The Miami Dolphins appear to be at a crossroads with a big season ahead for the head coach and quarterback. What questions did the offseason bring?
Is the secondary going to be a massive issue?
The Dolphins were rumored to be a team in on a cornerback throughout the draft season, but they did not pull the trigger until round five with Jason Marshall. It still makes sense for them to listen to Jalen Ramsey calls as the season gets closer, but if they do lose him, Storm Duck, Cam Smith, and Kader Kohu all have questions, with Kohu being the only legitimate starter in the slot. With two questionable additions at safety in the draft, this could trend towards the worst secondary in the NFL without Ramsey.
Can the offensive line form together?
The Terron Armstead retirement may help in that it gives the Dolphins clarity on that position and lets them get this year to look at second-year tackle Patrick Paul. At right tackle, Austin Jackson is coming back from an injury, and at right guard, they signed James Daniels, who is coming back from an Achilles injury. They drafted Jonah Savaiinaea, and he will likely start day one, but that is three new starters and two starters coming back from significant injuries. This brings a lot of questions.
Can Ollie Gordon make his way to RB2?
Ollie Gordon won the Doak Walker in 2023 and then went in the sixth round in 2024. His stock was down, but his landing spot was soft. First, the Dolphins’ mentality this offseason was to add toughness and size up front. He brings that. Jaylen Wright is likely a backup to Devon Achane, and then Alexander Mattison is his competition for the heavier work between the tackles. Achane getting to 200 carries feels close to a peak, so there are plenty of carries available with Gordon just having to beat out Mattison for them. This could be late late-round fantasy football find.
Does trading Tyreek Hill still make sense?
The Dolphins are going to listen to Ramsey’s talks and should also continue to listen to Tyreek Hill’s talks. He is aging, he has been in the news recently, and the team will either need to restructure his deal with new year’s or move him. Their line is transitioning, and their secondary is weak. Is this the time to reset and look into 2026 with a clean cap and a few extra picks?
Are their edge rushers healthy?
The Dolphins need their pass rush to dominate if they want to compete this year. Adding Kenneth Grant to Zach Sieler is excellent. On the edges, Chop Robinson had a good year, but Jaelen Phillips and Bradley Chubb are coming back from significant lower-body injuries. Both of them need the explosion, and at their healthiest, they have a trio that can keep them in games. If they are not all firing, the unit may get exposed in the back end.
