How did the Front Office really do?

[rent this space]

Highly unlikely they sign anyone especially most of the stop gaps you’ve mentioned. They are doing a soft reset and that means getting useless contracts off the books and not wasting money. Miami will likely need most of their remaining cap to trade Ramsey. Hopefully they take the whole hit this year instead of trying to spread it out which will set us up nicely next year.

Don’t expect anyone over vet minimum maybe Ramsey trade comes with a player. Oline maybe Wynn resigning, would love Trystan colon. Both vet minimum players that won’t hurt salary cap. Corner is picked bone dry nothing but retirement home guys and damaged goods, roll with what you got. Cam smith time to sink or swim.

That's what I'm hoping for

 

[AMakados10]

OL-
James Daniels and Jonah Savanaiiea should upgrade the guard spots big time. Depth and the swing tackle need to be improved, I think we missed adding some depth in this draft namely players like Miles Frazier and Cameron Williams

Who is left who can help: G's Will Hernandez, Brandon Scherff and Dalton Risner, think adding one of them would be some nice insurance in case there are any delays in development of the rook or injury concerns. Is there a guy who could serve as a swing tackle? Maybe Jedrick Wills who played well his first two years but it's been downhill ever since, including a litany of injuries. Maybe a change of scenery helps?

Grade: B, downgraded for signing or re-signing 3 players who shouldn't be on any NFL roster and for only taking one OL in this draft.

DL-
We were down to Seiler and 3 guys who could be working for Amazon before the draft. Strangely let D'shawn Hand, who seemed like a really go fit here, leave for LA for not a lot of money.

We drafted 3 nose tackles, the first, Kenneth Grant, we hope will prove to be a 3 down player. Looks like Biggers and Phillips are strictly nose tackles but I liked the strategy to draft three DTs but it would be nice to add a guy with more experience and pass rush ability.

Who is left: How about the other Jordan Phillips, the one we drafted out of Oklahoma not that long ago? He was a good player here and in Buffalo and AZ. Not the easiest guy to get along with but who cares, I think he still has a lot left. He didn't leave Miami under McD in a huff, he wasn't fond of Gase. Hopefully he didn't burn any bridges here that would preclude him coming back.

Grade: B+ because Kenneth Grant will be a force on the D-line and think the Day 3 picks will at least be good rotational players

Secondary-
What a mess. Ramsey, Fuller, Holland and the shell of Jordan Poyer all out the door, or soon will be. We needed to get at least a couple of players out of the draft last week and I don't think we did. If someone asked me would you rather have Jason Marshall and Dante Trader or BJ Adams and John Saunders Jr., I think I'd opt for the two guys we got after the draft. I think Trader can play, he looks faster than his alleged 4.65 time. Not so sure about Marshall unless we can coach more than a few bad habits out of him.

I can't ever remember have such an inexperienced and talent thin group in the back four. Did we get a starter out of this draft and UDFA class? I don't think so. Would hate to see us throw in late round rookies or UDFAs because they are the best of the options. Wasn't really impressed with Ashtyn Davis who was a second rounder who never grabbed the starting spot for the NYJ. He's a nickel safety and the other guy we signed, Iffy, has the perfect nickname. Iffy that he'll be available to play, iffy that he'll be here in 2026.

Artie Burns was about the most Grier thing Grier did this offseason outside of re-signing the turnstiles we played last year at RG and RT.

By punting on the middle of this draft we gave up on players like Jaylen Reed and Quincy Riley, guys given the lack of DB talent on this roster, had a chance to play a lot, if not start.

Who's left: We could gamble on a greybeard like Stephon Gilmore who can still play a bit and provides leadership but the guy I really like, esp on a multiple year deal is Julian Blackmon who is young and is a proven safety. I'd be good with Justin Simmons too but he might want to go out with a real contender.

Grade: D, this is the weakest unit on the team in a league that still is a passing league and in a conference that has some great QBs and passing offenses. If you have 3 weak units going into the draft and offseason one of them is going to get hosed and for us it appears to be our secondary.

Don't know how the OL is a B?

We lost a great OT in Armstead (89.4 grade) and solid swing OT in Lamm (72.7). At best, this is an even swap year 1 with Daniels coming off an Achilles injury and Jonah as a rookie.

However, we're an injured OL'r or two away from Eichenberg (53.1) and/or Borom (53.8) starting in there, which is worst depth than we had last season imo.

