The Miami Dolphins have a tough season ahead of them, as they have one of the thinnest rosters in the league and will take on the second-hardest schedule of all 32 teams this year, based on 2025 records.
While Miami is projected to win somewhere between 3-5 games this year, depending on who you ask, there's still a chance for the team to surprise some people throughout Jeff Hafley's first season as head coach.
If the Dolphins want to find any success in 2026, these are four players that they can't afford to go down with injuries.
Achane, Miami's third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, has been phenomenal in his three seasons with the Dolphins, rushing for 3,057 yards and 22 touchdowns on 5.6 yards per attempt while catching 172 passes for an additional 1,277 yards and 13 scores.
Heading into 2026, the 24-year-old will likely be the focal point of the offense, and after watching Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon II in the preseason, there's not much hope for the ground game if Achane is out.

#yards #jeff

The NFL is the top league in the top sport in America, and its greatest stars often achieve a level of fame that transcends the sport. These players become "household names", recognized by the general public regardless of their team affiliation. While many NFL franchises currently boast multiple players who have reached this status, the Miami Dolphins do not seem to have any roster members who qualify as "household names" at this time. Some of this is of course due to the teams failures in recent years. You could easily argue that on a better team over the last few years that De'Von Achane would already be a household name.
So this evening's Phinsider Question Of The Day is:
Which more or less unknown player or players do you believe have legitimate chances of being so called "houshold names" when our Miami Dolphins are a good team again?
Please share your thoughts and answers in the comments section below-

#names #dolphins #sport

Dolphins make exciting roster move with third-round rookie WR originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Miami Dolphins are beginning a massive rebuild this season, as they've cut ties with many key veterans by way of release and trade.
It's a much younger and uncertain roster. But there are still a lot of intriguing players Dolphins fans can get excited about. Malik Willis and De'Von Achane are great starters, and at wide receiver, third-round rookie Caleb Douglas had a great play in his NFL debut.
However, the Dolphins' other third-round rookie WR, Chris Bell, might be more interesting. And according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Dolphins just made a very exciting roster move with this rookie WR.
"Dolphins activated wide receiver Chris Bell off the non-football injury list," Schefter reported Monday morning.

#roster #Third #sporting #bell

The Miami Dolphins' first preseason game against the Washington Commanders was a mixed bag, leaving me concerned about our overall roster depth despite solid performances from the starters. The opening drive was a standout, featuring impressive play from Malik Willis, De'Von Achane, and Caleb Douglas, highlighted by Douglas's spectacular one-handed catch despite defensive pass interference. I was also encouraged to see guard Jonah Savaiinaea finally showing the development we hoped for when he was drafted last year. Unfortunately, the game lost momentum once the backups entered, with the offense looking putrid and the defense not faring much better for the remainder of the game. But what about what you thought?
So this evening's Phinsider Question Of The Day is:
What were your takeaways from last night's preseason game between our Miami Dolphins and the Washington Commanders? What were the positives and negatives that you saw? What was encouraging, and what has to be addressed/hopefully fixed before the season begins?
Please share your thoughts and answers in the comments section below-

#dolphins #washington #Commanders

The Commanders 2026 preseason opener against the Dolphins went pretty much as planned. Washington gave up an opening drive score, mainly with the second-team defense against Miami's starters. They locked in after that and didn't allow any more points for the rest of the game in a 20-7 victory at Northwest Stadium.
What really caught my attention was the lack of sloppy play — which is usually prevalent in the preseason opener. Although coordinators David Blough and Daronte Jones kept things pretty vanilla, the execution was good and I didn't see a lot of bad mistakes. To me, this was the biggest win of the evening.
Below are my Studs and Duds of the game, followed by some notes.
The rookie running back duo turned out to be the highlight of the evening for Washington. Robert Henry showed vision and burst while Fatman Allen showed patience and wiggle. Both men found the end zone in the opener.
Martin, playing safety with the second-team defense, looked the part of a starter against Miami. He had a beautiful tackle on Dolphins running back De'Von Achane on the first drive and got an interception on the sideline early in the second quarter. He was around the football quite a bit early in the game.

