The Miami Dolphins have to win in 2025 or it’s almost a certainty ownership will fire head coach Mike McDaniel and GM Chris Grier.
The Dolphins were trending in the right direction, reaching the playoffs in the first two seasons with McDaniel as head coach. Tua Tagovailoa put together his best NFL seasons in McDaniel’s offense in 2022 and 2023, and in 2023, the Dolphins QB played the entire year for the first time in his career.
So it wasn’t a surprise when the Dolphins gave Tagovailoa a record-breaking contract extension ahead of the 2024 season, but in an all too familiar story, the Miami QB was sidelined for four games last year which proved to be a back breaker for the team.
The Dolphins lost all four games without Tagovailoa starting at QB, and by the time he returned, it was too late. Ultimately, the Dolphins finished 2024 with an (8-9) record and missed the playoffs.
Heading into 2025, reaching the playoffs is a necessity if the Dolphins want to keep the current regime in tact. Considering the Miami Dolphins were knocked out in the first round of the postseason to conclude McDaniel’s first two seasons, Miami might even have to win a playoff game to keep the current staff in place.
On paper, the Dolphins have the talent to compete in the ultra-competitive AFC. Tagovailoa has shown he can play as well as any quarterback in the NFL when healthy and he’s surrounded by a supporting cast on offense that can give opposing defenses nightmares. They have two No. 1 wide receivers with Jayden Waddle and Tyreek Hill and an explosive RB in Devon Achane. Jonnu Smith is a dynamic tight end who can make big plays in the passing game and the Dolphin defense has young talent across the board.
With so much pressure heading into 2025, it’s a bit surprising the Dolphins are attached to rumors surrounding trading some of their top players.
NFL.com David Carr predicts the Dolphins will trade Hill to the New England Patriots in a risky move that would shakeup the AFC East:
Hill has been at the center of Dolphins headlines this offseason. It actually started when he voiced his frustrations at the end of a disappointing 2024 campaign in Miami, both for the Fins (who finished below .500 for the first time since 2019) and Hill (who missed the Pro Bowl for the first time in his nine-year career). The star receiver publicly expressed a desire to play elsewhere, an idea the Dolphins nixed and Hill himself quickly backtracked on. However, I’m not convinced Miami will keep him, considering his off-field issues and the fact that the franchise can save nearly $15 million by moving him, per Over The Cap. The Dolphins might be wary of trading within the division, but if not, the Patriots and Drake Maye certainly could use Hill’s services in the passing attack. New England has admirably overhauled the offense this offseason, and Hill would continue that trend by giving Josh McDaniels a guy who can elevate his attack to the next level due to his speed and field-stretching ability.
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