Calling the last few seasons of Miami Dolphins football underwhelming could be considered an understatement. In the past, I’ve been critical of Dolphins general manager Chris Grier, but this off-season could not have gone much better for the Dolphins. After these moves, things are finally starting to look up for the Miami Dolphins. It started with the hiring of a first-time head coach from the San Francisco 49ers.
Hiring head coach Mike McDaniel was the first decision that sparked a busy off-season for the Dolphins. McDaniel brings a scheme that prioritizes running the ball, something the Dolphins haven’t done in a long time: a scheme that also requires an elite, smart offensive line.
After having the worst offensive line in the NFL, the Dolphins went out and got two starters to help establish the trenches. The team signed perennial Pro Bowl and All-Pro left tackle Terron Armstead from the New Orleans Saints on a five-year, $75 million contract with $43 million guaranteed. He will protect Tua Tagovailoa’s blindside and be a leader in a young offensive line group. It also signed guard Connor Williams from the Dallas Cowboys. While he isn’t the greatest, he will instantly slot in as a starter for the Fins’ offensive line. The trenches are already much improved.
Just a few days later, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, quite possibly the most exciting and dynamic player in all of football, was traded to the Dolphins from the Kansas City Chiefs for a plethora of draft picks. The Dolphins then signed Hill to a four-year, $120 million deal with $72 million guaranteed, a contract that made him the highest paid wide receiver in NFL history. The speed of Hill and Jaylen Waddle combined will be a terrifying task for defenses to stop.
Hill and Armstead have one thing in common: They’re here to improve the play of quarterback Tagovailoa. Acquiring two superstars is something that not many teams can say that they did. While the two acquisitions headline the off-season, Miami’s other additions helped solidify the team and brought depth where it was needed. It brought in two wide receivers, signing former Cowboy Cedrick Wilson and former 49er Trent Sherfield. Wide receiver depth should not be an issue for the Dolphins going forward.
As mentioned before, the Dolphins have owned a lackluster run game for years, though it was also partly due to the obscure running backs carrying the ball. As a result, it signed two proven backs in Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert. Edmonds, a great pass-catching back, was never truly given the chance to shine, always hidden behind someone on the depth chart in Arizona. He gets the chance to bloom in Miami. Mostert was electric in San Francisco, averaging 5.7 yards per carry in his time as a 49er. The issue is that he could never stay healthy, missing. Coming over with familiarity and proven success in McDaniel’s system, especially with a backfield mate in Edmonds, Mostert is set up for success in Miami.
The defensive side of the ball stayed relatively the same, including retaining defensive coordinator Josh Boyer. The unit has shown cohesiveness, and the young group has had a chance to develop and grow together. Jaelan Phillips and Jevon Holland were two rookies that showed flashes in 2021, along with its proven talent in Xavien Howard, Byron Jones, Emmanuel Ogbah and Jerome Baker. Defense has been a strong suit, keeping the offensively challenged Dolphins in games these last few seasons, but now, the team seems well balanced.