#game

LANDOVER, Md. — The Miami Dolphins played their starters in their preseason opener, and the first-team offense found the end zone.
Starting quarterback Malik Willis and running back De'Von Achane combined to orchestrate a 14-play, 93 yard touchdown drive while rookie wide receiver Caleb Douglas made a highlight-reel catch during the initial series in the Dolphins' exhibition against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium.
Willis was 4 of 5 for 43 yards against the Washington second-team defense. Achane had seven carries for 39 yards and punched in a 1-yard touchdown behind the starting left side of the Miami offensive line.
Douglas hauled in a 28-yard pass from Willis with one hand as he fought through pass interference from the Commanders' Antonio Hamilton Sr. Willis' lone incompletion went to Douglas, who was open with ***** e in front of the sideline but stuck his left foot out too far and was out of bounds. Willis' other three completions went to third-year slot receiver Malik Washington.
The Dolphins started the series backed up at their own 7-yard line because running back Jaylen Wright ***** ed the opening kickoff and linebacker Tyrel Dodson was called for a hold.

#Commanders

Malik Willis made his Miami debut in the team's first preseason game.
The Dolphins starting quarterback played one series, and that was all he needed. The Dolphins went 93 yards on 14 plays, with De'Von Achane scoring on a 1-yard run.
Willis went 4-of-5 for 43 yards, and Achane ran for 39 yards on seven carries.
The Dolphins signed Willis to a three-year, $67.5 million deal in free agency before signing Achane to a four-year, $64 million extension.
The two players are cornerstones in the Dolphins' rebuild.

#went #malik #Miami #de 'von

Through the first 70 players that were revealed on the 2026 NFL Top list, there had only been one from the Miami Dolphins, as linebacker Jordyn Brooks came in at No. 67.
Now, he has a teammate to join him as running back De'Von Achane landed at No. 26 on Wednesday.
Here's the video from the league:
Achane rushed for a career-high 1,350 yards and eight touchdowns on a league-leading 5.7 yards per carry in 2025. His ground performance in combination with his 67 receptions for 488 yards and four touchdowns helped him earn Pro Bowl honors for the first time in his career.
Miami rewarded Achane with a massive extension this offseason that should keep him in South Florida for the foreseeable future, and at least for right now, he's the focal point of the offense, and it's not hard to see why.

#Career #dolphins #brooks

Most NFL head coaches spend August talking down workloads and hyping committee backfields. The training camp stories are about guys who put on 10 pounds of muscle or are in the best shape of their lives. The coachspeak is always there, and fantasy football managers can't help but roll their eyes with every headline.
However, one first-year NFL coach did the opposite this week. He went live on a national sports talk show and promised to run his best player into the ground, quite literally, and fantasy football managers should be thrilled.
Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley appeared on the Rich Eisen Show and laid out a plan for De'Von Achane that sounds built for fantasy lineups. He said the running back got a warning that morning. "I just gave Achane a heads-up this morning and told him he better be in good shape. Because I told him there might be some games where I might have to pick him up and carry him back into the locker room because he's going to be so tired."
Then Hafley went further, adding that he doesn't want Achane asking for a breather by tapping on his helmet. "And I told him, I don't ever want to see one of these head taps all year. And he looked me right in the eye and said, 'You'll never get that head tap from me.' I said, 'Don't worry, buddy. After you touch the ball 40, 45 times, I might have to pick you up, and I'll carry you back in the locker room.'"
Hafley, who's definitely just having fun in the moment and not talking about a serious strategy, also praised the 24-year-old back as a leader and a smart player. "I love the guy. I mean, you want to talk about a guy with some juice and a guy with personality starting to come out. A guy who's starting to become a leader." He added, "He's one of the smarter players."

#show

During his Pro Bowl campaign last season, Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane maxed out with 28 touches in a Week 10 win over the Buffalo Bills. His new head coach, Jeff Hafley, said Monday on "The Rich Eisen Show" that the 24-year-old back could have 40-plus touches in games this time around.
"I just gave Achane a heads up this morning and told him he better be in good shape," a charismatic Hafley told Eisen on Monday with a smile, "because I told him there might be some games where I have to pick him up and carry him back into the locker room because he's going to be so tired.
"And I told him I don't ever want to see one of these head taps all year. He looked at me right in the eye and said, 'You'll never get that head tap from me.' I said, 'Don't worry, buddy. After you touch the ball 40, 45 times, I might have to pick you up, and I'll carry you back into the locker room.'"
This offseason, Hafley's first at the helm alongside general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan after their stay in Green Bay as Packers defensive coordinator and vice president of player personnel, respectively, the Dolphins signed Achane to a four-year extension reportedly worth up to $68 million. The deal comes with $32 million guaranteed, according to ESPN.
While Miami parted ways with a slew of contributors at the beginning of its rebuild, it re-upped its commitment to Achane. The 2023 third-round pick out of Texas A&M is coming off his best season yet — he piled up a career-high 1,838 scrimmage yards and once again logged 12 total touchdowns — and now he's set to feature in offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik's unit.

