Dolphins Post-Super Bowl Power Rankings Roundup
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The Miami Dolphins made an impression during the 2022 season, but they also entered the offseason with some uncertainty because of the two concussions that sidelined quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
That uncertainty often was brought up when national media outlets put together their post-Super Bowl power rankings, which included an eye toward the 2023 season.
In our survey of rankings of 10 national outlets —CBS Sports, NFL.com, Pro Football Network, FOX Sports, NBC Sports The Sporting News, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, ESPN and Yahoo Sports — the Dolphins averaged a ranking of 12.8 among the 32 NFL teams, with a high of 8 (ESPN) and a low of 17 (The Sporting News).
The most common rankings were 11th and 14th, which each came in twice.
Here's the breakdown of the Dolphins' 10 power rankings spots, along with the commentary associated with it:
CBS Sports
Ranking: 12
Analysis: They are committed to Tua Tagovailoa as quarterback, but now his health is the biggest concern. Getting Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator is a great move.
NFL.com
Ranking: 15
Analysis: Tua Tagovailoa has cleared the NFL's concussion protocol, and the Dolphins are confident he will not be at additional risk for head injuries moving forward. The Fins remain high on their starter for good reason: Concussions cost Tua the better part of five regular-season games in 2022, but he still set career highs in attempts, passing yards and touchdowns. Tagovailoa is a player. Now Miami just needs to see if his body will allow him to be the franchise guy. A smart hedge by the Dolphins might entail bringing in a more durable backup than Teddy Bridgewater.
NBC Sports
Ranking: 14
Analysis: The Dolphins were 8-5 with Tua Tagovailoa as their starting quarterback last season while boasting one of the NFL's most dynamic offenses. But concerns about Tagovailoa's health are real after he suffered two concussions in the same season. With Teddy Bridgewater entering free agency, Miami would be wise to invest in a high-level backup QB, since that position could be the difference between the Dolphins winning a playoff game or suffering the same fate as 2022.
FOX Sports
Ranking: 11
Analysis: The Dolphins belong higher on the list if Tua Tagovailoa is fully healthy, but there's just so much uncertainty in that department. Hopefully he's good to go and we can get back to watching him operate this explosive offense; it's just hard to know what to expect right now.
Yahoo Sports
Ranking: 11
Analysis: The Dolphins don't have much cap space, and they also don't have first-, fourth- and sixth-round picks after trading them away (they do have an extra third). There won't be many avenues to improve the roster, which is OK because Miami was pretty good this past season. Of course, the only thing that really matters is Tua Tagovailoa's health after his scary season with multiple concussions.
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Sports Illustrated
Ranking: 14
Analysis: It must be hard for Dolphins fans not to be wondering what could have been, given how well the team played with Tua Tagovailoa in the lineup and how much their season was derailed by his multiple concussions. Still, the first year under Mike McDaniel looks like a real step forward for the organization.
ESPN
Ranking: 8
Analysis (on offseason in three or fewer words – Just get healthy): While operating at 100%, this team proved it could be among the best in the NFL. The problem came when the Dolphins were at 100% for only a handful of weeks. The return of Brandon Jones and Nik Needham should shore up the defense — which stands to improve with the addition of coordinator Vic Fangio. Tua Tagovailoa's concussion issues provided one of the biggest stories in the league this season, but Miami is confident that after an offseason of rest, he will be good to go in 2023.
Pro Football Network
Ranking: 10
Analysis: McDaniel and Fangio together as one? If Tua Tagovailoa can remain healthy next season, there’s no reason to believe that the Dolphins won’t take one of the Wild Card spots in the AFC. For a while, it appeared Miami might end up having the very best offense in the NFL. McDaniel’s ability to scheme open Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle over the middle was incredible, and Tagovailoa played with unbelievable confidence when healthy, throwing with outstanding anticipation and accuracy over the middle.
The Sporting News
Ranking: 17
Analysis: The Dolphins overachieved offensively to get them into the playoffs but the cool-off will come with uncertainty around Tua Tagovailoa. Look for the defense to end up being more reliable as a strength thanks to Vic Fangio.
USA Today
Ranking: 16
Analysis: As well as things generally went under rookie HC Mike McDaniel, had QB Tua Tagovailoa remained healthy, easy to wonder if this team might have had a better outcome. Also, hard not to wonder if Tua can actually remain healthy for 17+ games.
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