It’s Year 4 for the Miami Dolphins’ offensive foursome of coach Mike McDaniel, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, the fuel for the engine that drives the team. They figure to return to striking fear into opponents.
But the more exciting news is the Dolphins, who have struggled with offensive line issues for all three of the previous seasons under McDaniel, got a pair of new guards — free agent signee James Daniels and rookie second-round pick Jonah Savaiinaea.
Combine them with a large number of other offensive additions and this crew seems poised for a big season. For example, Miami acquired tight end Darren Waller, who, granted, did not practice during training camp. The Dolphins have other key additions that you won’t see in the starting lineup — senior passing game coordinator Bobby Slowik, backup quarterback Zach Wilson, rookie running back Ollie Gordon II, and big-bodied wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.
Granted, the key losses were left tackle Terron Armstead, tight end Jonnu Smith and running back Raheem Mostert, who all made a Pro Bowl in the past two seasons. But the Dolphins think they can recover.
The downside to the 2024 season is the Dolphins, who were without Tagovailoa for six games due to a concussion and a hip injury, went from having the league’s No. 1 offense in 2023 (401.3 yards per game) to having the league’s No. 18 offense in 2024 (325.9 ypg).
This season the Dolphins offense is hoping to get back to its high-scoring, deep-passing ways; here’s a breakdown of the starters:
QB Tua Tagovailoa
6-foot-1, 225 pounds; sixth season
Tagovailoa must play smarter to remain healthy, according to general manager Chris Grier, McDaniel, and Tagovailoa. A couple of keys are getting rid of the ball as opposed to holding it for that extra half-second in hopes that a receiver gets open, and sliding before the first down marker on runs instead of taking on a tackler in an attempt to get the first down. Outside of that, Tagovailoa (2,867 yards, 19 touchdowns, seven interceptions, 101.4 passer rating) shouldn’t have many problems.
WR Tyreek Hill
5-10, 191; 10th season
Hill had right wrist surgery during the offseason to fix a debilitating ailment from last season when he slumped to 81 receptions for 959 yards and six touchdowns. By comparison, in 2023, Hill had 1,799 yards and 13 touchdowns, and in 2022, Hill had 1,710 and seven touchdowns. But there’s plenty of reason to think Hill will be ready for the season. He ran 10.15-second and 10.1-second 100-meter dashes in competitions during the summer.
WR Jaylen Waddle
5-10, 185; fifth season
Waddle (58 receptions, 744 yards, two touchdowns) is looking for a bounce-back season after posting three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. Analytics suggest Waddle should get more receptions. Statistics might support that claim, too. The Dolphins are 8-3 in the past three years when he gets 100 or more yards receiving in a game, and 5-0 in the past two.
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FB Alec Ingold
6-1, 220; seventh season
Ingold, a Pro Bowl selection two years ago, remains a big key to the run game’s success. Ingold sustained ankle and calf injuries last season that forced him to miss two games (Los Angeles Rams and Las Vegas) and although the Dolphins won both games they rushed for 67 yards against the Rams, and 82 yards against Las Vegas. The Dolphins rushed for more than 100 yards in eight of the 15 games that Ingold played.
RB De’Von Achane
5-9, 188; third season
The speedy Achane had 1,499 yards from scrimmage, proving his value as a runner (907 yards, six touchdowns) and a receiver (592 yards, six touchdowns). There’s a chance he might line up as a receiver more this year. But his production shouldn’t decline. He’s the key to the run game.
TE Darren Waller
6-6, 238; third season
Waller was retired last season after playing for the New York Giants but came out of retirement this offseason to play for the Dolphins, who traded with the Giants for his acquisition. Waller made the Pro Bowl in 2020 while playing for Las Vegas. Waller, who turns 33 in September, will fill the hole left by Smith, who was the only player on Miami to make the Pro Bowl last season.
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RT Austin Jackson
6-5, 315; sixth season
Jackson is coming off a season-ending knee injury that limited him to eight games. His health will be watched. He played 16 games in 2023, but only two games in 2022 due to an ankle injury. He protects Tagovailoa’s blind side and might be the best run blocker on the offensive line.
RG James Daniels
6-4, 327; eighth season
Daniels, Miami’s biggest free agent signing of the offseason, is recovering from an Achilles injury that limited him to four games last season for Pittsburgh. Daniels is being counted on to solidify a position that has troubled Dolphins fans for years.
C Aaron Brewer
6-1, 295; sixth season
Brewer is arguably the best player on the offensive line. He’s undersized but he’s smart, aggressive and has a take-your-head-off mentality. Yes, there were snap issues here and there last season but those shouldn’t happen in his second year with the Dolphins.
LG Jonah Savaiinaea
6-5, 336; rookie season
The Dolphins traded up in the second round to acquire Savaiinaea, who comes with a reputation as a physical player. His size suggests he’ll help the run game immediately. There’s always a learning curve as a rookie, but the Dolphins think Savaiinaea will do well fairly quickly.
LT Patrick Paul
6-7, 332; second season
There’s a lot of pressure on Paul to replace the retired Armstead, a two-time Pro Bowl selection in three seasons. Paul struggled at times last season but that might have been because he was young and didn’t get regular snaps. The Dolphins seem confident he’ll do a good job as a first-year starter.