#achane #told

No NFL player has had 40 touches in a game since Derrick Henry had 41 in a game in 2021. But Dolphins running back De'Von Achane may need to be ready for that kind of workload.
Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley told Rich Eisen that Achane is going to have some games when he'll be such a workhorse that he'll hardly be able to walk back to the locker room when it's over.
"I just gave Achane a heads-up this morning and I told him you better be in good shape," Hafley said. "I told him there might be some games when I have to pick him up and carry him back to the locker room because he's going to be so tired. I told him I don't ever want to see one of these head taps all year, and he looked me right in the eye and he said, 'You'll never get that head tap from me.' I said, 'Don't worry buddy. After you touch the ball 40-45 times, I might have to pick you up and carry you back into the locker room.' I love the guy. You want to talk about a guy with some juice, a guy whose personality is starting to come out, a guy who's starting to become a leader. I like those guys."
Everyone knows Achane is fast, but Hafley said he's been thrilled with Achane's mental approach.
"He's one of the smarter players when you talk to him," Hafley said. "He's really a smart football player and it's fun to go back and forth with him and he's got this fun energy about him. I think he's a stud."

#achane #told #locker

Following our discussion last night regarding the Miami Dolphins' potential defensive MVP, we now turn our attention to the offensive side of the ball. Aside from the running backs room, the skill positions look significantly different this season. De'Von Achane remains the clear leader in the backfield, with a continued role in the passing game, while fans adjust to Malik Willis taking over at quarterback.
At tight end, Greg Dulcich has emerged as the early favorite to lead in receptions. However, the wide receiver corps remains the biggest question mark following the departures of Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill. The team has revamped the unit by adding free agents Jalen Tolbert and Tutu Atwell, drafting prospects like Caleb Douglas and Chris Bell, and leaning on returning players such as Malik Washington and Theo Wease.
With 12 receivers currently on the roster, Miami will likely trim this group to roughly six for the 53-man squad, with a few more potentially landing on the practice squad. While reports suggest Malik Willis is building chemistry with Washington and Wease, and that Caleb Douglas looks like he was well worth his draft selection, the pecking order remains uncertain—particularly as we await Chris Bell's return from injury to see how he competes once fully integrated into practice and game action.
So this evening's Phinsider Question Of The Day is:
Who is your early choice to take the ****** le of Miami Dolphins Offensive MVP for the 2026-2027 NFL season and why?

#malik

After over five decades of following the Miami Dolphins, I've never witnessed a full-scale reset to the team like the one we're seeing this year. With a full overhaul to the coaching staff, front office, and roster, there is significant uncertainty regarding how the team will look on both sides of the ball. While De'Von Achane is the clear, near-unanimous favorite to lead the team in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, the defensive MVP race is wide open. I have a hunch that one of our rookies might step up to take that ****** le, but I'm curious—who do you think will be the standout performer on defense this season?
So this evening's Phinsider Question Of The Day is:
Who, in your opinion, will be the Miami Dolphins ' most valuable defensive player for the 2026-2027 NFL season and why?
Please share your thoughts and answers in the comments section below-

#rushing

MIAMI GARDENS ― Miami Dolphins rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez continues to be an absolute menace during training camp practices.
In his first practice action at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 8, J-Rod was a magnet to the ball.
Jacob Rodriguez tipped a pass from Malik Willis.
Later, Rodriguez was in position to stop a Willis quarterback draw.
Later still, Rodriguez was perfectly positioned to stop De'Von Achane at the goal line.

#gardens #dolphins #hard #rock

MIAMI GARDENS ― Miami Dolphins rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez continues to be an absolute menace during training camp practices.
In his first practice action at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 8, J-Rod was a magnet to the ball.
Jacob Rodriguez tipped a pass from Malik Willis.
Later, Rodriguez was in position to stop a Willis quarterback draw.
Later still, Rodriguez was perfectly positioned to stop De'Von Achane at the goal line.

