Miami Dolphins

Miami carries the league's heaviest dead-money load at $172.8M this season, but the projected $1,774.0M in cap room next year, ranking first leaguewide, means significant spending power arrives quickly.

24 contracts expiring

Madden Tools Analysis

Ten starting spots have weak depth behind the starter.

Eight picks in the upcoming draft including three first-rounders over the next three years gives Miami real resources to rebuild fast, a meaningful cushion given how many positions need legitimate starters.

• Acquired: Round 7 from Giants, this draft
• Acquired: Round 5 from Steelers, this draft
• Traded away: Round 7 to Steelers, this draft

The roster's top strength is the interior offensive line anchored by Aaron Brewer at 90 overall, while wide receiver, tight end, and both safety positions represent the most glaring collective weakness.

• CBhigh

  The starting cornerback corps ranks 30th and the depth ranks dead last, making this the single most urgent position to address in free agency or the draft.

• FShigh

  Michael Taaffe starts at free safety but ranks last among all 32 starters, signaling an immediate upgrade is needed at the position.

• LEDGEhigh

  Chop Robinson leads the left edge group but the starter grades 29th and the depth group 26th, leaving the pass rush dangerously thin.

• MIKEhigh

  Jacob Rodriguez starts at MIKE but the position ranks 24th at the starter level and 29th in depth, requiring either development or outside reinforcement.

• REDGEhigh

  Joshua Uche holds the starting spot but the right edge starter ranks 28th and the depth group is the worst in the league, a critical vulnerability.

• RGhigh

  Jonah Savaiinaea starts at 68 overall in a group that ranks 31st among starters, making right guard one of the offensive line's most glaring weaknesses.

• SShigh

  Kyle Louis starts at strong safety but grades 32nd overall at the position, and the depth behind him offers little reassurance.

• TEhigh

  Greg Dulcich leads a tight end room that ranks dead last in starter quality and 26th in depth, giving the passing game almost no vertical seam option.

• WRhigh

  With Jalen Tolbert topping the depth chart at 74 overall and the group ranking last at both starter and depth levels, wide receiver is an urgent rebuild.

• QBmedium

  Malik Willis starts at 74 overall and ranks 26th among starters, giving the franchise a serviceable but well-below-elite situation under center.

• RTmedium

  Austin Jackson holds the right tackle spot at 73 overall, ranking 25th among starters, a below-average anchor that needs improvement.

• LTlow

  Patrick Paul at 80 overall is a solid starter but ranks 21st, leaving modest room for growth as he develops.

• 66Zayne AndersonSSZayne Anderson sits third on the strong safety depth chart at 66 overall, and releasing him frees $1.2M against only $180K in dead money, making him an easy roster trim.Frees $1.2M · $180.0K dead
• 63Malik HerringLEDGEMalik Herring grades out at 63 overall and appears only as a third-string option behind both edge spots, and cutting him costs nothing in dead money while recovering $1.1M in cap space.Frees $1.1M · $0 dead
• 62Andrew MeyerCAndrew Meyer is a 62-overall backup center buried behind Aaron Brewer on the depth chart, and his release is cap-clean, freeing $1.0M with zero dead money.Frees $1.0M · $0 dead

Miami enters this franchise cycle in full rebuild mode, carrying the league's largest dead-money burden at $172.8M while fielding a roster with bottom-five grades at wide receiver, both safety spots, both edge rusher positions, tight end, and cornerback. The brightest lights are De'Von Achane, a 24-year-old Superstar-trait back who is the offense's engine, and Aaron Brewer, the 90-overall center who steadies the interior line. Kadyn Proctor at 21 and left guard, along with Patrick Paul at 24 at left tackle, give the offensive line a pair of young foundational pieces to develop. Chop Robinson, Kenneth Grant, and Jacob Rodriguez represent a young defensive core capable of growing into a competitive unit, while Jordyn Brooks provides veteran Star-trait leadership at linebacker. The immediate concern is that Malik Willis, rated 74 overall and ranking 26th among starters, must hold the position together while the team rebuilds around him. With next year's cap room projected at $1,774.0M and ranking first leaguewide, Miami is one offseason away from significant financial flexibility that can accelerate the rebuild, and an eight-pick draft haul including three first-rounders provides meaningful resources to restock the roster.

The Dolphins were founded in 1965 as an AFL expansion team by Joe Robbie and Danny Thomas, beginning play in 1966 under head coach George Wilson; on their very first play, Joe Auer returned the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown against Oakland. Miami joined the NFL in the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, and the hiring of Don Shula from the Baltimore Colts that year transformed the franchise. Shula lost Super Bowl VI to Dallas, then authored the greatest season in NFL history, the 1972 Dolphins went 14-0 in the regular season and 17-0 overall, capped by a 14-7 win over Washington in Super Bowl VII, still the only perfect season in league annals. Miami repeated in Super Bowl VIII, beating Minnesota 24-7 with fullback Larry Csonka named MVP, powered by Csonka and Mercury Morris, the 'No-Name Defense' led by Nick Buoniconti, and Hall of Fame QB Bob Griese. The Dan Marino era (1983-1999) redefined the passing game, Marino set single-season records with 5,084 yards and 48 touchdowns in his 1984 MVP season and reached Super Bowl XIX, but never won a title despite ten playoff appearances. After Marino, Miami leaned on the Jason Taylor-Zach Thomas defense before sliding into a decades-long wilderness; its last playoff win came after the 2000 season and its last AFC East title in 2008. The Mike McDaniel-Tua Tagovailoa era brought back-to-back playoff berths (2022, 2023) and the NFL's top offense in 2023, but road and cold-weather failures, injuries, and a 2024-2025 collapse ended it. McDaniel was fired in January 2026, launching a rebuild under first-time NFL head coach Jeff Hafley.