GG Grier

 

[djphinfan]

They have fixed some things, and haven’t done anything dumb like trading picks for expensive vets, restructuring bad contracts, or overpaid for free agents.

The lines are much improved with youth, and they committed to improve those areas. 2025, by all accounts, isn’t the year, but the fixed some future stuff.

I don’t have much faith and trust in Grier, but IMO this offseason is an upward trend

Yeah I can see that

 

[JamesWsenior]

I guess we all kinda knew it was going to be a dismal offseason,
And honestly even with cap space and 10 picks that were used well, it would be tough to fix all 3 key areas we've mentioned. Grier had some bad luck with Ramsey and Armstead but I think he's always lacked the vision, talent evaluating skills and creativity to put together solid rosters. There's always a hole and it's because he doesn't draft well enough. the 2020 and 2021 drafts could have set us up for a decade had he drafted more competently. Not to be even more pessimistic but if Grier couldn't put together a solid nucleus with the 20 and 21 drafts with all those first and second day picks he had how is he going to rebuild the roster with this draft and next year's? I'd submit to you that he hasn't gotten off to a great (re)start with his results from this draft.

Eye of the beholder. I am stoked at what Grant / Jordan will bring to the Dline, hopeful of a return of Chubb/Phillips+ Chop. Really interested to see how the Oline performs and a return of some semblance of an up the middle running game, and the goodness it can bring to the passing game.

One area of concern still is the secondary, in particular corner but me thinks we aren't done dealing in that area yet.

 

[mwestberry]

Why on Earth would Miami release Bradley Chubb? It would literally cost the team nearly $24mm MORE over the next two seasons to cut him rather than keep him in 2025.

You may be right ...

I think because of the injury and age, the team can save 19m towards the cap post June 1.
I may be wrong on that, but IIRC it's what I have read.

 

[mwestberry]

why do you expect Chubb to be released?

The significance of his injury vs. age ...
I think it's a post-June 1 cut.

 

[MrClean]

This team is a long way from great. Offensive line and secondary are the biggest weaknesses. Need our draft picks this year to hit and then hit again next year.

Patriots and Jets have new coaches. I fear they are both going to work out well for them. Patriots had one of the best drafts of any team this year. Jets got better on the OL with Membou and better at TE with Mason Taylor.

I could see us struggling to reach 500 this year.

So, Miami got better on the OL with Savaiinaea and better at TE with Jalin Conyers.

 

[MrClean]

Thoughts on this, not necessarily in order of importance:

1) Ramsey isn't out the door. Miami and he are mutually seeking a trade. There are 24 million reasons Jalen Ramsey should show up to camp if an acceptable trade isn't reached.

2) I 100% agree on the OL FA bit.

3) I mentioned the other Jordan Phillips previously, but entirely for name entertainment purposes. Just no. There are other DT vets out there. Former Dolphin John Jenkins comes to mind.

If we sign a veteran IDL, Jonathan Bullard makes the most sense IMO.

 

[The Goat]

You may be right ...

I think because of the injury and age, the team can save 19m towards the cap post June 1.
I may be wrong on that, but IIRC it's what I have read.

Per Over The Cap, a post June 1 cut saves the team $100,000, and pushes $23.6mm dead cap into 2026.

 

[Finswatch]

Don't know how the OL is a B?

We lost a great OT in Armstead (89.4 grade) and solid swing OT in Lamm (72.7). At best, this is an even swap year 1 with Daniels coming off an Achilles injury and Jonah as a rookie.

However, we're an injured OL'r or two away from Eichenberg (53.1) and/or Borom (53.8) starting in there, which is worst depth than we had last season imo.

GG Grier

I gave them a B because Grier signed a good guard in FA (albeit coming off a major injury) and was aggressive to trade up to get what they, and many, perceived was the best guard left on the board. I do believe the Pats, or some other team, would have taken Jonah before pick 48.

I gave them a B for how they addressed the weakness of the OL (guard)

However you make a good point, if you grade them on the total effort to improve the line, backups included, the grade drops.

 

[mwestberry]

Per Over The Cap, a post June 1 cut saves the team $100,000, and pushes $23.6mm dead cap into 2026.

OK ...
Seiler ... needed help
Phillips and Chubb back ... stronger
Chop's progress .... better, more depth
Expectations of rookie contribution x 2 ... stronger, more depth, and better

Hell, that's just the DL

 

[Highzenga]

Many here seem to be down on the off season. I think this will be the best offense we’ve had in the McDaniel era.
On the defense we need to add a vet cb & dt.
I like our youth. We went from one of the oldest teams to one of the youngest. Tua’s good for 9-10 wins by himself. The road schedule looks insanely easy. We should easily be a playoff team.