#jacob #gardens

Every year, fantasy football running back rankings and tiers start to look the same across the industry. The top of my board is no different. Look, I try to give my freshest NFL takes, but we're all privy to the same information! You should seek out opinions that are pivots from the norm. Meaning, not every prediction must be bold, not every take has to be hot.
On draft day, you separate yourself from the average league taco by how you approach in the middle to late rounds, where having a player ranked one or two spots different can decide how a roster takes shape.
These eight players are the clearest points where my RB rankings and tiers deviate from the expert consensus. Plus, I explain the methods to my madness by explaining my reasoning for each.
2026 Fantasy Football Rankings powered by FantasyProsECR ™ – Expert Consensus Rankings
ADP – Average Draft Position
Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane (28) is significantly higher in my running back rankings ahead of the 2026 fantasy football season.

#rankings #look #draft

Matt Harmon and Ray Garvin are attempting the impossible as they try to draft the 'perfect' team in fantasy. The two share their favorite pick in each round of drafts (according to Yahoo's ADP) as they craft their perfect fantasy roster. Harmon and Garvin complete a 15-round draft and give you 30 names you need to consider in your own drafts this month.
(4:35) Round 1: Jonathan Taylor + ARSB
(13:00) Round 2: De'Von Achane + Kenneth Walker III
(21:45) Round 3: George Pickens + Tee Higgins
(32:40) Round 4: Javonte Williams + Jaylen Waddle

#round #drafts

The Miami Dolphins are entering the 2026 season with one of the most difficult schedules in the league and a roster that's lacking the top-end talent to really be a truly competitor for the division or a playoff spot.
With that said, Miami's individual players could still have great individual campaigns in a down year, and while that may not always lead to team success, one player believes that if he accomplishes one goal, the Dolphins could be great.
"You know, for me, as far as like, you know, trying to get the rushing ****** le, that's something I want to do this year," Achane told NFL Network on Sunday. "I feel like if I got the rushing ****** le, then obviously, every game we're doing some good. If we're productive, if I'm being productive and helping my team win, then I feel like, as a whole, we're going to be great. Like you said, I've been here. We got a lot of new faces, so I feel like I got to go out there. I got to lead, and I got to show by example."
Achane has been great in his three years in the NFL, and last year, he rushed for 1,350 yards and eight touchdowns on a league-leading 5.7 yards per game while catching 67 passes for an additional 488 yards and four touchdowns.
In 2025, Achane was fifth in rushing, while Buffalo's James Cook led the league with 1,621 yards. Over the last 10 years, the running back to league the league in rushing has finished with an average of 1,650.8 yards, so that's the number that Achane should be shooting for.

#rushing

MIAMI GARDENS ― Miami Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley met with reporters before Sunday's practice, the first with fans in attendance.
Highlights:
∙ Hafley said rookie LB Jacob Rodriguez "has a really good feel" for punching the ball out.
Hafley pointed out a play in which Rodriguez took a swipe at a ball carried by De'Von Achane. Hafley said he's not sure if anyone could have held onto the ball after such a punch-out.
∙ On rookie Kadyn Proctor's miss vs. Zach Sieler on the final play of Friday's workout:

#ball #Miami #play #jeff

Miami running back De'Von Achane is aware that the Dolphins are not viewed as contenders this year, and he's happy to be on a team that opponents are overlooking.
Achane said he and his teammates will be ready to make other teams regret looking past them.
"We're kind of used to that," Achane said. "We don't pay no mind to that. If teams feel that way about us, that means when they play us, they're gonna be not taking us seriously. And if you're doing that, then you're gonna have a long day for yourself."
Achane, who said he has a goal of leading the league in rushing, signed a four-year, $64 million contract this offseason. That was a significant investment from the Dolphins, who are a rebuilding team but think Achane is a big part of their future.
As for this season, if Achane likes having people overlook his team, the good news is that a lot of people are: The betting odds say the Dolphins are the least likely to make the playoffs of any team in the AFC.

#achane #Miami

Indianapolis Colts' running back Jonathan Taylor is entering the final year of his current contract. During offseason programs, he said that he would "love to be a Colt for life."
Whether or not a new deal will be reached remains to be seen, but following Wednesday's first training camp practice, Taylor did say that there have "been some good conversations," according to ESPN's Stephen Holder.
Taylor added that he has "faith" that the two sides will be able to reach a new deal.
On Taylor's current deal, he is averaging $14 million per year, which ranks as the seventh-most among running backs. Perhaps of interest to Taylor as he looks for an extension, Devon Achane signed a four-year, $64 million extension this offseason, making him the third-highest-paid back in football.
From a production standpoint, Taylor remains one of the top backs in football, while shouldering a heavy workload out of the backfield. He played in 13 games in 2024 and all 17 games last season. rushing for 1,431 yards and 1,585 yards, respectively, as one of the more productive backs in football each year.

