Let’s indulge ourselves in a little hypothetical. Steven Ross has fired Chris Grier and YOU have been hired as the new General Manager. He’s given you a 3 year mandate, legitimate Super Bowl contender or you’re fired as well. What do you do?
Don't take the job because I don't think that you can do it in 3 years. Grier has screwed the next guy majorly. Unless I get a guaranteed top 3 pick to go get the QB I want, before the season starts, I would never agree to a 3 year window.
Get Ross to agree to tank one season through a firesale of players you don't want so that the rebuild can begin in earnest with lots of picks from year 2.
Here reports out of espn Ross and Grier might survive through the 2026 season. If thats the case I might be out as a fan of this team after 50 plus years. Hopefully its false.
Well since I started this, I suppose I need to state what I would do. First off, I would take a single page out of Grier’s playbook. I’m shopping Hill, Waddle, Achane, Seiler, Phillips, Chubb, Eichenburgh…I’m going to see what I can get for all of them, even if it’s a package deal, multiple players for a 1st round pick. Becuase of the salary cap hit, I’m hanging on to Tua but letting him know, he’s gone at the end of the season. If he wants a shot at starting for another team, better play his *** off, otherwise I’ll simply cut him, eat the salary cap hit and nobody will want him. Secondly, I’m going to insist McDaniel run quarterback by committee, Tua in the 1st half, Ewers in the 2nd. See if he is an heir apparent or do we need to draft one. Rebuilding in the off season; Will McDaniel still be with the team? Well, that all depends on what I see for the remainder of this season, but seeing how the offense has imploded without Tua, I sense it would be the same. Secondly, if McDaniel is indeed gone, I’m going for it…I’m tampering. That’s right, I’m taking a page out of Joe Robbie’s play book, not the weak Ross/Grier playbook. I’m going for John Harbaugh. That’s right, I’m talking Ross into making it worth his while to leave Baltimore and come to Miami, just like Robbie did with Shula. Seems to me that worked out well for the Dolphin. Thirdly, I’m focusing on the trenches, particularly on the offensive line. I’m going to draft me 1600-1700 lbs of the meanest corn fed boys that love to smash a defensive lineman in the mouth and then I’m going to find the BEST offensive line coach in the league and bring him in. I’m going to turn the Dolphins offense into the meanest most physical line the league has ever known. I want that offensive line so darned good that even I could run thru the A gap for a 5-10 yard gain. With an offensive line THAT good, I don’t need a GREAT quarterback, I need a GOOD quarterback. I don’t need a Marino or Manning, I need a Montana. I need a field general. Would it be Ewers, a quarterback in the draft or a free agent? Would have to wait and see what’s what and when. That’s just on the offensive side of the ball, defensively? Again, the trenches. I’m building the defensive line that’s a brick wall, that no running play gets pass the line of scrimmage. Linebackers, that’s year 2 project but in the secondary gotta get at least one shutdown corner. Need the reincarnation of Surtain and Madison. rebuilding everything you want can’t be done in a single offseason, but I would definitely set the tone that the Dolphins were no longer a soft finesse team. Playing the Dolphins is going to equate to a physically painful day.
I mostly agree. Three years to a Super Bowl contender not only assumes that absolutely everything goes right in Miami, but that enough other AFC teams, including Buffalo, fall far enough off to make that plausible. In the event of a change, 2026 is a transition and tear down year. Beyond draft picks being added and hopefully some continued progress from the youngest players currently on the roster, there wouldn't be much movement in a positive direction. You have to ride out a few big contracts before you can even move on from them. 2027 then, year two, becomes the first real year starting over, and at that point close to the bottom. On offense, best case, you've got Waddle, Malik, Gordon and a few OL to work with. On defense, hopefully a few of the young DL we just drafted pan out, but other than that, the whole cabinet is pretty empty. This is probably a year you'd look to draft a rookie QB to build around. But I am absolutely not one to believe that young QBs need to be great right away, and need to be taken slowly and let grow. If all of that goes as planned/hoped for, then 2028, year three, becomes the first year really working towards the end goal. But even then, its not close to being a SB contender. Just competitive on the field and hopefully moving in the right direction. And who knows, maybe by then a 32 year old Josh Allen, 33 year old Mahomes and 31 year old Lamar Jackson are slowing down enough to make it seem like we can catch up if we keep going the right way. (FWIW, that's older than almost every starting QB in the NFL is now, and even QBs aren't immune to age in today's post-PED NFL).
