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The Miami Dolphins are ranked No. 21 in the NFL on ESPN’s list.
Perhaps the Miami Dolphins biggest weapon heading into the 2025 NFL season is the fact that no one is really giving them much of a chance. Between questions about player focus, multiple injuries, questions about the quarterbacks, coaches getting arrested and other team dysfunction, there aren’t high expectations for the Dolphins.
ESPN reporters recently collaborated to rank the 32 NFL teams heading into this season and the Dolphins were ranked No. 21.
ESPN kicks off the article by noting that the Dolphins have a 34.9% chance to make the playoffs, a 14.7% chance to win the division and are projected to win roughly 8.1 games. And after an 8-9 2024 season, they have the 11th easiest schedule in the league.
The Miami Dolphins’ biggest strength and weakness is on defense
No one would ever suggest that the biggest strength of this Dolphins team is in the secondary. However, Marcel Louis-Jacques writes that the team’s biggest strength is on the defense, it’s just everything but the secondary.
“Biggest strength: The front seven. They’re tired of hearing about their durability, but if Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb and Chop Robinson can remain healthy, the Dolphins will have one of the better pass rushes in the NFL this season,” Louis-Jacques writes. “Factor in defensive linemen Zach Sieler and Kenneth Grant, and versatile linebackers Jordyn Brooks, Tyrel Dodson and Willie Gay Jr., and the core of Miami’s defense shouldn’t have an issue pressuring quarterbacks and defending the run.”
Which brings us to…the secondary. According to Louis-Jacques, the back four or five on defense are the biggest problem on the entire Dolphins’ roster.
“Biggest concern: The players behind that front seven — the secondary,” he writes. “Miami knows what it’s getting in Minkah Fitzpatrick but has a completely revamped secondary from a season ago. Second-year UDFA Storm Duck figures to start opposite Jack Jones at cornerback, and the group is unproven together. The Dolphins haven’t shown much concern for the group this offseason and believe the success of their defense starts up front.”
Health of Tua Tagovailoa is always a concern
Obviously, when people talk about the Dolphins, the first thing they note is the health of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Sure, there isn’t any NFL team that wants to lose their starting quarterback, but it would be devastating for the Dolphins considering the mess of Zach Wilson and Quinn Ewers behind him.
“QB stat to know: Miami’s success hinges on Tua Tagovailoa’s health, as the Dolphins were markedly better with their franchise quarterback on the field last season. Over the past three seasons (including the playoffs), Miami is 25-17 with Tagovailoa starting and 3-8 with all other quarterbacks,” ESPN Research states.
Well, as long as they employ incompetent backups this is going to continue to happen. Perhaps the Dolphins should have been fighting the Indianapolis Colts for Daniel Jones this offseason. They really should have had a better backup plan than Wilson.
Interesting tidbits and predictions on the Miami Dolphins
ESPN analyst Matt Bowen highlights a Dolphins’ fantasy player that I’ve been screaming about for weeks. Keep an eye on Ollie Gordon! Grab him in the late rounds if you can and stash him.
“How to win your fantasy league: RB Ollie Gordon II. With De’Von Achane sidelined because of a calf injury, Gordon has value in the later rounds if he can lock down the No. 2 role in Miami,” Bowen writes. “The rookie from Oklahoma State is a physical runner who can get north-south, and he can push the pile between the tackles. Plus, Gordon is a capable receiver on screens and could play a defined role early this season.”
Seth Walder, an analytics writer for ESPN, goes out on a limb (sort of) and says the biggest surprise this year will be that wide receiver Tyreek Hill will be traded.
“Bold prediction for 2025: WR Tyreek Hill will be traded. It’s hardly the boldest call on this list, considering how last year ended, but if Miami’s season goes south quickly — and it certainly could — it will make sense to deal Hill midway through the campaign to maximize the return as soon as possible rather than holding on to an aging player as a non-contender in the second half,” Walder writes.
I know…we’re almost there. It’s almost football season.
Micah Warren Micah Warren has been covering the NFL – and sports in general – for more than 20 years and he began writing for Heavy in 2025. His work has been featured in Yahoo!, MSN.com, Forbes, amNewYork, Off the Record, GCobb.com, Muck Rack, PR Daily, Blast Magazine and other sports and non-sports-related outlets. Micah also co-hosts “The Philly Pulse” podcast. More about Micah Warren
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