Top 10 priorities for the Dolphins ahead of the 2025 season
South Florida Top 10 priorities for the Dolphins ahead of the 2025 season
The Miami Dolphins face an urgent offseason as they prepare for the 2025 season, focusing heavily on addressing weaknesses in the trenches, revamping key roster positions and rebuilding team culture.
Take a look at the recent coverage.
The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel looks on from the sideline as his team plays against the New York Jets in the first half of their NFL game at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. By MATIAS J. OCNER
NO. 1: ROSS KEEPS MCDANIEL, GRIER BUT TIME FOR HIM TO DEMAND MORE. AND MORE CONCLUSIONS, REACTION
Dolphins' Ross cannot be as patient. Six things that must happen now. | Published January 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Barry Jackson
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) signals at the line of scrimmage during the second half of an NFL Football game against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio on Sunday, December 29, 2024. By PHOTO BY AL DIAZ
NO. 2: HOW THE MIAMI DOLPHINS PLAN TO FIX RELATIONSHIP WITH TYREEK HILL
How the Miami Dolphins plan to address Tyreek Hill's plea to leave. | Published January 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Omar Kelly
El gerente general de los Miami Dolphins, Chris Grier, a la izquierda, y el entrenador en jefe, Mike McDaniel, a la derecha, responden preguntas durante una conferencia de prensa en las instalaciones de entrenamiento del equipo de fútbol de la NFL, el lunes 16 de enero de 2023 en Miami Gardens, Florida. By Lynne Sladky
NO. 3: DOLPHINS EYEING FREE AGENT OFFENSIVE LINEMEN, PREPARED TO DOUBLE DOWN ON BIG NEED
Dolphins say they're prepared to upgrade their offensive line. | Published February 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Barry Jackson
Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniels attend the game between the Miami Heat and the New York Knicks in Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals at the Kaseya Center in Miami on Saturday, May 6, 2023. By Al Diaz
NO. 4: WHERE DOLPHINS ROSTER AND DEPTH CHART STAND AT EVERY POSITION AND HOW TO FILL NEEDS
A look at Miami Dolphins depth chart at every position a week into free agency. | Published March 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Barry Jackson
Dec 29, 2024; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Tennessee Titans wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (15) celebrates a touchdown in the third quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images
NO. 5: WESTBROOK-IKHINE ON MCDANIEL MEETING AND WHAT HE BRINGS. AND DOLPHINS NEWCOMER NOTES
Notes on new Dolphins receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and several other new players | Published March 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Barry Jackson
Jan 30, 2025; Mobile, AL, USA; National team defensive lineman Aeneas Peebles of Virginia Tech (16) battles National team offensive lineman Grey Zabel of North Dakota State (77) during Senior Bowl practice for the National team at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images
NO. 6: THE MIAMI DOLPHINS MEET WITH SOME OF THE TOP OFFENSIVE LINEMEN AT THE NFL COMBINE
'He's got a great outlook on life,' Grey Zabel said of coach Mike McDaniel. 'Happy-go-lucky type of guy. Loved being able to finally meet him.' | Published March 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by C. Isaiah Smalls II
Jan 5, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo runs down the field for an attempted throw in Week 18 versus the Seattle Seahawks at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Navarro-Imagn Images
NO. 7: KELLY: AN IDEAL FREE AGENT PLAN TO SAVE THE MIAMI DOLPHINS | OPINION
Dolphins need to beef up the trenches in free agency, and should start on defense. | Published March 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Omar Kelly
Miami Dolphins defensive end Matt Dickerson (98) shakes hands with New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) after their NFL game at the MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. By MATIAS J. OCNER
NO. 8: DOLPHINS RE-SIGN JOURNEYMAN DEFENSIVE LINEMAN
Miami Dolphins re-signed journeyman defensive lineman Matt Dickerson | Published March 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Omar Kelly
South Carolina defensive back Nick Emmanwori (21) pulls down an interception during the first half of the Gamecocks' game at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia on Saturday, November 18, 2023. By Sam Wolfe
NO. 9: HOW DOLPHINS' PATH HAS BECOME NARROWER. AND OPTION FOR PICK 13 ASKED TO VISIT TEAM OFFICES
Dolphins have a more narrow path to achieve their goals. A top prospect is lined up for a visit. And more. | Published March 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Barry Jackson
Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Terron Armstead (72) high five teammate Patrick Paul (52) after a play in the second half of their NFL game against the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla By David Santiago
NO. 10: KELLY: DOLPHINS REMAIN SOFT IN THE TRENCHES, AND SEEMINGLY DON'T CARE | OPINION
If Terron Armstead and Calais Campbell don't return, Miami's two most troublesome areas will become a crisis-level concern. | Published March 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Omar Kelly
This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.
