The Miami Dolphins are in an awkward spot with the NFL’s trade deadline less than two weeks away.
Several teams are already doing business, particularly at the wide receiver position, with Davante Adams, Amari Cooper, and DeAndre Hopkins already traded to the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, and Kansas City Chiefs, respectively.
But up to this point, the Dolphins haven’t done anything. They’ve hardly even come up in rumors, with the occasional trolling from Tyreek Hill.
But should the Dolphins be making a move? And if so, should Miami be looking to sell of assets for future draft capital, or should it be hunting to add talent and salvage the 2024 season?
Here’s the case for both sides:
The Dolphins should acquire talent
With Tua Tagovailoa out of the lineup for four weeks, the Dolphins went 1-3 and fell a good bit behind the Bills in the AFC East. But a rally to earn a playoff spot isn’t that uphill. There are three spots up for grabs and not many teams in contention.
Even at 2-4, the Dolphins are already ahead of six teams in the AFC and finishing ahead of the Colts, Broncos, Chargers, and/or Bengals isn’t infeasible at all. Just a few wins following Tagovailoa’s return would turn the tides, especially when you consider Miami’s weak schedule.
And for all the offensive issues the Dolphins have had, there have been good signs for the team too. Namely, the Miami defense has allowed the fourth fewest yards in the NFL, despite the offense doing it no favors.
The Dolphins didn’t sign aging veterans like Calais Campbell and Jordan Poyer just so they could close the book on the 2024 season after a sluggish start.
Miami is expected to have 10 draft picks in 2025, including a pair of compensatory third-round selections. If ditching a Day 3 pick could provide help — like an offensive lineman or pass rusher, perhaps? — there’s no better time than the present to make a move.
The Dolphins should acquire draft picks
At 2-4, the Dolphins are already well behind the 5-2 Buffalo Bills in the AFC East and their Week 7 loss to the Indianapolis Colts may carry rough tiebreaking consequences late in the year. At the moment, ESPN is giving Miami just a five percent chance at reaching the postseason.
Maybe the tides will turn Tagovailoa back in the lineup. But Mike McDaniel was right when he said it’d be foolish to expect the quarterback to be the team’s “savior.”
Even when the Dolphins had Tagovailoa in the lineup, they barely squeaked past the Jaguars, who are now just 2-5, and they were already in a 21-point hole against the Bills when the quarterback got injured.
If the Dolphins lose in one or both of the next two weeks against the Cardinals and Bills, their path to the playoffs may start to look awfully unrealistic.
And with hardly any salary cap space in 2025 and aging players throughout the starting lineup, including the aforementioned Campbell and Poyer, the Dolphins would be wise to start thinking about how they plan on getting back on track after a disappointing 2024.
If another team comes calling to see if they could acquire a veteran like Raheem Mostert, David Long Jr., or Durham Smythe, Miami should probably answer the phone.
