room, especially if Grant Dubose isn’t re-signed.
