NFL Teams were Confused by Dolphins Trade Deadline Approach
If you were surprised that the 2-7 Miami Dolphins only made one trade at the trade deadline, yeah, you aren’t alone.
Dan Graziano said, “It feels as if the Dolphins are in some kind of awkward in-between phase. Firing Grier, who had been with the team a quarter-century and had apprenticed under the previous three Dolphins GMs, felt like ownership signaling a desire for an entirely new vision and organizational philosophy. We don’t know whether the Dolphins will also move on from the head coach or even the starting quarterback in the offseason, and I thought they’d make more moves to accumulate draft capital as they pivot into whatever they decide is their future.
Instead, only edge rusher Jaelan Phillips was dealt, and the Dolphins seem as if they’re still trying to make something out of their season at 2-7 while chasing the 7-2 Patriots and the 6-2 Bills. Unlike the Bengals, the Fins don’t have reason to feel as if they can win their division, and I wonder if Miami will regret not making more moves.”
Fowler added, “Some teams had a tough time getting a read on Miami’s intentions at the deadline, which is understandable, four days removed from general manager Chris Grier’s firing.”
And this is how you go 25 years without winning a playoff game.
The trade deadline was a ground ball for the Dolphins this season.
They are 2-7, and they just fired their general manager.
Outside of like three or four players (Chop Robinson, Jaylen Waddle, De’Von Achane, Patrick Paul), any and every player should have been available via trade.
Especially guys like Bradley Chubb and Minkah Fitzpatrick, who most likely won’t be here next season because of Miami’s poor salary cap situation.
Get anything for them!
And Miami actually found a way to screw it up.
It’s not like Miami is in a position of power or has leverage; they are in blow-it-up mode.
It’s over.
Everyone, from a front office standpoint, has to go, and damn near 90% of the roster needs to be overhauled.
Yet, Miami only made one trade.
One stinking trade.
I know 6th and 7th round picks, which is what someone like Chubb may have brought back, isn’t going to make or break the organization, but it’s the mindset the Dolphins had.
They had the wrong one.
And then when Mike McDaniel meets with the media on Wednesday and says he was in on all trade discussions, it’s like the WTF moment.
Why was he involved?
This team is 2-7, and he is fortunate to still have a job; he should be fired ASAP, or at the very least, at the end of the season.
Of course, McDaniel didn’t want to trade anyone; he needs these guys to get him 3 or 4 wins the rest of the way so he can make a case to stay on as head coach after this year.
That is GREAT for Mike McDaniel.
But that is BAD for Dolphins fans.
McDaniel doesn’t have the best interests of the organization at heart; he is looking out for himself.
Am I shocked to hear that other NFL teams around the league were confused by the Dolphins’ approach at the trade deadline? No.
It’s actually on brand for the Dolphins.
It’s the Dolphins who can screw up a one-car parade.
But if this report and the comments from Phillips on Thursday aren’t a wakeup call to Stephen Ross that he needs wholesale changes, I don’t know what is.
