Lets face it. Not a lot to be optimistic about lately. Not for years.
So many reasons to be negative. Its hard not to be negative. But this was the first article I've read in a long while that actually makes the case for a little optimism. IMO......its very well well thought out Kudos to Brian Miller :





Dolphins quietly pulled off a smarter offseason than anyone realized
Sometimes you have to peel back the onion.

By Brian Miller

Have the Miami Dolphins assembled a Super Bowl-caliber team during the 2025 offseason? Probably not, but they first need to win a playoff game.

The Dolphins lost 10 players from the 2024 season who made consistent contributions to the team. Most of them were either starters or contributors in some way. The biggest departures were Jevon Holland, Jalen Ramsey, and Jonnu Smith, with the latter two leaving in the blockbuster trade with the Steelers.

With training camp starting in just a few weeks, the question many fans are asking is whether or not the Dolphins got better compared to the players they lost.

In the early days of July, it is never easy to predict what will happen in a season, as there are a lot of variables that go into whether or not a player surpasses his replacement. For the most part, comparing last year's players lost to what Miami gained this year, the Dolphins appear to have improved on paper.

Jevon Holland: Holland was replaced by Minkah Fitzpatrick in what has to be considered a win for the Dolphins. While Fitzpatrick has not been the same player the last two years, he has been more consistent than Holland over the same period.

Jalen Ramsey: Hard to say the Dolphins got better here because they have no one to replace him yet. Even if the Dolphins go on to add Asante Samuel or Rasul Douglas, they would still be less experienced at the position. Ramsey is one of the better CBs in the league despite his declining skill set over the last several years. Miami wins, however, by getting rid of a problem in the locker room.

Jonnu Smith: This one can be considered a push. On paper, Darren Waller should be an adequate replacement, but it will depend on how Mike McDaniel uses him. He won't put up the numbers Smith did last year, but it's likely Smith wouldn't have either. If anything, this would lean towards Miami's favor.


Durham Smythe: Smythe was replaced by Pharaoh Brown, who is a quality blocking tight end and is better than the more well-rounded Smythe. However, Miami won't have the same pass-catching TE with Brown as they did with Smythe. Another push for certain, but with a lean towards the Dolphins, given Brown's blocking ability.

Robert Jones: Mark this as one of those moves you won't know until later in the season. We can say Jones was replaced by Jonah Savaiianea, and on paper, it looks like a better move for the Dolphins. Jones was o.k., but inconsistent at times. This one is in Miami's favor, but by how much won't be known until later in the season.

Calais Campbell: Kenneth Grant is a rookie, and Campbell has turned in a career that will eventually end with an HOF discussion. Still, Campbell was a situational player for Miami last season. Grant should be able to at least match the same production and have the same impact.

Raheem Mostert: The Dolphins didn't replace Mostert with the same type of runner. They added Alexander Mattison in free agency and Ollie Gordon in the draft. Both are considered short-yardage backs, but Miami is confident De'Von Achane and second-year running back Jaylen Wright will handle the job.

Kendall Lamm: Lamm did well for the Dolphins and was versatile enough to play inside and out. Miami didn't add another lineman outside of Larry Borom, who can play both positions as well. Borom is relatively inexperienced given his time in the NFL. Lamm would have been the better option for the Dolphins.

Braxton Berrios and River Cracraft: The Dolphins didn't need to replace either one. Cracraft was out most of the year, as was Berrios, who was more of a returner. Miami found their replacements last season with the emergence of Malik Washington and the addition of Dee Eskridge. This year they will also have Tahj Washington back and added Nick Westbrook-Ikhine to replace OBJ.

Liam Eichenberg: Eichenberg hit free agency, then rejoined the Dolphins, but he is on this list because the Dolphins did replace him with James Daniels. Daniels will be ready for camp, and that alone makes Miami's line better than what they had last year with Eichenberg.

For all the negativity the Miami Dolphins have received this offseason, they still managed to add players to the roster who are at least as good as the ones they lost from last season. It's a win for Miami, which managed to save money, utilize limited cap space, and find players that should make an impact in 2025.






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GO DOLPHINS!!!!

I've been member here for a very long time. I have not posted in a while now, however, you are correct Treasure. Always room for optimism.

