MIAMI GARDENS — Here’s something Dolphins owner Steve Ross can do to show fans that he gives a damn, that he listens and learns: insist that next season’s rebuild starts in the trenches. It makes sense on a couple of levels.
The trenches are where the Dolphins’ biggest draft capital went in the past two years among defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, the 2025 first-round pick; guard Jonah Savaiinaea, the 2025 second-round pick; outside linebacker Chop Robinson, the 2024 first-round pick; and Patrick Paul, the 2024 second-round pick. Plus, there’s defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, the 2025 fifth-round pick. And the Dolphins found center Andrew Meyer, the undrafted second-year player.
Improve them. Make their development a top priority for the franchise. Add to that group. Draft and develop.
The other reason to start a rebuild through the trenches is that’s where Philadelphia and Detroit have found success. It’s a plan that works, unlike building with speed and finesse. Building through the trenches has allowed the Eagles and Lions to win despite not having Hall of Fame talent at quarterback. The Dolphins should follow that model.
The Dolphins already have a limited amount of talent in the trenches. Beyond those aforementioned recent draftees the Dolphins’ trench talent for 2026 also includes right tackle Austin Jackson, right guard James Daniels, center Aaron Brewer, and defensive tackle Zeek Biggers, the 2025 seventh-round pick. And they could have outside linebackers Bradley Chubb, if he doesn’t get traded, and Jaelan Phillips (he’s playing on his fifth-year option), if he agrees to a hometown discount.
I know, I know. There’s not a Pro Bowl player in that group (Paul shows the most promise). But it’s a start.
And if I’m Ross, during my rebuild I’d be sure to hire a head coach who shares my vision of emphasizing the trenches.
Whenever I come across a quarterback, someone of the Jalen Hurts/Jared Goff level, cool. In the meantime, my initial plan is to use either Quinn Ewers or Zach Wilson as my bridge quarterback. Or I use both. And maybe one turns out to be the franchise quarterback you need. Or maybe the next coach has different ideas. That’s cool, too. This is my initial plan. This is a starting point.
This is what keeps me from having a fire sale (do the Dolphins have enough talent for a fire sale?) at the trade deadline in two weeks.
The Dolphins can’t angrily ship off all of their talent next month.
Firstly, who will oversee those transactions? General manager Chris Grier? Assistant general manager Marvin Allen? One or both could be gone next season.
Secondly, in the race to build a perfect 10, meaning a Super Bowl champion, the Dolphins can’t start from zero. It takes too long. It’s easier to start from three or four, which is roughly where they are right now.
The Dolphins, such as every team, are racing the clock in this rebuild. They must keep a close eye on who is worthy of a second contract and why. Because if you’re committed to building through the trenches, you can’t be hesitant to award second contracts, if earned, to Paul, Robinson, Grant or Savaiinaea the way the Dolphins were hesitant to award second contracts to defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and guard Robert Hunt.
Rather, you must be committed to building through the trenches with the same fervor you displayed while foolishly attempting to build through speed.
It should be stated that there’s no guarantee that building through the trenches remains the No. 1 plan moving forward. But it gives the Dolphins some direction using a model that’s proven to work (Detroit, Philly), it fits how they’ve drafted the past two years (Robinson, Paul, Grant, Savaiinaea), and it should fit the goals of any general manager/coach combination.
Ross, whose team hasn’t won a playoff game since 2000, and hasn’t won a Super Bowl since 1973, is bordering on losing a generation of fans. The younger audience will naturally fracture as fantasy football and gambling continue to siphon loyalty from teams and send it toward general entertainment and self interest. The older audience will be turned off because it knows what quality looks like, and it knows this model doesn’t get it done.
Prioritizing building through the trenches shows fans that Ross understands something about football and the direction his team should take for sustained success.
The general manager and coach have the final say, but Ross, who has lost the respect of fans as much as Grier, coach Mike McDaniel or quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, can earn a modicum of respect back by insisting that the rebuild starts in the trenches.
