The Dolphins’ trade of wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to the Broncos was the team’s latest offseason move to elicit questions about their goals for the coming season. Moving Waddle while parting ways with a slew of other veterans in moves that have left the team with significant dead cap money has led many to suggest that the Dolphins are looking at 2026 as a year to focus on building for the future while passing on doing all they can to compete in the present. General Manager Jon-Eric Sullivan was asked about that perception during an appearance on PFT Live this week and Sullivan called it a “false” premise. While he acknowledged that he and head coach Jeff Hafley stepped into “a unique situation,” Sullivan insisted that the roster maneuvers are being done with an eye on trying to win right away. “I have incredible faith in Jeff Hafley’s ability to lead,” Sullivan said. “I know that he and his staff will have this team ready to play and we’re going to show up and compete. Where it goes, it goes. We’ll build this thing out for the future, but we’re here to win now as well. Make no mistake about it.” Sullivan noted that a lot of players on the Dolphins roster are on one-year deals, which does create a lot of motivation for players to put their best showings on tape. Whether players in that contractual position for a team coming off a poor season are the right ones to create a winner is a question that will be answered in the fall.
I think that he's saying what he thinks he needs to say to appease the anti-tank cult. They were loud the last time and were already out in force before Sullivan and Haffley were even hired this time. So he says that they plan to win regardless of what he actually expects will happen, which i think its probably something like 2-15.
Based on the moves Sullivan has made thus far, it’s not a tank. He walked in to most likely the WORST situation in the league when it came to the salary cap. Tua, Chubb, Ramsey, Tyreek. Grier had so much of our salary cap tied up in luxuries we simply couldn’t afford. The only way to get the team healthy was to take it on the chin this season and cut the pork from the roster. $170 million in dead cap space on just 3 of those players. Mind boggling. I know this season is going to be tough. Having so little money and signing multiple 1 year “prove it” contracts can potentially be that proverbial carrot for players to prove they deserve to be on the team and potentially earn a big payday. Next season we’re projected to have $145 million in cap space. That’s going to be able to sign these players that proved it to a longer termed contract they worked for. But also keep in mind, the Green Bay model for years has been build through the draft. Have those young hungry players and keep them longer term. Now while it sucked to trade Waddle, it was a win for the Dolphins. Waddle is one of the better receivers in the league and the price of wide receivers is only going up. Better to trade him now for a 1st and 3rd round pick to build the future than potentially be held hostage to a new contract demand, which was the Grier model.
Man, we really need to nail the draft. Then, we need to find the right mix of rookies and experienced players to get the young guys a chance to grow. Ideally, we might take lumps early in the season but progressively improve as the game slows down. I'm not expecting anything but to avoid embarrassing play like we saw the first half of last season and something at the end of the year that makes me believe Hafley can coach, Sully can scout and make transactions, and I have a logical reason to think that 2027 will see upward competitive performance trends.
I watched the actual interview and on Waddle, he said that we probably wouldn't be competing for the division for a few seasons and Waddle is in his prime now. They did not want to trade him, but replacing his salary with two rookie contracts made sense for right now. They liked the offer and felt that it was fair for both teams, so they made the move. For Achane, however, he said that the kid is special and he's the future of the franchise. They are working on extending him now and they don't want him to go anywhere. Throughout the interview, he repeated "this is an extraordinary set of circumstances," meaning that he took on a team with a ton of free agents and no money to pay them next year. He also said that several players are on a one-year "prove it" contract and he hopes each of them does prove it. His main focus was nailing the draft because those 11 picks ultimately need to turn into 11 starters in the years to come.
It was a good interview. I think Sullivan was forthright and candid about the Dolphins and their current situation. Furthermore it sure seemed to me they are far from tank mode. They’re going to try and win as many games possible, which could explain the rumor mill of the Dolphins really trying to pick up a second 1st round draft pick for 2027…just in case they do well enough this season to keep them from drafting high enough in 2027. Im just really eager to see what the Dolphins do prior to and on draft day. I have a feeling we’re going to see a trade or 2 of draft picks during the draft.
I wouldn't be opposed to seeing us trade pick #30 for a 2027 first round pick. We don't know this regimen though so we don't know if they're likely to move upwards or downwards based on their boards. I hope they would move if they see someone they really want; that's always frustrated me when we said, "We would have taken so and so a few spots earlier, but we knew the other team wanted him too." If that's the case, move up and get your person!
Of course they're not "tanking". "Tanking" is a made up notion by fans. Hopefully no need to explain why. If they're the right guys for the job, they will build things the best they can. They have to clean all the dung Grier left on this franchise. They'll do the best they can to field a competitive team while keeping their eye and focus on the future and building it the right way for sustainable success. It's not one or the other. So far, Sully seems to be doing things the right way. Who knows?