#backs #remains

The Miami Dolphins extended De'Von Achane, Aaron Brewer and Jordyn Brooks because they are young veterans among the best at their positions.
The good news is Achane, Brewer and Brooks are good athletes, good teammates and their professional approaches fit into a new culture to be established by first-year coach Jeff Hafley.
When the Dolphins are ready to contend division and conference championships, ideally in 2028 and 2029, they should be under contract at reasonable rates.
The bad news is that Achane, Brewer and Brooks do not play quarterback, left tackle, cornerback, edge rusher or wide receiver. Why do I say that? I say that because those are the most important and most expensive positions on most NFL rosters.
There is a long, long list of key transactions in GM Jon-Eric Sullivan's future.

#brooks

The Miami Dolphins extended De'Von Achane, Aaron Brewer and Jordyn Brooks because they are young veterans among the best at their positions.
The good news is Achane, Brewer and Brooks are good athletes, good teammates and their professional approaches fit into a new culture to be established by first-year coach Jeff Hafley.
When the Dolphins are ready to contend division and conference championships, ideally in 2028 and 2029, they should be under contract at reasonable rates.
The bad news is that Achane, Brewer and Brooks do not play quarterback, left tackle, cornerback, edge rusher or wide receiver. Why do I say that? I say that because those are the most important and most expensive positions on most NFL rosters.
There is a long, long list of key transactions in GM Jon-Eric Sullivan's future.

#dolphins #long #aaron

The Miami Dolphins and linebacker Jordyn Brooks have agreed to a three-year contract extension, keeping the veteran with the team through the 2029 season. Earlier in the offseason, new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan identified core players he envisioned the Dolphins building around as they reset their roster for the future. With the extension of Brooks, Miami has now reached contract agreements with three of those players, including running back De'Von Achane and center Aaron Brewer.
Brooks' extension and contract details were first reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The new extension, which adds the 2027, 2028, and 2029 seasons to Brooks' contract, is worth $51.3 million. It includes $35 million in guarantees. The new money, when it kicks in, will jump Brooks to $17.1 million in average per year, making him the fifth-highest paid linebacker in the league.
Prior to the extension, Brooks was entering the final season of the three-year contact he signed with the Dolphins as a free agent in 2024. He participated in all of the team's offseason training program, including all voluntary events, while working toward the extension.
Since joining Miami, Brooks has locked down the middle of the team's defense. The 28-year-old has started all 34 games for the Dolphins, tallying 326 tackles, 6.5 sacks, nine passes defensed, one forced fumble, and three fumble recoveries. Last season, how 183 tackles led the league and he earned his first Pro Bowl selection. He was also a First-Team All-Pro selection for the first time in his career.

#extension #three #year #contract

In 2025, the Maimi Dolphins had two players (Aaron Brewer and Jordyn Brooks) that made All-Pro teams for the first time in their career despite the team suffering a down year that led to the firing of their head coach and general manager.
With Jeff Hafley and Jon-Eric Sullivan in place and the roster in the early stages of the rebuild, the Dolphins aren't expected to have much success in 2026, but that doesn't mean players can't have good years themselves.
In fact, Pro Football Focus' Bradley Locker recently identified Dolphins running back De'Von Achane as one of 10 players that could become first-time All-Pros this season.
Last year, Achane rushed for a career-high 1,350 yards and eight touchdowns on a league-leading 5.7 yards per attempt while catching 67 passes for an additional 488 yards and four scores. His performance was strong enough to get him to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career.
With first-round pick Kadyn Proctor sliding in at left guard and Jonah Savaiinaea kicking back to his natural position, the offensive line should be better in front of Achane in 2026, which should mean even better production, especially when he'll be the focal point of the offense.

