CLEVELAND, Ohio — We have the 2025 Browns schedule, and now it’s time to look at what each of the teams they will play this season has changed ahead of the season.
I will provide these opponent breakdowns over the next several weeks leading up to the start of the season as we look at the biggest addition, subtraction, best draft pick and what they all mean for when they play the Browns.
Next up in our series is the Browns’ Week 7 opponent: the Miami Dolphins.
The Dolphins fell short of extending a postseason streak to three years in a row, finishing 8-9 in 2024. 2025 looks like it might be a transition year in Miami, especially after Jalen Ramsey was traded to the Steelers.
Here is a look at the Dolphins offseason.
Check out links to earlier posts in this series at the bottom of this post.
Biggest addition: G James Daniels.
With the injury concerns surrounding Tua Tagovailoa, offensive line is always going to be a question in Miami. It didn’t help that Miami ranked 28th in the NFL in rushing yards per carry (4.0) and 21st in total rushing. Unsurprisingly, that was a theme of Miami’s offseason and thus, a theme of this breakdown.
The Dolphins didn’t spend a lot of big money this offseason, with the addition of Daniels from the Steelers at three years and $24 million being their biggest deal.
Daniels has not made a Pro Bowl, but he has 84 starts in 90 career games at guard. While he’s not a big name, he’s a solid, established starter who could help solidify the interior of Miami’s offensive line.
Biggest subtraction: LT Terron Armstead.
The Dolphins lost a fair amount of talent this offseason, particularly with safety Jevon Holland going to the Giants and trading away Ramsey. But no loss may be more consequential than Armstead’s retirement.
Armstead was a five-time Pro Bowler, including in 2022 and 2023 with the Dolphins.
That puts more pressure on 2024 second-round pick Patrick Paul to take a step forward. He struggled as a rookie, earning a Pro Football Focus grade of 44.9 in 2024, but it’s far, far too early to write him off. That said, he will face a lot of pressure to replace a talented tackle in Armstead.
Best draft pick: IOL Jonah Savaiinaea
With most of their picks coming in the final three rounds, the Dolphins used their two early picks on help in the middle of both lines. They took Michigan DT Kenneth Grant at 13, but I really liked them using the 37th pick on Savaiinaea.
He was one of my top five ranked interior offensive linemen because of his wide frame and power. He can also play tackle in a pinch, which is always important.
What could keep him at guard is that he struggles when pressure comes from his edges. But if he stays at guard, he should be a solid starter for Miami.
What it means in their matchup with the Browns
We’ve gotten used to the Dolphins having sexier offseasons, prioritizing speed and skill. This offseason was clearly a departure from that as they recognized the need to protect Tua Tagovailoa.
Pass protection is one of the things any team playing the Browns and Myles Garrett will have to worry about. In a 20-3 loss to Miami in Week 17 last season, the Browns got four sacks on Tyler Huntley, who was playing for the injured Tagovailoa.
The other element of the Dolphins’ offensive line makeover was to make their run game more efficient. That will be tested against a Browns defense that also tried to improve against the run, signing Maliek Collins and drafting Mason Graham to bolster their defensive tackle position. So this will be a good measuring stick for both teams.
If Miami’s offensive line indeed is improved, that should help take some pressure off their elite skill talent led by receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Catch up on the series
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