Ken Wrote:
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> I've been member here for a very long time. I have
> not posted in a while now, however, you are
> correct Treasure. Always room for optimism.


Absolutely! Its that magical time of the year right before training camp when every team is going to the playoffs......

GO DOLPHINS!!!!

Don't disagree with anything you wrote, Treasure. I'd say the upgrades at OG are what have me optimistic in terms of player additions/upgrades. Much to Grier's shame for having dismissed the quality of OG he trotted out last year, OG play was the 2nd most negatively impactful part of our offensive ineptitude last year after Tuas injuries. And I'd say it's even debatable that it might have been the top negative impact. The best-case ceiling with Eich and Jones was just so woefully low. This year's projected starters have a chance to flip OG to being a real strength.

On the defensive side, I'm not actually a big fan of the "addition by subtraction" concept, but that may be what it is. Ramsey and Holland both cheered the departure of Fangio (who flipped the Eagles into the top D in 2024) and neither seemed to be really special in Weaver's 2024 defense where Miami was 4th in yards allowed and 10th in points allowed. The front 7 seemed to be more of the defense's strength, though they were good against both the pass & run. I'd definitely like to see another CB in the mix vs crossing our fingers that Artie, Duck or Cam Smith rises to the occasion.

Excellent points on Fagino and how his biggest critics fared last year. McD is still a big problem IMO.

GO DOLPHINS!!!!

Always love the time of year when we are undefeated!

Reminds me of 1972, and the beginning of 1973!

Hello, Ken. I remember you, as I'm sure JC and a few others do. Welcome back, I hope you'll stop by more often.
I can't help it, I'm always optimistic at the beginning of every year. Go Dolphins!
I was really down on Fangio two years ago, but I'm beginning to think that he was right all along. I still saw him make some defensive calls that were appallingly bad (just watch the last four minutes of the Tennessee night game), but he did a damn good job in Philly. So far, I like Anthony Weaver and I will be cheering his defense on, but I think that the team added what we needed on offense to maybe even make a playoff push.
Unfortunately, I also believe that Greer made the same mistake with McDaniel as he did with Flores. Flores was a brilliant defensive mind, but a poor head coach. McDaniel is a brilliant offensive mind, but arguably just as poor a head coach. If we had those guys in the positions where they should have been, and a head coach that knew how to run a team correctly, this team would be..unbeatable. Ah, if only....

Rick

I actually think Weaver is the HC in waiting if things don't go well with McD and an in-season switch wouldn't be incredibly shocking.

trying a different approach this year. Not hoping for much, maybe I will get the opposite results like I get when I go in with high hopes?

Sorry, but I have no reason to be optimistic as long as Grier is the GM and McDaniel is running the offense and is the HC. IMO, the negative things about those two far outweigh the positive things.

Plus, every single personnel decision made by (or under) Ross has been bad for the team. I'd prefer that Ross sells the team to someone who actually wants to own a contender and not settle for a pretender.

Successful teams have a strong o-line and running game, and a good defense that can pressure the QB and do a decent job of containing a mobile QB. The Eagles just proved that a tough, physical team can dominate even the great Mahomes and the Chiefs.

However, Grier has shown that he's unable to build a tough team with a strong foundation and McDaniel has shown that he prefers an offense based on speed and finesse, and that those are more important than a strong o-line and running game.

The NFL is a copycat league, so many teams will want to be like the Eagles now. But, in Miami, Ross refuses to replace the two guys who might be the only ones in the entire league that tend to do the opposite of what the successful teams do.

The way I see it, even if Ross doesn't sell the team, the odds are pretty good that anyone who replaces Grier and McDaniel will be better than those two.

ROSS is a different kind of owner. He didnt grow up a Dolphins fan. He was a big Michigan college fan. The Dolphins became available and he bought them. Not because hes a fan but because he could. And the investment has paid off!!!!!Hes made Billions.....with a B. Would he like to win? Of course but losing doesn't faze him either.Everytime I go to the stadium its at least a 50/50 mix of fans from other teams.Hes selling out Football, Soccor, Concerts, F1 racing and markets it all. And trying hard to shove it all down the throats of UK , Mexico and Spain with games there. Money money money. Ross doesnt give a F about the Fans, The logo or winning.......Just being one of the most profitable teams in professional sports.

GO DOLPHINS!!!!