 

[Michael Scott]

Probably the lowest expectations I’ve had for a Dolphins team since the self-failed tank season in 2019. The positive there is that I’ll be able to kick back and just enjoy football. Less Sunday afternoon anxiety.

The way this offseason was handled from the very get go has mentally prepared me for the next rebuild. And I’m fine with that.

 

[NoblePhin]

Get another DE, OT, and CB and I will feel better about this squad. The dumbest thing we're going to do this offseason is trade Ramsey and lose a crap load of cap. Which is odd because they spent all offseason being frugal as possible. Who knows, maybe those are both intertwined. This whole roster is going to be trial by fire, which honestly I'm cool with. Should get interesting.

 

[phinsforlife]

OL-
James Daniels and Jonah Savanaiiea should upgrade the guard spots big time. Depth and the swing tackle need to be improved, I think we missed adding some depth in this draft namely players like Miles Frazier and Cameron Williams

Who is left who can help: G's Will Hernandez, Brandon Scherff and Dalton Risner, think adding one of them would be some nice insurance in case there are any delays in development of the rook or injury concerns. Is there a guy who could serve as a swing tackle? Maybe Jedrick Wills who played well his first two years but it's been downhill ever since, including a litany of injuries. Maybe a change of scenery helps?

Grade: B, downgraded for signing or re-signing 3 players who shouldn't be on any NFL roster and for only taking one OL in this draft.

DL-
We were down to Seiler and 3 guys who could be working for Amazon before the draft. Strangely let D'shawn Hand, who seemed like a really go fit here, leave for LA for not a lot of money.

We drafted 3 nose tackles, the first, Kenneth Grant, we hope will prove to be a 3 down player. Looks like Biggers and Phillips are strictly nose tackles but I liked the strategy to draft three DTs but it would be nice to add a guy with more experience and pass rush ability.

Who is left: How about the other Jordan Phillips, the one we drafted out of Oklahoma not that long ago? He was a good player here and in Buffalo and AZ. Not the easiest guy to get along with but who cares, I think he still has a lot left. He didn't leave Miami under McD in a huff, he wasn't fond of Gase. Hopefully he didn't burn any bridges here that would preclude him coming back.

Grade: B+ because Kenneth Grant will be a force on the D-line and think the Day 3 picks will at least be good rotational players

Secondary-
What a mess. Ramsey, Fuller, Holland and the shell of Jordan Poyer all out the door, or soon will be. We needed to get at least a couple of players out of the draft last week and I don't think we did. If someone asked me would you rather have Jason Marshall and Dante Trader or BJ Adams and John Saunders Jr., I think I'd opt for the two guys we got after the draft. I think Trader can play, he looks faster than his alleged 4.65 time. Not so sure about Marshall unless we can coach more than a few bad habits out of him.

I can't ever remember have such an inexperienced and talent thin group in the back four. Did we get a starter out of this draft and UDFA class? I don't think so. Would hate to see us throw in late round rookies or UDFAs because they are the best of the options. Wasn't really impressed with Ashtyn Davis who was a second rounder who never grabbed the starting spot for the NYJ. He's a nickel safety and the other guy we signed, Iffy, has the perfect nickname. Iffy that he'll be available to play, iffy that he'll be here in 2026.

Artie Burns was about the most Grier thing Grier did this offseason outside of re-signing the turnstiles we played last year at RG and RT.

By punting on the middle of this draft we gave up on players like Jaylen Reed and Quincy Riley, guys given the lack of DB talent on this roster, had a chance to play a lot, if not start.

Who's left: We could gamble on a greybeard like Stephon Gilmore who can still play a bit and provides leadership but the guy I really like, esp on a multiple year deal is Julian Blackmon who is young and is a proven safety. I'd be good with Justin Simmons too but he might want to go out with a real contender.

Grade: D, this is the weakest unit on the team in a league that still is a passing league and in a conference that has some great QBs and passing offenses. If you have 3 weak units going into the draft and offseason one of them is going to get hosed and for us it appears to be our secondary.

ESPN dropped them 2 slots in their power rankings - from 18 to 20, post the draft: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...season-postdraft-poll-most-improved-positions