I'd say, "Yes sir Mr. Ross, I'll build a perennial playoff contender!" And from day one, I'd be planning my retirement in three years since it's a fool's errand. All kidding aside, I would try to do my job though and I'd bring two quarterbacks into camp to compete against Tua. Preferably a rookie.. and a journeyman who has good early film and hasn't played much in the past few years. Next, I'd focus on the offensive line and invest heavily there. Goodbye Tyreek, that salary is going to three beefy studs with a proven track record. I'd keep Waddle and develop young WRs, with a focus on hands/catching and the ability to create fast separation. For RB, I'm keeping our stable. Same for DL and Edge. I'm getting a few blue collar veteran corners and several free agent/UDFA corners. Besides OL, my main investment is going to be at MLB...I want a stud. I'd try to get Van Ginkel back as well since I want blue collar players who have a knack for being everywhere. You can't teach that on defense and it makes a world of difference. I want a high energy, high effort team on the field and won't settle for any less. Anyone who opposes will be traded to Cleveland. Next, my head coach is going to be focused on defense and a strong run game. I don't want a visionary or a guru, that's not a path to long-term success. I'm looking at college coaches and HCs in their first stint that were fired 3-5 years ago. Year 1, I'm keeping Tua with no guarantee to start...I don't care if I pay him to ride the bench. The best QB will start regardless, and that could change depending on the opponent. We're playing smashmouth football since my new line is physical and violent, and I'm going to be the team nobody wants to play. Even if we lose, they'll remember us for several weeks after fighting for every inch. Year 2, I'm moving on from Tua or naming him the full time starter...he'll decide that on his own. He should do well in my offense because I'm not focused on passing except for the occasional play-action, and that's only coming if the opponent can consistently stop the run. I'll take elements of McDaniel's offense, the quick slants and deep shots over the middle, but they're going to be the exception instead of the entire offense. The main changes for year 2 will be the offensive line (hopefully depth) and CB/safety, but no splashy moves unless it's at a very hefty discount. Year 3, I'm slowly adjusting to a more balanced attack on offense. Teams expect the run so I'm opening up the passing game a little more, but I'm still sticking to my identity as a smashmouth team. Win or lose, you're going to know you played us. Depending on last year's record, I might bring in a veteran WR, RB, whatever if it feels like we're only a few players away. Otherwise it's business as usual building through the draft with rugged, high energy players. Year 4, I'm on a beach somewhere regardless. Let the next guy carry the reigns, because I made enough money to fully retire. I love football but it's not life, so I'm focusing on family and travel while I'm still fairly young. Hopefully I got my SB ring or at least got us on the right path.
No way you get this rebuilt in three years, four would be needed even with most things going well for you (free agency, drafts, trades). Yes, 2025 should have been year one of a teardown, but Ross is consistent in waiting a year too long to act. A tough running team also requires a mobile QB with a good arm for best effect. Tua can't QB sneak, or run a naked bootleg, and needs to throw between the hashes. Way too limited, so trade him for what you can in 2026. I'd keep McDaniel around to get me a top 5 pick and if I can trade Chubb and Hill we are looking at top 3. If Tua goes down for 7-8 games you have a real shot at the #1 pick. Get your QB, sit them a year behind a vet, and build your OL. After that it's BPA and if the QB develops you are in business.
