Omar Kelly: Did the Dolphins upgrade or downgrade the 2025 roster?

MIAMI — The Miami Dolphins are intentionally fielding a younger, and subsequently a cheaper roster.

But did South Florida’s NFL team get better or worse from a talent standpoint this offseason? That question can only be analyzed after evaluating who left, and who their replacements are in each unit.

Some units — like linebacker and safety — got better because of additions made in free agent signings, trades or the return of veterans who were sidelined by injuries. And then others — cornerback, tight end and defensive lineman — potentially got worse.

Take a look at how we break down each unit, evaluating whether the Dolphins upgraded or downgraded the roster:

— Quarterback: Tyler “Snoop” Huntley and Skylar Thompson

Because the Dolphins have the NFL’s most fragile quarterback in Tua Tagovailoa (it’s the truth, don’t get offended or downplay it) the franchise needs to make sure there’s a capable backup on board, one whose elevation won’t force Miami to make wholesale changes to the offense. Miami dumped Huntley (who hasn’t gotten work) and Thompson (a backup in Pittsburgh) to invest in Wilson, who was signed to a lucrative one-year deal worth a $6 million base, and selected Ewers in the seventh round. Neither will push Tagovailoa, who has a superior mastery of the offense, but Wilson has an arm that is enticing. Miami’s coaches clearly want to put some polish on the former second overall pick. However, Wilson needs to gain mastery of the offense and it’s timing to keep the Dolphins afloat if he’s forced into a starting role.

— Tailback: Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. > Alexander Mattison and Ollie Gordon II

The Dolphins intentionally moved on from Mostert, who was released and signed with Las Vegas, and Wilson (still unemployed) because the goal was to get younger in the backfield, which now belongs to De’Von Achane, who gained 907 yards and scored six rushing touchdowns on 203 carries, and Jaylen Wright, a second-year player who averaged 3.7 yards per carry last season. Mattison, who is entering his seventh season, and Gordon, a Doak Walker Award winner Miami drafted in the fifth round, should add some much-needed power to Miami’s finesse rushing attack. But this unit is relatively green. However, durabilty and dead legs shouldn’t be too much of a factor in 2025.

— Receiver: Braxton Berrios, River Cracraft and Grant Dubose

Miami rolled snake-eyes with last year’s signing of Odell Beckham Jr., whose knee issues made the former Pro Bowler little more than a name, and led to his late-season release. Berrios, Cracraft and Dubose were sparse contributors last season because of injuries and the fact Malik Washington emerged as Miami’s slot receiver and primary returner. The hope this season is that Westbrook-Ikhine, a free agent addition who has scored 19 touchdowns in his five previous seasons, will become a primary target in the red zone, and that Tahj Washington, a 2024 seventh-round pick who missed all of last season because of a knee injury, challenges for a roster spot. With Westbrook-Ikhine, Mailk and Tahj Washington and Dee Eskridge the Dolphins should have a solid quartet of receivers behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

— Tight end: Jonnu Smith and Jack Stoll > Darren Waller and Pharaoh Brown

Smith set every franchise record for the tight end position last year, but the Dolphins weren’t willing to give him the type of extension he reportedly got from the Pittsburgh Steelers, receiving an additional $12 million, in the trade that sent cornerback Jalen Ramsey and Smith to Pittsburgh in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and a swap of 2027 late-round picks. The Dolphins quickly added Waller, a 2020 Pro Bowler who abruptly retired last year. While Waller turns 33 this season he has only had four seasons where he’d played 500-plus offensive snaps. His familiarity with offensive coordinator Frank Smith should allow Waller, a recovering addict who has faced multiple NFL suspensions, to adjust to the offense quickly. Brown will compete with Julian Hill for the in-line role, but he’s speed deficient and has only caught 72 passes in his seven seasons in the NFL. If Waller struggles, or sustains an injury, expect Tanner Conner to step up as a front-line contributor.

