News Dolphins Team Notes

[Zedster]

Lot of moving pieces here for Miami. The Slowik hire is interesting - that 2023 season with Stroud was legitimately impressive, but you can't ignore how things fell apart in Houston. The predictable play-calling criticism is concerning, especially for a team that's struggled offensively. Hopefully working under McDaniel for a year gave him some new ideas to incorporate.

The staff overhaul makes sense with the new regime. Bringing in Downard from Green Bay is a solid move - that Packers secondary has been pretty good, and having someone who knows how Hafley and Sullivan operate should help with the transition.

As for the QB situation, I think the fan takes in that thread are pretty reasonable. Ewers getting a shot makes sense from a cost perspective, and if he flames out, you're looking at a better draft position for what should be a stronger 2027 class. The Willis option is intriguing if the price is right - his sample size is small but he's shown flashes. The mobility element would at least give defenses something different to prepare for.

The cap situation sounds brutal though. That potential $118 million in dead money is absolutely crippling. Hard to see how they make any significant moves in free agency with those numbers hanging over them.

Should be an interesting offseason to watch unfold. Curious to see what direction they go at 11 - BPA or do they reach for a QB if someone they like is there?

 

[Miami Dolphins]

Phinsider Question/Discussion Of The Day: What Needs Addressing First Edition

With another season behind us and yet another rebuild underway for our Miami Dolphins, much of the discussion surrounding the roster is centered on the quarterback. Focusing on the quarterback or lack thereof is, of course, fair given that it’s the most important position on the roster and some might say the position that got the former front office and coaching staff sent on down the road in the first place. But what about beyond that singular position? There’s zero chance that much of the discussion about players going forward centers on the quarterback. But what else should the front office and scouts be focused on finding for this team?

So tonight’s Phinsider Question Of The Day is:

After the quarterback, which position(s) do you want to see this new front office focus on adding to and or improving immediately before heading into next season? Basically, outside of quarterback, which are the positions on this roster that need the most immediate upgrade if this team has any hope of competing next season?

Please share your thougths and answers in the comments section below-

Source: https://www.thephinsider.com/miami-...f-the-day-what-needs-addressing-first-edition

 

[Miami Dolphins]

Jeff Hafley continues to retool coaching staff – The Splash Zone 1/28/26

Jeff Hafley has been busy assembling his coaching staff since being hired as the Miami Dolphins head coach last week. Bobby Slowik was promoted to offensive coordinator, while Chris Tabor was hired to oversee special teams. Defensive coordinator has not been announced yet, but a name has been rumored. Sean Duggan who is currently the Green Bay Packers linebackers coach is expected to be offered the position as soon as Anthony Weaver’s head coach search concludes. Duggan will not be calling the defensive plays as Hafley has already confirmed he will be doing that on gamedays.

You can check out that story here, and the rest of the day’s round-up below.

Breaking Down the Latest Dolphins Staff Developments
The Miami Dolphins could have a new defensive coordinator in place very soon

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Dolphins Quarterbacks​

Can Dolphins find starting QB at this week’s Senior Bowl?
The Miami Dolphins, under general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley, have vowed they aren’t going to skimp on quarterback, which is a definite position of need heading into next season.

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Dolphins Offseason​

What’s a Realistic Turnaround Time for the Dolphins?
The Miami Dolphins are starting over with a new general manager and new head coach

Miami Dolphins needs in draft: Top 5 positions
The Miami Dolphins, it could be argued, have NFL Draft and free agency needs at almost every position.

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Phinsider News You May Have Missed​

Can the Dolphins find their own Sam Darnold – The Splash Zone 1/27/26
Welcome to the Splash Zone, the quickest way to get your day started off right. We bring you a rundown of Miami Dolphins news from the last 24 hours.

Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley on Bobby Slowik: ‘I love what he does’
Jeff Hafley praises Bobby Slowik for his scheme.

Phinsider Question/Discussion Of The Day: What Needs Addressing First Edition
We ask Miami Dolphins fans which positions, outside of quarterback, need to be addressed first.

Source: https://www.thephinsider.com/the-sp...retool-coaching-staff-the-splash-zone-1-28-26

 

[Miami Dolphins]

Dolphins center Aaron Brewer named finalist for NFL Protector of the Year Award

Every year, the National Football Leagues gives out prestigious accolades for skill position players and impact defenders — but in 2025, the big men up front are finally getting the recognition they deserve in the form of the first-ever Protector of the Year Award which will be given annually to the NFL’s best offensive lineman.

Among the finalists is one of the Dolphins’ best offensive players — center Aaron Brewer.

Brewer was named one of just six finalists for the award — joining Creed Humphrey of the Kansas City Chiefs, Garett Bolles and Quinn Meinerz of the Denver Broncos, Joe Thuney of the Chicago Bears, and Penei Sewell of the Detroit Lions.

