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Miami Dolphins 2025 NFL Season Preview

[Editor's note: This article is from Athlon Sports' 2025 NFL Preview Magazine. Order your copy today online or pick one up at retail racks and newsstands nationwide.]

The weather isn’t the only thing warm in South Florida. Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier might want to check the temperature of their seats.

The tandem was brought back after a disappointing 8-9 2024 season, but owner Stephen Ross’ statement, released about an hour after last season’s finale, made it clear that the status quo was not acceptable.

Miami remains the franchise with the NFL’s longest playoff win drought, last winning a postseason game on Dec. 30, 2000. The franchise did make wild-card appearances in the 2022 and ’23 seasons, but after failing to make the playoffs in ’24, merely sneaking in and bowing out in the first round this season would feel like a positive trend.

More NFL team previews

AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots

AFC North:Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers

AFC South:Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans

AFC West: Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders

NFC East:Commanders | Cowboys | Eagles | Giants

NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings

NFC South: Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints

NFC West: 49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks

One reason for pessimism: The roster, on paper, doesn’t stack up to those of recent Dolphins teams. Three-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey is certain to be traded away. Another possible future Hall of Famer, defensive lineman Calais Campbell, fled to the Arizona Cardinals while still playing at a high level at age 38. His departure and the retirement of five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead create a huge leadership void.

The most high-profile remaining veteran, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, is now at a point where he creates more off-field distractions than on-field production after failing to reach 1,000 receiving yards in 2024 and missing the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career.

Offense

The most important factor for the Dolphins offense is quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s availability. He missed six games in 2024 — four due to an IR stint for a concussion and two more with a hip injury at the end of the season. Miami was 2-4 in those games.

Although he led the league in completion percentage a year after directing the league’s No. 1 passing offense, Tagovailoa’s play left much to be desired. But his presence still matters a great deal to this offense.

Jan 5, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel on the field before the game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Uploaded:

If Tagovailoa misses time again, new No. 2 Zach Wilson’s familiarity with a similar offense under offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur with the New York Jets can only help. Wilson, though, still feels more like a project than a proven, veteran backup who can keep a season afloat if Tagovailoa is sidelined again.

The wide receiver tandem of Hill and Jaylen Waddle could use a resurgence to its form from the pair’s first two years together. They were unable to beat a variety of bracket coverages deriving from two-high-safety looks last season.

One facet that can help is the addition of Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, who gives the receiving corps a bigger-bodied red-zone threat to complement the smaller, speedy Hill and Waddle. Westbrook-Ikhine is also touted for his blocking, which can help open up a struggling run game.

Tight end Jonnu Smith, who broke Dolphins records at the position last year with 88 receptions for 884 yards and eight touchdowns, can also take some of the heat off Hill and Waddle, but Smith, Miami’s lone Pro Bowl selection last season, is a liability as a blocker.

Miami boasts a big-play run game with running back De’Von Achane — but it’s very hit or miss. The Dolphins don’t convert well in short-yardage situations, and while Achane can hit the home run, he gets tackled behind the line of scrimmage too often.

The offseason started with Grier saying he needed to invest in the offensive line. He dished out his biggest contract in the first wave of free agency to guard James Daniels, who’s coming off a torn Achilles early last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Grier also traded up in the second round of the draft to take another guard in Arizona’s Jonah Savaiinaea. Liam Eichenberg re-signed, but he will have to be better to retain his starting spot. Armstead’s retirement means that 2024 second-round pick Patrick Paul, who was still raw as a rookie and needs to make strides, is the new starting left tackle.

Defense

The Ramsey trade talks greatly impact coordinator Anthony Weaver’s defense. Ramsey was used as what Weaver called an “ultimate chess piece.” The Dolphins will no longer have a versatile shutdown corner to put on an opponent’s top receiving threat or slide inside to play the nickel and even blitz from that position.

Aside from nickel Kader Kohou, it’s a brand-new secondary in Miami. Safety Jevon Holland departed to the New York Giants in free agency; safety Jordan Poyer is a free agent who may retire; and cornerback Kendall Fuller was released.

New safety Ifeatu Melifonwu can be that versatile defender in the secondary, capable of playing in the box, on the boundary as a corner, over the slot and in the traditional safety roles. His problem has been staying healthy. Miami also brought in a ball hawk in Ashtyn Davis at safety. Special teamer and reserve Elijah Campbell and second-year safety Patrick McMorris will also compete for playing time.

The Dolphins are sure to scour the remaining free-agent cornerback market for a starter, while youngsters Cam Smith and Storm Duck vie for a starting spot.

Defensive tackle Zach Sieler anchors the defensive line, and he is coming off back-to-back double-digit sack seasons, underscoring that he is a consistent interior pass-rusher to go with his prowess in defending the run. He has been joined by an infusion of youth on the defensive line, as Miami used the No. 13 pick of the draft on Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant and added a fifth-rounder (Jordan Phillips) and seventh-rounder (Zeek Biggers).

Dolphins linebacker Chop Robinson (44) celebrates with teammates after a defensive play during the third quarter against the Houston Texans last season.

Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Chop Robinson, a first-round pick in 2024, is coming off a six-sack season that saw him finish fifth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting, but he needs to set the edge better against the run. The Dolphins hope fellow edge rushers Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb can return to some semblance of their former selves following their respective torn ACLs. Chubb’s injury occurred late in 2023 and cost him all of last season.

The Dolphins defense has a rock in the middle in linebacker Jordyn Brooks and his 132 tackles. Miami has shuffled through inside linebackers next to him, but Tyrel Dodson finished strong there last season and looks to hold off newcomers K.J. Britt and Willie Gay Jr.

Specialists

Kicker Jason Sanders was exceptional in 2024, making 90% of his field-goal attempts, including 12-of-14 from beyond 50 yards. New special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman has brought in his former punter — the Tennessee Titans’ Ryan Stonehouse, who has one of the bigger legs in the NFL but still has to beat out incumbent Jake Bailey. Second-year receiver Malik Washington should be solid in the return game. Aukerman will have to get the Dolphins’ kickoff and punt coverage units in order, though.

Final Analysis

With a net loss of talent on the roster, it’ll take McDaniel, Tagovailoa, Hill and others to be at their best, or it will be another season of hovering around .500 and hoping for help in Week 18 to sneak into the playoffs.