With the 2025 NFL season fast approaching, the Miami Dolphins find themselves in a familiar but fragile position. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, head coach Mike McDaniel, and a roster full of explosive playmakers headline an offense that has at times looked unstoppable — but also alarmingly limited when opponents catch on. After a disappointing 2024 campaign, Miami’s offensive outlook in 2025 brings as many questions as answers.
Quarterback: Tua Tagovailoa and the Pressure to Adapt
The Dolphins’ passing game in 2024 was defined by speed — but not the kind that strikes fear into secondaries. Instead, it was all about how quickly Tagovailoa got rid of the football. His 2.30-second average release time was the fastest in the league by a wide margin, masking protection issues but severely curbing his ability to push the ball downfield. According to FTN charting, no quarterback saw a bigger drop in average depth of target (aDOT) than Tua from 2023 to 2024.
Miami was just 6-5 straight up with Tagovailoa under center last season, and durability remains a major concern — he has played more than 13 games just once in five years. With Zach Wilson (26) and Quinn Ewers (22) waiting in the wings, there’s at least a succession plan, but make no mistake: the Dolphins’ 2025 season hinges on Tua staying healthy and rediscovering his downfield rhythm.
Running Backs: Depth Behind De’Von Achane
Few players in the NFL embody boom-or-bust more than De’Von Achane (23). After leading the league in explosive run metrics in 2023, he plummeted to the middle of the pack in 2024, finishing 28th in explosive run percentage. The retirement of elite run-blocker Terron Armstead won’t help matters, and Achane is currently nursing a lower-body injury that could linger into September.
Behind him, the Dolphins have a pair of intriguing young backs:
- Jaylen Wright, the Tennessee product, has added muscle this offseason and earned praise from McDaniel for his improved conditioning. His speed and power combination make him a natural goal-line candidate and a potential three-down replacement if Achane misses time.
- Ollie Gordon II brings the biggest frame of the group and could carve out an early role as a short-yardage bruiser, particularly after Alexander Mattison’s season-ending injury.
This backfield has talent, but its production will be tied directly to whether the revamped offensive line can generate consistent push.
Wide Receivers: Tyreek’s Future in Question, Waddle at a Crossroads
The Dolphins’ passing attack still begins with Tyreek Hill, but his future in Miami is clouded with uncertainty. After offseason wrist surgery, an oblique injury has limited him in camp, and he’s reportedly dropped weight down to 183 pounds. Factor in last year’s late-season drama — when Hill openly questioned his commitment to the team — and there’s real reason to wonder if the Dolphins will get vintage Hill in 2025.
That puts pressure on Jaylen Waddle, who is coming off his first sub-1,000-yard season (744 yards). While McDaniel has been vocal in his support, Waddle’s dip in first-read target share last year suggests his role in the offense has regressed. If Hill is traded, limited, or unavailable, Waddle will be thrust back into a WR1 role — but whether he can flourish there remains an open question.
The Dolphins also brought in Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, a 6’2” target who could thrive in the red zone. With Jonnu Smith gone, Westbrook-Ikhine could see a chunk of end-zone opportunities that were missing from Miami’s offense in 2024.
Tight Ends: A Gamble on Darren Waller
Miami coaxed Darren Waller out of retirement to replace Smith, but this is a high-risk move. Waller hasn’t played a full season since 2020 and is already on the PUP list. Even if he makes it back, it’s unlikely he matches Smith’s productivity from a year ago. Depth options Julian Hill and Pharaoh Brown don’t project as fantasy or real-life difference-makers.
This is easily the Dolphins’ weakest skill-position group heading into the season.
Offensive Line: A Full-Scale Reset
The most dramatic changes for Miami in 2025 are up front. With Terron Armstead retiring, Miami will hand the left tackle job to Patrick Paul, a raw second-year talent who struggled in limited rookie reps. Free agent signing James Daniels and rookie Jonah Savaiinaea bring size and upside, but Daniels is coming off an Achilles injury and Savaiinaea is untested at the NFL level.
Aaron Brewer is quietly one of the league’s better centers, but right tackle Austin Jackson remains a liability after another inconsistent, injury-shortened season.
GM Chris Grier made it clear Miami would “invest in the offensive line,” but whether this new-look unit gels quickly enough will be the ultimate test of McDaniel’s system in 2025.
The Big Picture
The Dolphins enter 2025 at a crossroads. On paper, they still have the pieces to be one of the league’s most dangerous offenses, but there are cracks everywhere: Tua’s health, Hill’s commitment, Waddle’s regression, Waller’s durability, and an offensive line in transition.
If everything clicks, Miami could rediscover its 2022–23 explosiveness. But if injuries pile up and the league continues to neutralize McDaniel’s quick-strike scheme, the Dolphins’ offense could take another step backward — and with it, the franchise’s hopes of competing in the AFC East.