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Miami Herald
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Why Jaelan Phillips' injury history has prepared him for a critical 2025 season
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When Mike McDaniel was asked if there were any excused absences from the team's three-day mandatory minicamp this week, he said: 'Jalen Ramsey's absence was excused.' I've always found McDaniel to be supremely honest with reporters - as much as any coach I've covered. So I'll take McDaniel's response at face value. With that said, ESPN's Adam Schefter characterized tight end Jonnu Smith's absence differently on 'NFL Live' on Tuesday, asserting that his absence is also excused as the team seeks a trade. The Dolphins, according to Schefter, 'has given him permission and excused him from attending, so it can go ahead and look for a trade partner.' Smith wants a new contract to replace the one that will expire after this season and pay him $4.8 million this season. McDaniel and Schefter have portrayed Smith's situation someone differently, subtly so, over the past two weeks. McDaniel has said the team wants to keep Smith and the sides have been in conversations. 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McDaniel addressed other issues on Wednesday: ▪ Guard James Daniels continues to work his way back from the Week 4 Achilles injury; his reps have said he will be back for the opener. McDaniel said Daniels understands 'how much we're counting on him and has done an absolutely fantastic job of phase 1 and phase 2. He couldn't just go through the motions of going through offseason tape and meetings. He had a great day on the field [Tuesday] working on individual [drills] and I can see what he's done on the field the past month' during a period when coaches were only in contact with him during off-field meetings. Daniels isn't yet participating in 11 on 11 drills. McDaniel did not say whether Daniels will play left guard or right guard but said he wants to keep rookie Jonah Savaiinaea at one spot. Those two players are expected to be the Dolphins' new starting guards barring health issues. Daniels 'is capable of doing either side, but when you have a rookie, you have to settle down rotation of movement to allow.. him to slow the game down,' McDaniel said. ▪ Receiver Tyreek Hill remains on track to be back for training camp after two wrist procedures. 'He's pushing the timetable of returning sooner and sooner,' McDaniel said. He isn't yet doing 11 on 11 work. Hill has spoken of running a 100 meter race on Friday to prepare for another race against U.S. track star Noah Lyles. Does McDaniel care if Hill does that? 'Whether he wins or loses, I won't care,' he said. 'We're locked into Dolphins football.' ▪ Linebacker Jaelan Phillips continues to work his way back from the Week 4 torn ACL and should be ready for the start of the season. Phillips' conditioning is very good, which is no surprise to his coach: 'I expected Jaelan Phillips to be in great shape and condition and continue to be the pro he is,' McDaniel said. ▪ McDaniel said first-round defensive tackle Kenneth Grant 'came in with a veteran-like understanding of needing to be 100 percent on what he's asked to do and he works endlessly. There have been ebbs and flows, like with any rookie. 'What I've seen from him is early down production, where he wins with techniques and fundamentals. And I see late down wins, where.... he uses grit and finish [ability] to make plays as well. Super happy he's on our team and not somebody's else. I know a lot of players that share the locker room with him would agree with that.' ▪ McDaniel said new receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine 'has already found a really cool role within the team. He's a dawg competitor that brings it each and every day. He's a guy who the core of the room can depend on. Invaluable to the team.' ▪ Players have spoken this team about the improved culture. McDaniel, on what seems to be increased accountability and potentially more effective discipline: 'I had a team meeting with guys. You can't run away from things that need to be fixed.' What were the non-negotiables rules McDaniel told the team? 'The football program has to focus on football. There are a lot of things that can't dominate peoples' time - being on time, being accountable to each other, [adhering] to rules.' He said it's OK for players to 'call each other out... as long as you change your [expletive] behavior.'
