Kelly: Miami Dolphins 2025 offseason superlatives | Opinion
The Miami Dolphins regressed a bit last season.
After producing four winning seasons in a row, and two straight playoff berths, last year’s Dolphins struggled with injuries early before eventually finding their footing, but fizzled at the end of the 8-9 season.
This offseason, via free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft, the team has assembled a roster they hope gets Miami back to relevancy. But based on the work the media has seen from organized team activities and minicamp, there are still plenty of questions and holes that haven’t been answered, units that still need to be upgraded and areas of concern regarding this roster.
We will soon learn if general manager Chris Grier and coach Mike McDaniel have made enough improvements to the roster to save their jobs because there are only five weeks left before training camp opens in late July,
Here’s a look at Omar Kelly’s superlatives of the Dolphins’ spring and summer, analyzing what the media was allowed to see as the team prepares for the 2025 season.
Top performer: De’Von Achane
This is my second straight offseason Achane has gotten this honor, and it’s not surprising considering he’s faster without pads than anyone else on the roster. His ability to catch passes and get upfield is eye-opening, and was on display Tuesday as he caught a short pass from Tua Tagovailoa and ran it 50-plus yards for a touchdown since nobody got within 10 yards of him. The biggest concern about Achane is his durability, and whetherthe 5-9, 188-pounder can convert in short-yardage situations.
Biggest addition: James Daniels
Miami clearly needed to upgrade the interior of the offense line, and the hope is that they did so by signing Daniels a three-year, $24 million contract this offseason. Problem is, we have only seen him do position work once this summer because of the Achilles injury he sustained last September while a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. If Daniels is who he has been throughout his eight-year career it’s clearly an upgrade. If he performs like a declining NFL offensive linemen this team’s in trouble because that means we’re right back to Liam Eichenberg being a starter.
Most improved player: Jaylen Wright
Wright got off to a hot start last season and then disappeared around midseason for unknown reasons. We all have our theories, and Wright admitted his lack of offensive snaps was a point of frustration his rookie season. He has redefined his body, sculpting his upper torso, and runs like his feet are on fire every time the media has attended practice. We will see if that translates when the pads come on in August, and the action’s live in September.
Most impressive rookie: Jonah Savaiinaea
Because there are no pads on players during the offseason work, I can’t testify that the Dolphins’ second-round pick has what it takes to be a bona fide NFL starting guard. The intensity of trench plays goes up a decibel or two when the pads come on, and another decibel or two when it’s an opponent hitting you, and not a teammate. What I can say is that the role of replacing Robert Jones doesn’t look too tough for the former Arizona standout, whom the Dolphins are putting in position to become a Day 1 starter.
Area of concern: Cornerbacks
The blind is leading the blind in this unit. With Jalen Ramsey’sd impending trade awaiting its conclusion the most seasoned cornerback expected to make the 53-man roster is Kader Kohou, and he’s an established nickel cornerback who has struggled most of his career when asked to play on the boundary. At this point we can pull two names out of a hat to determine who the two other starting cornerbacks are and it would have a good shot to be accurate as anything else. Kendall Sheffield, a fifth-year veteran who is on his seventh team, arrived in May and has already jumped to the top of the depth chart. This unit needs reinforcements badly.
Area of strength: Edge rushers
If Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb and Chop Robinson are all healthy for a season — and that’s a huge if considering Phillips’ and Chubb’s injury histories — the Dolphins have a trio of pass rushers who can each deliver 10 sacks in a season if they play 40 snaps a piece a game. Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver should be able to create a third-down package that features all three on the field together with Zach Sieler, and that approach might skyrocket the Dolphins defense. But again, everyone has to stay healthy, and that has sparingly happened during Phillips and Chubbs’ NFL careers.
Biggest Surprise: Willie Gay Jr.
Gay joined the Dolphins this offseason, signing a minimum salary contract because Miami was the only NFL team that made this 55-game starter an offer. Consider the Dolphins lucky because this undersized hybrid linebacker, who sparingly played with the Saints last season, has showcased himself as a playmaker. He has flashed a half dozen times in the practices the media has watched, and it’s reminiscent of when Anthony Walker Jr. established himself as a playmaker in camp before becoming a Dolphins starter at midseason last year.
Pushing for playing time: Malik Washington
Washington, a 2024 sixth-round pick who established himself as Miami’s third receiver late last season, is seemingly holding off Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Dee Eskridge and Tahj Washington, establishing himself as the receiver all quarterbacks lean on no matter what unit he’s working with. Washington’s already the front-runner to handle Miami’s punt return duties this season. That means he’s a lock for the 53-man roster, and will be active on game day if he keeps making plays like the 50-yard touchdown reception he pulled down from Tagovailoa during Tuesday’s minicamp practice.
Needs the most work: Zach Wilson
Wilson did very little to distance himself from his reputation as a first-round bust during the Dolphins’ practices the media watched. The second overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft has a cannon for an arm, but misfires about three to five passes a practice. He clearly needs to work on his accuracy, footwork, decision-making and playing on schedule in Miami’s offense. Mike McDaniel has hinted that Wilson needs to break the habit of leaning on his arm strength, which is what motivates plenty of his late throws. In McDaniel’s offense it’s more important to play on schedule.
Biggest mystery: Patrick Paul
Paul looks the part of a bookend left tackle. He’s a 6-foot-7, 332-pounder with long arms, baby abs and the athleticism to make plays downfield in the run game. He spent all last season practicing as a starter, filling in for the often-injured and now-retired Terron Armstead. But his play was somewhat erratic in his three starts last season. The hope is that the speed of the game slows down for Paul, and he consistently improves as he gets more starts under his belt. Miami needs him to play well and stay healthy because there isn’t a decent backup left tackle on the roster based on the practices the media has witnessed.