On the same day as he was named a top-10 linebacker in the National Football League by ESPN in a poll of unnamed coaches, executives and scouts, Miami Dolphins defender Jordyn Brooks also found himself being honored by landing at #67 (insert sophomoric hand gesture here) on the NFL Top 100 list.
Here is what the league’s website had to say about Miami’s stud.
“Brooks is one of the NFL’s surest tackling machines. He led the league in solo tackles (99) for a second occasion last season, and for the first time paced all defenders in total takedowns to earn distinction as both an All -Pro and a top-100 player. He was everywhere for a Miami defense that finished 24th in points allowed without a lot of other difference makers surrounding the off-ball backer. Brooks performed regardless of his situation, as seen in his 92.0 PFF run defense grade and a sterling 3.2% missed tackle rate.”
Despite the lengthy list of accolades Brooks is receiving this offseason, one thing he has yet to receive is an extended contract from the Dolphins. After watching fellow “pillars” (according to new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan) like running back De’Von Achane and center Aaron Brewer sign big-money deals with Miami earlier this year, Brooks is still waiting to be shown the bag. Reports have indicated that extending Brooks is on the short list of things to do for Sullivan this offseason.
We’ll continue to keep you updated on all things Miami Dolphins as the team prepares for the start of training camp later this month.

Editor's note: This is Part 9 of 10 in Joe Schad's Miami Dolphins summer series Q&A
MIAMI GARDENS ― The Miami Dolphins have not won a playoff game since December of 2000.
But in September they'll begin a new era.
General manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, coach Jeff Hafley and quarterback Malik Willis all come to South Florida from Green Bay.
Miami hopes to build around running back De'Von Achane, center Aaron Brewer, linebacker Jordyn Brooks and a handful of youngsters like Kadyn Proctor, Kenneth Grant, Chris Johnson, Patrick Paul and Jacob Rodriguez.

Every season, there are players who break out onto the scene who may not have been dominant the season before, whether they had limited snaps, dealt with an injury, or just improved as a player in the offseason.
It’s no different for a few Chargers players poised to have breakout campaigns and help the team with genuine Super Bowl hopes this upcoming season.
The 2025 first-round pick had an injury-riddled rookie season, managing only 545 yards and four touchdowns while playing behind a battered offensive line. Entering his sophomore year fully healthy, Hampton should have a strong season. He will serve as the lead back in offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel’s scheme, the exact system that unlocked elite production for running backs in Miami, namely De'Von Achane. Additionally, starting tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt are returning to action, which should free up running lanes.
Drafted in the second round in 2025, Harris was limited to just 43 targets and 30 receptions, while primarily serving as a reliable run blocker. Because the front office did not add a big-name wide receiver in free agency or early in the draft, they are showing massive confidence in the receivers on the roster, but especially Harris. He is poised to be a target for quarterback Justin Herbert who can create big plays and is versatile enough to line up all over the formation.
Caldwell proved his durability and high floor immediately after being selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He logged an impressive 525 defensive snaps as a rookie, which nearly led all Chargers interior defenders. Caldwell logged three pressures and six defensive stops in his final four games. The Bolts signed veteran run-stuffer Dalvin Tomlinson in free agency, which should free up Caldwell to move across the line and take on more interior pass-rushing opportunities.

The Miami Dolphins have a few young players that they can build around going forward under new head coach Jeff Hafley, but a lot of them are either rookies or have already reached their second contract.
As for those entering their second, third or fourth NFL seasons, the group is a lot smaller for the Dolphins. However, there are still a few players there who Miami could build around.
On Sunday, Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox identified linebacker Chop Robinson as Miami's most promising building block entering the 2026 season.
"Edge-rusher Chop Robinson might not draw the attention that Achane does, but the third-year defender is shaping up to be a defensive building block," Knox wrote. "A first-round pick out of Penn State in 2024, Robinson made just four starts in his first two seasons, but Miami is hoping for more.
"With 10 sacks and 32 quarterback pressures already on his resume, Robinson is poised to be the new headliner of Miami's pass rush."

Editor's note: This is Part 6 of 10 in Joe Schad's Miami Dolphins summer series Q&A
MIAMI GARDENS ― The Miami Dolphins have not won a playoff game since December of 2000.
But in September they'll begin a new era.
General manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, coach Jeff Hafley and quarterback Malik Willis all come to South Florida from Green Bay.
Miami hopes to build around running back De'Von Achane, center Aaron Brewer, linebacker Jordyn Brooks and a handful of youngsters like Kadyn Proctor, Kenneth Grant, Chris Johnson, Patrick Paul and Jacob Rodriguez.