The Miami Dolphins made a lot of big plays and scored a lot of points on offense in the first 12 games of the season, but then things went south in a hurry. There can be a lot of reasons for this. For me, the number 1 reason is because wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle had injuries and were clearly not 100% at the end of the season. Hill had an ankle injury that took away his explosion and acceleration. If you take that away from him, defenses aren’t scared of you, and Hill, even when he caught passes, would go down and not even try to get extra yards because he knew he didn’t have that gear he needed in his game and what makes him a unique talent. Waddle battled injuries all season, and even though he had a 3rd straight 1,000-yard season, it was a quiet season and frankly underwhelming. I love Waddle and his playing, but he didn’t have a season to remember to say the least.Â
The Dolphins needed other receivers to step up, and they weren’t late in the season. Either the Dolphins are still developing a receiver, or they don’t have one, and I think it’s the latter. Cedrick Wilson had a better season than last year, but he isn’t living up to his 3-year $23 million dollar deal he signed a year ago. He’s not coming back because he restructured his contract earlier this year, and the final year of his contract was voided. Braxton Berrios, I thought, was a good signing as a returner and really felt could help as a number 3 receiver potentially, but it didn’t work out. I have no issue with him coming back as a returner, but I need more than that. River Cracraft didn’t produce much at all, especially after coming back from his Week 3 shoulder injury. Robbie Chose Anderson, I don’t know why he was on the roster frankly. All he does is run fly patterns, and that is it, and he doesn’t play special teams.
Chase Claypool, who was acquired in an in-season trade, didn’t make an impact, and he is a big physical receiver that the Dolphins don’t have from anyone else. If McDaniel runs that fade pattern in the red zone, why didn’t he use him more? Maybe he needs to learn the offense in a full offseason, but he’s a free agent, and if he comes back, ok, give it a try again with a full offseason. The biggest mystery was Erik Ezukanma, the team’s 4th round pick two years ago; he was part of the offense in the first two games but then went on the non-football injury list and never played. Nobody talked about it. The question is, will he come back?
If he does, then maybe that’s an option. The Dolphins can’t return to the same crew. They must go find another receiver who can contribute and be the number 3 receiver, especially when Hill or Waddle goes down. Not having that other threat hurt the team at the end of the season because teams knew they didn’t have another receiving option.Â
The Dolphins also need to find a reliable pass-catching tight end. I admit before the season and even part of the season, I didn’t think the Dolphins needed a tight end badly, but I was wrong. Durham Smythe, I like being a tight end and doing a lot of blocking, but the Dolphins need more than a blocking tight end. Julian Hill was an undrafted rookie, and maybe he could develop into that receiving tight end. He was on the field a lot and did well as a blocker and little to nothing as a receiver.
Last year, the draft was considered one of the deepest at the tight end position in years, but the Dolphins didn’t take one, to my surprise. They drafted Elijah Higgins in the 6th round, but he wasn’t a true tight end and was learning the position. The Dolphins released him, but he was scooped up by the Arizona Cardinals. The Dolphins didn’t have a touchdown by the tight end position this year, and in the red zone, you need to have that threat.
I get the Dolphins ask their tight ends to block more than receive, and it’s hard to find those all-around tight ends, especially with the college game going to a more spread offense. Tight Ends don’t get coached to block. It’s hard to find a Travis Kelce or a George Kittle, but the Dolphins must find one. It’s the missing piece to this offense.Â
John Embree is a great tight ends coach, and giving him a young, talented tight end to mold would be very wise.
The tight end is considered the quarterback’s security blanket underneath where they can dump the ball off when no one else is open, and the Dolphins don’t have that player.Â
If the Dolphins can find a tight end and a 3rd receiver, then I think the Dolphins offense could evolve more. It’s not the team’s biggest need this offseason, but building quality depth will help when injuries happen. The Dolphins can still use their running backs Raheem Mostert and Devon Achane as well, but if they get the third receiver and tight end, it will open things up for the running backs as well. Achane can especially be dangerous as a receiver. We all saw what he could do when in open space, and I think he hasn’t scratched the surface of his potential.Â
The Dolphins need to continue to add more depth at the skill positions. You can find them anywhere and don’t have to spend a high draft pick unless one falls into your lap or spend a lot of money on in free agency.Â
Great article. This has been my sentiment since Saturday. The smurfs were knocked down all over the place. We cannot go into season with the current group of receivers. The drop off after Waddle is like falling off a cliff. The TE room has to improve. We cannot start season with Smythe as starter. Yesterday Daniel Jeremiah in his first mock draft had miami.picking Brian Thomas. The one thing I would disagree with you on one thing. I believe this is #1 priority of off-season.
But we had Mike Gaseki who caught 72 passes one year but yet we never threw him the ball since we got Jill
That’s a great point and I totally agree. I just don’t think he fit this offense, but McDaniel should have found away to utilize him better to help in the passing game.
I’m really hoping you meant to say Hill and you accidentally hit the J!!!
also…. Giseki didn’t fit into McDaniels offensive scheme very well….. besides he was pretty much ineffective at blocking!!!
Lester things have changed.Mc Daniel,s rookie season he wanted blocking. But you do know they tried to get La Porta last year.
Why in gods name can’t we find a elite quarterback. Sure tua had nice numbers but if you compare how he played against teams over 500 and teams under 500 it’s like night and day. We had the division won with 3 games left only to piss it away because Tua is another tannehill so before anyone starts talking #3 receiver how bout we fix the quarterback position. 50 years I’ve been waiting for another ring. I don’t know how many next years i have left.
I was born in 73… So technically I was alive when they won a Superbowl… but man I’d love to see us win win before my time is over!!! And I totally agree with you 100%, and I’d LOVE to see Miami trade Tua to a team for a couple firsts… and get Cousins in FA!!! Then we could draft a QB who learned under Cousins and not to mention, our SB window is VERY VERY slim!!! And Kirk would give us a legitimate chance on winning one now, while we develope another QB for the future!!!
They left Sam LaPorta on the board to go get Cam Smith, whom they steadfastly refused to even suit up….at a position which they also desperately needed help. Grier has galaxtically gaping evaluation competency holes.
Laporta was picked at 34. Miami’s first pick of the entire draft was at 51. So, no Miami didn’t pass on LaPorta for Cam.
What we need is a QB who DOESN’T panick under the spotlight!!!! Let’s face it!!! Tua overthinks himself when a big moment arrives!!! Last year was his first year back since all the concussions he battled in 2022. And honestly, if you look at the all the first seasons compared to last season, Tua tried to extend plays, he tried to scramble when the pocket was collapsing before 2023…. This year he immediately drops to the ground when the pocket collapsed. I could accept that if Tua could make the throws when the pocket stays true…. But I seen him WAY underthrow the receiver MULTIPLE times when it really counted! He even started overthrow the receivers…. Only he can fix that!!! He needs to accept the fact that we don’t expect him to be perfect, but he needs to let er RIP!!!! We were never out of the game in Germany against KC… Wilson was WIDE OPEN and it would have tied the game at 21-21 if Tua hadn’t thrown a lame duck!!! He needs to take responsibility… otherwise we’re gonna be a 1 and done team every year!!! Not to mention being known as fraudulent!!!
What they need is a Defense. They racked up stats against teams with losing records, but got punched in the mouth by good offenses. I don’t care how good the “scheme” is. If guys can’t wrap up and make tackles at first contact it’s over.