Miami Dolphins
Getty
The Dolphins received negative feedback for their offseason decisions
After the first wave of free agency concluded, the Miami Dolphins’ offseason plan seems to be clearer. The team parted ways with most of its high-priced players, potentially sacrificing their 2026 season outlook, with the goal of improving its salary cap situation.
As a result, the Dolphins lost some of their primary contributors from recent seasons, including Pro Bowl talent like Tyreek Hill, Tua Tagovailoa, Bradley Chubb, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Jaylen Waddle. The team did make additions; however, most of them were one-year deals with less than $3 million in value. Miami’s lone free agent signing worth over $3 million was quarterbackMalik Willis, who signed a three-year, $67 million contract with $45 million guaranteed.
Miami’s approach this offseason has led some to question the decision-making by new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, and the team has now received a harsh grade for their decisions this offseason.
Miami Dolphins Receive Brutal Grade
Sports Illustrated’s Gilberto Manzano gave out grades to each team for their work during free agency. The Dolphins received an “F” grade as Manzano wrote:
“Clearly, the Dolphins are in rebuild mode and have their eyes on 2027. The team needed a fresh start, and there was no need to add Willis, who now has to play for a team that said goodbye to wide receivers Waddle and Tyreek Hill this offseason. It would have been better if this team had fully committed to the rebuild and taken its lumps with a veteran quarterback who would have commanded a lot less money than Willis.”
It appears more than criticizing the Dolphins for adding Willis, it’s the fact Miami seems to be taking a half-hearted approach to their rebuild. Manzano is not the first to point out that the Dolphins would have been better served going with a cheaper quarterback, someone like Quinn Ewers, who started three games for the Dolphins last season.
Supporting Cast for Willis
Instead, after trading Jaylen Waddle, many are wondering whether the team invested $45 million guaranteed in a quarterback who won’t have the supporting cast necessary to succeed.
Sports Illustrated’s Connor Orr argued that after trading Jaylen Waddle, Willis is now stuck with the worst roster in the NFL. Orr wrote:
“The Dolphins now almost certainly have the worst offense in the AFC. Malik Washington, Jalen Tolbert and Tutu Atwell appear to be the top receiving weapons for a quarterback who exited a Packers team that has spent more draft capital on wide receivers than any other team in the league since 2022.
The Dolphins’ offensive line, which finished the season 24th in pass block win rate and darn near last in run block win rate, has added only a swing tackle and a guard from the Chargers, a team so starved for offensive line help last year that letting him go would be akin to throwing away your last jar of peanut butter during the zombie apocalypse.”
Dolphins’ fans will hope the team invests in skill players during the upcoming NFL Draft, which would then provide Willis a better chance of cementing himself as Miami’s future at the quarterback position.