No, the Miami Dolphins won’t 100% engage in a reset.
The Dolphins are inclined to keep wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and running back De’Von Achane, per NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe.
This come days after Miami released several players including star receiver Tyreek Hill, edge rusher Bradley Chubb and guard James Daniels. Previous reports, however, indicated that the Dolphins have begun to shop safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
“Teams would love for them to trade Jaylen Waddle and De’Von Achane,” Wolfe said Friday on the NFL Network. “I’m told now they’re wanting to keep those guys as core players.”
With the quarterback situation already in flux, it would make sense that the Dolphins want to keep at least in flux. Not only does Achane and Waddle’s presence allow the roster to be at least somewhat competitive, it fits the ethos that new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan himself put forth.
“The thing that I think we have to focus most on right now is making sure that we build infrastructure,” Sullivan said during his opening press conference. “And yes, we need to get the quarterback situation in place, but we’re not going to do it in an irresponsible manner, where we sacrifice building the infrastructure of this football team so that when we do find our guy, he can go be successful.”
Achane just came off the best year of his career. In 2025, the former Texas A&M standout rushed for a whopping 1350 yards and eight touchdowns. He also added a team-high 67 catches for 488 yards receiving and an additional four touchdowns.
The star running back ranked in the top-10 in several categories including a league-leading 5.7 yards per carry and rushing yards (fifth) en route to his first Pro Bowl.
“He had a special year,” new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik said, later adding “when you have a piece like that anywhere on the offense, it opens up a lot of doors, a whole lot of doors. I’ve been blessed to be around guys that have been able to do a lot of different things very well, and it really can stress a defense in ways that I don’t think a lot of people realize.”
Waddle, on the other hand, has been a consistent receiving threat ever since he set the then-record for rookies catches in 2021. Although he wasn’t able to eclipse the 1000-yard mark over the past two seasons, Waddle passed that number his first three years in the league, including an NFL-leading 18.1 yards per catch in 2022. Waddle also proved he could be more than a capable WR1 when needed following the gruesome Week 4 injury to Hill that prematurely ended his season.
“He’s executing as an elite No. 1 receiver,” coach Mike McDaniel said in November. “To do that, you have to be not only capable of separating against man coverage and giving reason to be a primary in zone, but you have to be very connected to the timing of plays in critical situations; so his route running versus man coverage on third down, whether he gets the ball or not, he’s running routes to win. That is what you expect from a big-time receiver.”
With Achane and Waddle likely not going anywhere, the Dolphins’ next quarterback – a list that includes Tua Tagovailoa, Quinn Ewers and whoever else they snag in free agency or the upcoming NFL Draft – will at least have two competent weapons. As for what becomes of the rest of the roster, questions still remain considering a depleted receiver, tight end, cornerback and edge rusher rooms in addition to a few question marks on the offensive line outside of Patrick Paul and Aaron Brewer.