— Offensive line: Terron Armstead, Robert Jones, Isaiah Wynn and Kendall Lamm

Losing Armstead, who served as a pillar of granite at left tackle when healthy the past three seasons, to retirement will hurt. But Armstead could only play so long on one healthy knee. The Dolphins drafted and invested in Patrick Paul, a 2024 second-round pick, all last season preparing the franchise for this change at left tackle. Miami ideally upgraded at both guard spots if James Daniels returns to the player he has been the previous seven seasons coming off his Achilles injury, and Savaiinaea, a 2025 second-round pick Miami traded up to acquire, performs like one of this draft classe’s elite offensive linemen. The biggest issue surrounding Miami’s offensive line is the lack of depth. Losing Lamm (Eagles), Jones (Cowboys) and Wynn, who remains unsigned, waters down the unit. The hope is that Borom (27 NFL starts), Smith (spent last season rehabbing a knee injury he suffered in the preseason), Braeden Daniels (two seasons on NFL practice squads) and Liam Eichenberg (52 starts) can become adequate reserves. But Miami would benefit from supplementing this unit more considering its struggles weighed down last year’s team.

— Defensive line: Calais Campbell, Da’Shawn Hand, Emmanuel Ogbah > Kenneth Grant, Jordan Phillips, Zeek Biggers. Ben Stille, Matthew Butler

Three of Miami’s five top defensive linemen signed elsewhere, with Zach Sieler, a double-digit sack producer the past two years, and Benito Jones being the only veterans retained. Campbell, a captain last season, joined the Cardinals. Hand signed with the Chargers, and Ogbah joined the Jaguars. Miami replaced them with three draftees — Grant, Phillips and Biggers — and signed Stille and Butler to join Matt Dickerson as veterans battling for a spot on the back end of the roster. Grant, a nose tackle Miami selected in the first round, Phillips, a three-year starter at Maryland the Dolphins selected in the fifth round, and Biggers, a seventh-round pick, are all young, big and athletic, and each possesses upside. But the Dolphins will likely miss Campbell production and leaders, and Ogbah’s veteran presence. The hope is that the trio of rookies are quick learners.

— Linebacker: Anthony Walker Jr., Tyus Bowser, Duke Riley > Willie Gay Jr., K.J Britt, Grayson Murphy

Miami seemingly swapped Walker for Britt, exchanging 2024 starters with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Britt, who will likely serve as a backup to Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson, isn’t in the same league as Walker from an experience standpoint. But he’s four years younger, slightly more athletic, and definitely more durable. Gay has started 55 of the 72 games he’s played the past five seasons, and brings a versatility to the unit that Miami has been missing since Andrew Van Ginkel left a year ago as a free agent. Bowser and Riley haven’t signed with an NFL team yet. Murphy, who impressed during training camp as a rookie before suffering a knee injury, will likely compete with Quinton Bell, Mohamed Kamara and Channing Tindall for one of the four or five backup linebacker spots behind Brooks, Dodson, Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb and Chop Robinson.

— Cornerback: Jalen Ramsey, Kendall Fuller > Artie Burns, Kendall Sheffield, Jason Marshall Jr.

No unit on the team took a steeper drop-off from a talent standpoint than Miami’s cornerbacks because Ramsey and Fuller have collectively started 238 games. But Ramsey’s difficult off-field demeanor led to his trade to Pittsburgh, and Fuller was released because of the knee injury he sustained late last season, which will likely keep him off the field in 2025. The Dolphins only added Burns and Sheffield, two journeymen who have experience as starters, to a young cornerback room that features Kader Kohou (an established nickel cornerback), Cam Smith, Miami’s 2023 second-round pick, Storm Duck (three starts as a rookie in 2024), Ethan Bonner and Isaiah Johnson, former undrafted rookies who have flashed talent in camp, and Marshall, a former University of Florida standout the Dolphins selected in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL draft. Miami might add another veteran as training camp approaches, or wait until August after seeing how players perform in camp.

— Safety: Jevon Holland, Jordan Poyer

Holland and Poyer were probably the least-productive starting safety tandem in Dolphins history considering they failed to record a single interception, and only produced one sack and forced one fumble in all of 2025. Poyer seems to be headed toward forced retirement because his play last season hints he has lost a step. Holland signed a lucrative free agent contract with the Giants this offseason and will be replaced by Fitzpatrick, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, whose leadership and football intelligence should help sew up the seams of Miami’s secondary. Davis and Melifonwu, two veterans Miami signed this offseason, will compete with Elijah Campbell, Trader, a 2025 fifth-round pick, and Patrick McMorris, a 2024 sixth-round pick, for the other starting spot, and the two to three other spots on the 53-man roster for safeties.

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