***OFFICIAL REBUILDING THE DOLPHINS THREAD*** | Page 26 | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

***OFFICIAL REBUILDING THE DOLPHINS THREAD***

Dynastybuilder said:
You don’t move Minkah for the sake of moving Minkah. This team does not need to be stripped to the studs.

You need to surround your talent with other talent. That’s how you build a winning program. There’s no need to extend him immediately but you also don’t sell for pennies on the dollar.
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Yep. The juice has to be worth the squeeze, so to speak. He’s 29, not deceased.
 
Dynastybuilder said:
You don’t move Minkah for the sake of moving Minkah. This team does not need to be stripped to the studs.

You need to surround your talent with other talent. That’s how you build a winning program. There’s no need to extend him immediately but you also don’t sell for pennies on the dollar.
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The debate seems to turn on "This team does not need to be stripped to the studs." Obviously, there are some here who disagree. In their opinion, '26 Dolphins should be nothing other than rookies, UFL guys, and every minimum salary vet they can get. Preferably, vets with a terrible injury hx and/or lowest ranked vet at their position. All because, as everyone knows, every QB taken in top 3 always turns out to be HOF and leads their team to a SB every other year. <sarcasm>
Reality is, that won't happen. JES/Haf will try to get the best players possible and keep good/committed players if possible, barring amazingly good offers. I still won't be surprised to see quite a few of the '25 roster on the '26 roster and a lot of '25 starters (e.g., Seiler, MF) on the roster. I won't be surprised to see Sav, Jax, and Paul starting. This will be an interesting off-season.
 
fansinceGWilson said:
The debate seems to turn on "This team does not need to be stripped to the studs." Obviously, there are some here who disagree. In their opinion, '26 Dolphins should be nothing other than rookies, UFL guys, and every minimum salary vet they can get. Preferably, vets with a terrible injury hx and/or lowest ranked vet at their position. All because, as everyone knows, every QB taken in top 3 always turns out to be HOF and leads their team to a SB every other year. <sarcasm>
Reality is, that won't happen. JES/Haf will try to get the best players possible and keep good/committed players if possible, barring amazingly good offers. I still won't be surprised to see quite a few of the '25 roster on the '26 roster and a lot of '25 starters (e.g., Seiler, MF) on the roster. I won't be surprised to see Sav, Jax, and Paul starting. This will be an interesting off-season.
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Well, here’s the thing to me.

What are the odds that a 4th or 5th round pick results in a player that could potentially positively impact the Dolphins to the extent that Fitz could in 2027 and potentially beyond?

I think they’re pretty low.
 
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The Goat said:
SO.

Apparently, someone has decided to double down on calling Minkah Fitzpatrick "mediocre" and presented trading him as "addition by subtraction."

Let's just pull that crazy train over to a siding and examine what's going on for a moment, shall we? First, let's talk about "trying to trade Minkah" vs. "engaged in trade talks." It's been reported in a couple places that the Dolphins are "engaged in trade talks" or "fielding calls about trade offers" for Fitzpatrick.

Of course they are. They're rebuilding the team. It doesn't mean they're in "fire sale" mode like the crazed puppy driving the train says they are. If another team offers what Miami feels is an acceptable trade package for Minkah, then sure, trade him for the benefit of helping the team. I don't know what that potential package is, you don't know what that package is, and the crazed pup barking at mailboxes as his crazy train hurtles down the tracks toward Bonkers Land certainly doesn't. But I'd be willing to bet that it's higher than most suspect, otherwise Minkah would probably be traded already.

Next, let's discuss the word "mediocre." The Oxford English Dictionary defines the word as "of only moderate quality; not very good." Our canine-visaged friend has repeatedly perpetuated the falsehood that Minkah wasn't very good last year. He then goes on to debate whether he was the fifth or seventh best safety last year, neither of which is remotely definable as "not very good," and falls back on his "eye test" as further evidence. (As a note on that "fifth versus seventh" nonsense, Minkah was the fifth-highest-ranked safety last year. Ignoring snap counts is basically the same argument as stating "Don Shula isn't the winningest coach Miami has ever had" because Todd Bowles had a .667 winning percentage in the three games he coached.)

Last, the salary cap. Minkah Fitzpatrick is set to cost Miami $18.8mm against the cap in 2026. Trading him saves the team $5.8mm in a year that everyone seems to acknowledge doesn't matter very much. In 2027, he only costs $9.7mm.

So, maybe the team trades him if they get an offer they like. Maybe Minkah would prefer to go to a team and chase a ring this year, but note that his agent specifically stated that he has not requested a trade from the Dolphins. Or...maybe, just maybe, the front office doesn't get a trade offer that they feel is worth moving on from Minkah for. We could go round and round about the value of fourth and fifth-round picks, but if Miami isn't willing to part with him for that, he might well be in a Dolphins uniform again next year.

I get that a lot of people want Miami to be as bad as possible next year to get the #1 overall pick. Moving Minkah would definitely help with that. I get that some people might still have a bitter taste in their mouths over the way he left Miami the first time. What I don't get is calling him "mediocre" and then doubling down on that...because that's simply untrue.

Or, as my uncle would have said, "That dog don't hunt."

No, uncle, but he sure does drive crazy trains, barking wildly at whatever shiny thing he passes on his way to Bonkers Town.
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Thank you Mr Goat. You are an oasis of sanity in a desert often devoid of logic and reason.
 
The Goat said:
Well, here’s the thing to me.

What are the odds that a 4th or 5th round pick results in a player that could potentially positively impact the Dolphins to the extent that Fitz could in 2027 and potentially beyond?

I think they’re pretty low.
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I'm ok with keeping him or moving him. He was the leader of the secondary, and probably has his best season in 2-3 years. Crabbs brought up a scenario today. Dallas was interested in him last year when Miami traded for him. He mentioned sending him to Dallas for a swap of 4ths, and Miami receives a 5th as well. Miami needs draft capitol and they need cap room to operate.

They will get $20m or so from Chubb on June 2, that will sign the draft class and give them operating money during the year.

If they can't trade Tua soon, they they will probably convert some of his money to bonus, this will free up about $25m this year, but add to next year's cap (but next year they have LOTS of money). They will just keep Tua on the team till after June 1, then cut him and can stretch his money out, no designation needed for this. If they do this, they have plenty of money to operate prior to June 1.

They should cut Sanders and Ingold, that frees up just under $7m.

They will need to do something with Jackson. They could tell him he's a taking a pay cut and have him take a incentive based contract based on playing time where he could earn most of what his contract. If he doesn't want to do that, then designate him a June1, and get another $11m on top of Chubb's $20m.

If they do those other things, IMO Minkah's $5.8m savings is worth keeping to help groom younger talent. Restructure him and add a year or two to his contract and stretch it out over the 4 years with a signing bonus.

Without touching Minkah's contract, they would have between $30-$35m prior to June1, then could have another $31m after.

Definitely going to be an interesting 9 days.
 
VAFinsfan72 said:
I just dont think Waddle gives us a lot of bang for our buck.

He is basically a #2 WR but he is paid like a top 10 WR.

If we can get a 1st and a 3rd for him then I think it make sense especially since we are going to stink for the next couple of years anyway.

How good will Waddle be in 2028 and beyond?
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In what world is 'basically a #2 WR' worth a 1st and 3rd?
 
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