MIAMI GARDENS — It was one year ago that the Dolphins checked in with a 2-6 record at the time of their midseason report card. Predictably, the grades weren’t good. The Dolphins have a 2-7 record for this year’s midseason report card. You can figure out the rest.
So far, the Dolphins have disappointed and underachieved.
Wide receiver Tyreek Hill’s season-ending knee injury is a major factor in the poor start. But Hill was there for the season-opening 33-8 loss at Indianapolis, a game in which the Dolphins looked uninspired and unprepared. To a certain extent, things have gone downhill since that game.
General manager Chris Grier, who had a 53-54 regular season record since taking over the entire operation in 2019, paid for poor start, as well as years of mediocrity, with his job. Grier and the Dolphins agreed to mutually part ways Friday, one day after the Dolphins were blasted, 28-6, by Baltimore. Interim general manager Champ Kelly, hired in March, is now in charge.
Coach Mike McDaniel, who has a 30-30 career regular season record, will stay for the rest of the season, at least, according to owner Steve Ross. That gives the impression that as long as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (40-31 as a starter; 27-23 as a starter under McDaniel) is here, McDaniel is here.
Quarterback: F
Tagovailoa (15 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 87.6 passer rating), who threw crucial late-game interceptions in losses against New England and Buffalo, is having perhaps his worst season in the NFL. Through nine games he’s three interceptions from his career-worst of 14 established in 2023, when he played all 17 games. Tagovailoa ranked 23rd in the NFL in passer rating when play began Sunday. He’s also nearing his career-worst passer rating of 87.1, established in his rookie season of 2020. Not having Hill is crushing. Not having tight end Darren Waller (pectoral) is also big.
Running back: B-
De’Von Achane (106 carries, 606 yards, 5.0 yard average, three touchdowns) has been money. He’s basically carrying the offense, and the third-year player will want to talk contract extension after the season. Ollie Gordon II (40 carries, 122 yards, one touchdown) has been limited by his early-season inability to do his job without the ball. Wide receiver Malik Washington (12 carries, 74 yards) is third in rushing. That’s an issue. Jaylen Wright (nine carries, 28 yards), who the Dolphins traded up to acquire in 2024, has hardly played. That’s also an issue.
Wide receiver: D-
Jaylen Waddle (41 receptions, 586 yards, 14.3 yards per receptions, four touchdowns) has been good, not great. Not having Hill (21 receptions, 265 yards, one touchdown) is the story here. Malik Washington (28 receptions, 183 yards, one touchdown) has been fairly productive relative to expectations. But among Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (10 receptions, 82 yards, no touchdowns), Dee Eskridge (four receptions, 62 yards) and others, it’s a sad crew. Achane (43 receptions, 274 yards, four touchdowns) is the second-leading receiver. Waller and fellow tight ends Tanner Conner and Julian Hill have all fared better than wide receivers, aside from Waddle and Tyreek Hill.
Tight end: F
Waller (10 receptions, 117 yards, four touchdowns) has only played four games, and he’s been shut down for extended stretches in games. Julian Hill (10 receptions, 77 yards), Conner (nine receptions, 91 yards) and Greg Dulcich (five receptions, 49 yards) have been decent relative to expectations. But Waller’s injury has been a major setback. This position has been so bad that guard Daniel Brunskill has been a better tight end than a lot of the actual tight ends.
Offensive line: D-
The poor performance by rookie left guard Jonah Savaiinaea, the second-round pick rated as one of the league’s worst guards by Pro Football Focus, is only the start of the problems. Injuries to right guard James Daniels (pectoral) and right tackle Austin Jackson (toe) exposed the lack of depth. Left tackle Patrick Paul has been really good in pass protection, and center Aaron Brewer has been a grown man, as expected. Pass protection has allowed 20 sacks (tied for 10th most when play began Sunday), which isn’t terrible, but it’s not good.
Defensive line: F
They’ve been a major disappointment, and defensive tackle Zach Sieler (26 tackles, 0 sacks) leads the way. Of course, fellow defensive tackle Kenneth Grant (19 tackles, 1.5 sacks), the rookie first-round pick, is on the same level of disappointment. Guys such as Benito Jones, Jordan Phillips and Matthew Butler have been OK, considering they’re all role players. But the defensive line leads the way in run stopping, and the Dolphins have been the worst run defense in the league for most of the season.
Linebacker: D-
We’re including the outside/on-ball linebackers crew of Bradley Chubb (25 tackles, 4.0 sacks), Jaelan Phillips (25 tackles, 3.0 sacks), Chop Robinson (eight tackles, 1.0 sack) and Matthew Judon (12 tackles, 0 sacks). They’ve been a huge disappointment against the pass and the run. The inside/off-ball linebackers crew led by Jordyn Brooks (team-best 93 tackles, 2.5 sacks) and Tyrel Dodson (67 tackles, 3.0 sacks), and including K.J. Britt (22 tackles) Willie Gay Jr. (nine tackles) has shown well thanks to Brooks. Again, the run defense has been terrible and the linebackers must share the blame.
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Cornerback: D
Penalties and busted coverages have been the story here. Well, injuries to slot/nickel Kader Kohou (knee) and outside cornerback Storm Duck (ankle/knee) have been a big part of the story, too. Rasul Douglas (36 tackles, 1.0 sack) and Jack Jones (35 tackles) have struggled at times but have been OK. Relative to expectations, these guys haven’t been terrible despite having no interceptions.
Safety: D
Minkah Fitzpatrick (50 tackles, 0 sacks, one interception) hasn’t made many impact plays and fellow starters Ashtyn Davis (26 tackles) and Iffy Melinfwonwu (23 tackles) have battled injuries and inconsistency. There’s nothing much to see here.
Special teams: D
They’ve allowed a 90-yard game-winning touchdown return, missed a 35-yard field-goal attempt and have made two crucial penalties (running into punter vs. Indianapolis; roughing punter vs. Buffalo). Yes, losing kicker Jason Sanders (hip) hurt, but these guys have struggled overall.
Coaching: F
McDaniel has done his worst job since taking over in 2022. Penalties, mental errors, blown coverages and operational issues (getting plays to huddle on time, getting players in huddle on time, delay of game, etc…) have haunted the Dolphins once again. Players haven’t quit, but you can question whether they’re still listening to McDaniel. Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver hasn’t been good, offensive coordinator Frank Smith hasn’t been good, and special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman hasn’t been good.
Overall: F
This team is a disaster. This season is a disaster. The rebuild that started in 2019 has failed. The “win now” mentality that took over in 2022 failed. And the “win with youth and draftees” movement that started this season is failing. A much-needed rebuild is coming in 2026.
