MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins completed an offseason where the team pivoted from the big spending of recent years to a frugal mindset financially.
Ahead of the 2025 regular season’s start on Sept. 7 in Indianapolis against the Colts and a day after the Dolphins made their cuts to get down to the initial 53-man active roster, general manager Chris Grier assessed the offseason.
“We’ve had years here where it’s been all draft-focused for a couple of years and then, at some point, you have to reset,” Grier said. “When you go and you make aggressive moves like we had made for a few years, you have to reset again and start it over because it’s just not sustainable the way the contracts are with players and what they’re making now.”
Some may hear or read the word “reset” and think it speaks to a rebuild.
Grier made clear that’s not the case. It’s only about the financial approach in again building through the draft to get the roster younger.
“In terms of reset, it was just talking about the money philosophy and spending and stuff,” Grier said. “We were always going to try and win this season. It’s all about winning in 2025. It was never going to be a step back.
“For me, our goals are always to be playing good football in December and January and win games. Ultimately yeah, our goal is to get in the playoffs and try and win games.”
As quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had his extension signed ahead of the 2024 season kick in, the Dolphins can no longer benefit from having their quarterback on a rookie contract.
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Grier also said it has never been a directive from owner Steve Ross, whether to spend big or do some belt-tightening in any given offseason.
The Dolphins’ biggest question mark on the roster this offseason has been the cornerbacks group. Grier has been actively seeking improvements even Tuesday and Wednesday. Miami’s signing of veteran cornerback Rasul Douglas was made official Wednesday morning, and on Wednesday, the team claimed Julius Brents off waivers from the Colts.
“We feel good about the room, adding Rasul Douglas in to the group,” Grier said. “Some of the young players there, young corners, they have opportunities now to compete and make plays. … They’ve competed, they’ve done well all spring and summer battling. … It was good to see them out competing and working and we’ve been very happy with them.”
Douglas now has a quick turnaround to get ready for the Dolphins’ opener in Indianapolis in a week and a half.
“I think so. We’ll see. He’ll be out there (Wednesday), so we’ll see how he looks,” Grier said. “He’s got some time. He’s got to get used to the South Florida heat, but he’s been in Dallas training so excited for him. He’s been a player that’s very smart, instinctive, tough, competitive so I’m really happy to add him to the group.”
The reason the Dolphins had a hole on the roster at cornerback was the need to part ways with Jalen Ramsey, which the team did ahead of camp, trading him and tight end Jonnu Smith to the Pittsburgh Steelers and getting safety Minkah Fitzpatrick in return.
“Honestly, I was shocked. I was very surprised we were able to get him,” Grier said of bringing back his 2018 first-round draft pick, “but I do know that Pittsburgh had liked Ramsey a lot for what he could do and his skill set because he’s a very good player, too, as well. And getting Jonnu for them too was important. I think the way you look at it is they got two players that they liked and we got a player that we had coveted too, as well. So it was a win-win, and we got a draft pick, as well. Win-win for both teams.”
Aside from Douglas, second-year cornerback Storm Duck, who made the team as a 2024 undrafted rookie, has taken strides ahead of the season. Jack Jones, whom the team signed early in training camp, is expected to contribute, and rookie Jason Marshall Jr., the fifth-round pick out of Florida, could be an immediate solution in the slot with Kader Kohou out for the year.
Another major concern for the Dolphins is the offensive line depth. The team appears set with a decent starting five of, from left to right, Patrick Paul, Jonah Savaiinaea, Aaron Brewer, James Daniels and Austin Jackson. But the Dolphins’ backup linemen on the initial 53 were Larry Borom, Daniel Brunskill and Kion Smith.
They fortified that depth by bringing back veteran tackle Kendall Lamm, after he was released by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Grier was pleased with the experience Borom received in training camp and the preseason as Jackson nursed an injury. He said Brunskill provides “comfort” with his knowledge of the system from being with coach Mike McDaniel in San Francisco. Grier likes Smith’s versatility as a guard or tackle.
