Miami Dolphins
Getty
The Miami Dolphins are expected to move on from Darren Waller
The Miami Dolphins are in the process of reshaping their roster. The team previously announced the releases of All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill and Pro Bowl pass rusher Bradley Chubb. Regarding the pair of releases,new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said, “We needed to get younger and cheaper.”
Chubb and Hill, despite still being positive contributors when on the field, are both on the wrong side of 30. With a team that isprojected to be among the worst in the NFL in 2026, Miami’s front office opted to shape their roster with the future in mind, which is why they will also be moving on from a Pro Bowl playmaker who led the team in receiving touchdowns.
Miami Dolphins Darren Waller Update
Last season, the Miami Dolphins traded a sixth-round pick to the New York Giants for the rights to Darren Waller, who was unretiring after sitting out the 2024 season. Waller had a previous connection with offensive coordinator Frank Smith, and he had previously stated that the only two people he would come out of retirement for were Smith and Jon Gruden.
Waller flashed signs of past brilliance, as he was tied for the team lead in receiving touchdowns despite battling injuries for most of the season. He had six receiving touchdowns in only nine games played in the 2025 season.
While speaking with Dan Le Batard, Waller admitted to not being physically prepared for the toll of a regular season once he agreed to come out of retirement for the Dolphins. He said, “I was not preparing myself in any way physically to come back to this.” He then added that if he were to return, he would want to be better prepared.
Now, Jon-Eric Sullivan has stated that Waller does plan on playing in the 2026 season. However, it will likely not be with the Dolphins asSullivan said, “Darren Waller is interested in playing this year. Probably doesn’t make a ton of sense of Miami at the moment”
Miami Dolphins Tight End Room
Under previous head coach Mike McDaniel, the team wanted to retain Waller, as McDaniel specifically told the former Pro Bowl tight end. However, ownerStephen Ross then interrupted that meeting to dismiss McDaniel as the team’s head coach.
Waller is set to be an unrestricted free agent.The Athletic placed Waller as the No. 88 free agent in their top 150 free agents list and projected his next contract to be a one-year, $7 million deal. Greg Dulcich, who was Miami’s tight end with most receiving yards during the 2025 season, landed at No. 122, with a contract projection of two years, $12 million.
With both tight ends facing free agency, Miami currently has a hole at the position. For that reason, NFL Network analyst Bucky Brooks projected the Dolphins to draft Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq with the No. 11 pick in the draft.He wrote, “With Darren Waller’s contract up, the Dolphins could prioritize tight end in the draft. Sadiq is a mismatch creator with the potential to give defensive coordinators headaches as they try to keep up with Miami’s speed and explosiveness on the perimeter.”