The Miami Dolphins are coming off another late-season collapse under head coach Mike McDaniel and his staff. After starting the season 9-3, the Dolphins went 2-3 in their final five games and allowed the Bills to make a remarkable comeback to win the AFC East division. The previous season in 2022, the Dolphins started 8-3 then proceeded to lose five of their last six games.
The Dolphins under the offensive guru Mike McDaniel have finished 11th and 2nd in total points scored over the last two NFL seasons. The Dolphins click well early in the year but taper off towards the down-stretch portion of the season. Which leaves many fans speculative about McDaniel. However, McDaniel is a young coach, so some growing pains are to be expected and his 2023 team improved drastically in year two of his era.
The Dolphins moved off defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio this offseason. Fangio, a seasoned veteran coach in the National Football League, struggled to keep points off the board from opposing teams. The Dolphins hired former player, Anthony Weaver, to replace Fangio as defensive coordinator. Weaver served in the same role for the struggling Texans in 2020.
Miami’s starting quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, started last season off as an MVP candidate but slowed down with production in the second half of the season. Tua and the Dolphins have been in contract talks most of the offseason, but no deal has been reached.
With the season beginning in a couple of months, is not uncommon for teams and players to wait to sign a contract extension. Tua Tagovailoa is expected to receive a deal similar to Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Lawrence and the Jaguars agreed to a five-year, $275M deal this past week.
Tagovailoa is entering year five with the Miami Dolphins after being drafted in the first round in the 2020 NFL draft just ahead of Justin Herbert. He has started 51 games with the Dolphins and has a 32-19 career record. He has thrown for 12,639 yards and 81 touchdowns to 27 interceptions.
The Dolphins recently paid star wide receiver, Jaylen Waddle, to a massive three-year $84.75M deal. With Tyreek Hill under contract through the 2026 season, and brewing star, De’Von Achane also under contract through 2026, the Dolphins core is intact.
Miami Dolphins Signing Deemed Overpaid
Miami Dolphins have two players reaching the Sporting News’ “All-Overpaid” team. The first was punter Jake Bailey, who signed a two-year deal worth around four and a half million dollars. Bailey spent four seasons in New England before heading to Miami this offseason.
Linebacker Jordyn Brooks, a key signing this offseason and was brought in to fill a void in the heart of new coordinator Anthony Weaver’s defense, also made the “All-Overpaid” Team. Brooks is coming off his worst season since his rookie year in terms of tackling.
Brooks, who over the last few seasons was a tackling machine, struggled to bring runners down with a 16.5 percent missed tackle rate and his solo tackles went from 100 plus in back-to-back seasons to only 62 last year in Seattle. Brooks is only in his mid-twenties and could bounce back better than ever next season with the Dolphins but his drop in production and high annual paying contract landed him a spot on the list.
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