Kelly: Expectations Remain High, But Does Dolphins' Talent Match Them?

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel rebuked the thought that the Dolphins might be resetting in 2024 because of the numerous free agent defections

Mike McDaniel got a little hot and bothered during his media session at the NFL owner’s meetings earlier this week.

The question that ruffled the Miami Dolphins’ head coaches feathers insinuated that the team he’s led to the playoffs the past two seasons, the franchise that has produced the top ranked offense last season, might not be as positioned to contend for a Super Bowl run as they were last season.

McDaniel heard the word “reset,” which is a variation of retooling - but falls just short of rebuilding - and rebuked talk of franchise regression.

“I can tell you one thing, every single player that was on the team last year and the year before, and every single player that we’ve added this offseason, and every single coach that we’ve added this offseason, their expectations are to help fulfill goals unaccomplished,” McDaniel said, likely referring to Miami’s two years of late-season collapses. “There’s been zero time spent thinking anything less bold, or less aggressive than the way we approach every season.”

Problem is, the Dolphins lost nearly a dozen key starters from last year’s 11 win team.

In fairness, every team loses key players every season. 

The Los Angeles Rams just lost All Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald, a first ballot Hall of Famer, who retired. Are they embarking on another reset, which follows last year’s unloading of Jalen Ramsey to clear cap space?

The Buffalo Bills parted ways with several long-tenured players this offseason, including safety Jordan Poyer, who signed with Miami after spending seven years with the Bills, cornerback Tre’Davious White, and center Mitch Morse.

Replacement have been added, but collateral loss should be expected.

Even the two Super Bowl teams, the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers, each lost a number of key players like Arik Armstead, who was released, and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, who was traded to Tennessee after failing to workout a long-term contract with the Chiefs.

DOLPHINS LOST KEY STARTERS

Sometimes players seek greener pastures, and then in other instances teams make roster moves to handle business, the finances better. That’s why the Dolphins will spent this spring and summer working to move on from Christian Wilkins, Robert Hunt, Andrew Van Ginkel, Jerome Baker, Xavien Howard, Connor Williams, DeShon Elliott and Brandon Jones, Emmanuel Ogbah, among others.

The Dolphins replaced Wilkins with half a dozen NFL journeymen defensive tackles. And Miami’s first-round pick could help the Dolphins replace Wilkins much like his selection at pick No. 13 in the 2019 draft replaced Davon Godchaux, who also left as a free agent that offseason.

But will that rookie become an immediate pillar of stability like Wilkins was? That's unlikely.

Shaquil Barrett replaces Van Ginkel, and considering the aged Pro Bowl pass rusher has accomplished plenty more in his career than Van Ginkel, who signed with the Minnesota Vikings for $3 million from than Miami gave Barrett, let’s consider that an even swap.

Kendall Fuller was signed to serve as Howard’s replacement, and that’s a push if we’re being generous. Fuller’s more durable, and might be a better scheme fit for these Dolphins. But let’s not pretend he’s accomplished as much as Howard has in their professional careers, which started at the same time (2016).

Fuller’s a solid NFL starter on his third team. Howard’s potentially a Ring of Honor candidate for the Dolphins.

UPGRADES TO ROSTER WERE MADE

Linebackers Jordyn Brooks and Anthony Walker Jr. are each comparable players to Baker, who was released to help create cap space, and ultimately replaced Brooks as the Seattle Seahawks starter. That's a two for one situation, which was a step in the right direction.

As was Aaron Brewer replacing Williams because he’s younger, cheaper, and seemingly healthier considering there are whispers that Williams’ career might be over because of the knee injury he suffered in December.  

Poyer has accomplished more in his NFL career than Elliott and Jones combined, but there are concerns about the 12-year veteran’s mileage that shouldn’t be ignored.

And the Dolphins upgraded the tight end position by signing Jonnu Smith and Jody Fortson, adding two touchdown producers to a unit that failed to score a touchdown last season.

McDaniel pointed out the offseason is far from over, and that the Dolphins will continue to sign free agents, like receiver Odell Beckham, who has a standing offer from Miami. The Dolphins also have a draft coming that will likely produce eight to 10 newcomers based on history.

So more roster enhancements will be made, and areas of concern will be strengthened, we hope.

Whether they help the Dolphins improve will be up for debate throughout the entire season, and somethign that's probably determined by overall health more than fresh faces.

“I think everybody’s individual expectations are extremely high. The more people lower their expectations, it’s kind of erroneous or irrelevant, but I know that starting April 15th, guys are very, very hungry to deliver on what they know, which is an opportunity to be on a team that has the ability to grow from what we’ve learned last year, and what we went through,” McDaniel said. “[Players that] have zero thought as to down, rebuilding, whatever those words are. That makes zero sense to me.”