While being one of the most egregious snubs for the Pro Bowl this season, Brewer was named an Associated Press Second-Team All-Pro for his stellar 2025 campaign in Miami. The Chiefs’ Humphrey took home First-Team honors.

The award will be given out — along with many others, including NFL Most Valuable Player — on Thursday, February 5th at the league’s annual award show — NFL Honors.

While being nominated and named a finalist is an honor in and of itself, winning would surely be a massive feather in the cap of Brewer (who is heading into the final year of his 3-year, $21 million deal with the Dolphins).

Source: https://www.thephinsider.com/miami-...-finalist-for-nfl-protector-of-the-year-award

 

[Miami Dolphins]

Phinsider Question Of The Day: Do You Think They Got It Right This Time Edition

We have all been here before. For those of us like me who have been fans of the team longer than many of you have been alive, we have relived this whole scene more times than I can count since we saw the Miami Dolphins send the great Don Shula off into retirement. Jimmy Johnson was a solid hire following Shula, but his tenure did not last long enough, and ever since then, it’s mostly just been pain for us, the fans. More recently, it seems as if the people with all the power prefer the first-time head coach. I assumed that this time might be different, but I assumed wrong.

So tonight’s Phinsider Question Of The Day is:

Do you think that the ownership has finally got things right with their latest hire of Jeff Hafley, another first-time head coach, or do you think they again made the wrong choice and that we will just be right back here in the next four or five years? If you believe Hafley was the correct choice, why, and if not, which direction should this team have gone in?

Please share your thoughts and answers in the comments section below-

Source: https://www.thephinsider.com/miami-...you-think-they-got-it-right-this-time-edition

 

[Miami Dolphins]

What You The Fan Want Addressed With The Miami Dolphins Roster First

CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 05: Miami Dolphins guard Cole Strange (69) during an NFL football game between the Miami Dolphins and the Carolina Panthers on October 5, 2025, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte N.C. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

With our Miami Dolphins preparing for yet another reset, I asked the following question this past week:

After the quarterback, which position(s) do you want to see this new front office focus on adding to and or improving immediately before heading into next season? Basically, outside of quarterback, which are the positions on this roster that need the most immediate upgrade if this team has any hope of competing next season?

Please share your thoughts and answers in the comments section below-

MIAMI235 wants what we’ve all been yelling for for a very long time.

Offensive Line……my usual answer!

madcitydave is looking past the players to the next set of coaches.

How soon until we find out about Anthony Weaver? I would like to see Miami pursue Jim Leonhard if they don’t retain Weaver.

TheRoo1 is concerned with the team’s O-line and secondary and wants the team to select the BPA in the draft.

The O line, db’s and generally,,,,,

BPA

CluelessNFLfan has a list of wants and needs.

So many holes to fill but here goes in no particular order.

Offense: RT, big physical WR to pair with Waddle, a complete TE

Defense: CB, S, LB

Of course this may all change depending on what JES does with the players currently on the roster

Luvs2drnk expects the focus to be on defense this offseason.

I would venture to guess the defense will be the top priority this season and the offense next season when they are more likely to know what their QB situation will be.

cyberflea is actually excited for the draft now that Grier has been shown the door.

QB is the obvious biggest need. I’m thinking as it now, Ewers will be the starter on a cheap 7th rd rookie contract this coming season although Sully will draft a QB sometime in the draft despite the weak class.

My guess is that defense will be the Dolphins 1st rd pick, either Edge or DB. I’m pretty psyched about the draft for the first time in a long time now that our super genius Chris Grier is finally booted out the door which should have been done years ago.

Dave G hopes the new regime does all they can to drum up some more draft picks as the cap will keep the team from building via free agency.

As we know, this will be built from the inside out. This is the order of need IMO.

1. OL

2. PASS RUSH

3. CB

4.WR

5. SAFETY

With the old regime completely destroying any hope for free agency, considering our rediculous cap situation, we will be forced to start this thing very slowly by only using the draft. With that said, we need to trade anyone we can get draft capital for that isn’t part of the future of this team. In my perfect world, we would have Achane, Waddle, and 28 draft picks. Hope this regime sees things the same.

Dolfanjoe wants more picks, damn it.

Obtain more draft picks, because we need players all over the board ! Name a position other than running back that we do not need improvement on ? And if we get a good trade for Achane draft day we will need help there also !

Alpha6 is the first to point out the defensive line.

Which are the positions on this roster that need the most immediate upgrade if this team has any hope of competing next season?

Two immediate for me:

D-line & WR.

I realize all the rest, but for me these two areas are first…

Left Shark sounds like a trenches guy.

Build from the inside out– big and tough all weather players.

That’s our ten random comments this evening. It seems, taken as a whole, that the fan base believes the entire roster needs to be addressed, aside from maybe running back. If you missed our original post, feel free to add your thoughts and answers to the comments section below. As always, thank you to each of you who takes the time to read and respond to our Phinsider Question Of The Day posts.

Source: https://www.thephinsider.com/miami-...ddressed-with-the-miami-dolphins-roster-first