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The 2025 Miami Dolphins are a team teetering on the brink of even more seismic change.
That change feels as though it is inevitable to some degree, as the lingering remnants of Miami's upswing in aggressive talent allocation from recent years are either on the outs, like cornerback Jalen Ramsey, or on the hot seat in 2025. Miami has undergone a youth movement and overhaul this past spring, with the objective being to realign the Dolphins for a brighter tomorrow; not just a hopeful today.
Which players entering the 2025 season are set to play key roles for Miami but may be on the outs after this season plays itself out? Be it via a contract year or an awkward intersection of age and cost, there's no shortage of options for the Dolphins amid their projected starters.
Tyreek Hill, Wide Receiver
Hill is not in a contract year in 2025, but he is scheduled to be a costly asset in 2026. And with Hill's revolving door of drama, he's going to need to return to his 2023 form if Miami is going to consider signing themselves up for another year of the experience.
Hill is scheduled to make $36 million in cash in 2026, but none of it is guaranteed until the third day of the league year next March, when $11 million in salary guarantees and a $5 million roster bonus comes due. That means the Dolphins could sever ties with Hill in early March and save $36 million in cash and $23.65 million in cap space
With Hill set to turn 32 years old next March, it will make for a fascinating decision with the Dolphins — especially if they end up ironing out an extension with Jonnu Smith and Jaylen Waddle takes a step forward in 2025.
Jonnu Smith, Tight End
Speaking of Smith, he's currently entering into a contract year this season after rewriting the Dolphins' record books at the position in 2024. Smith skipped mandatory minicamp to secure a new contract with the team but has failed, thus far, to find a breakthrough.
The challenge facing him now is that Miami is entering into a potential "hot seat" season, and Smith is a bona fide fit for Mike McDaniel's offense. But what if Mike McDaniel isn't the coach in 2026? Would the Dolphins still want Smith to be under contract on a bigger, revised contract beyond this season?
There's an outside, but slim, chance Smith has already played his last down in Miami — although we'd bet that doesn't come to pass.
Jaelan Phillips, EDGE Defender
These are supposed to be the best of times for Phillips. He, unlike Hill and Smith, is in the prime of his career. He just turned 26 years old last month. But he's set to play in 2025 on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract and has had his last two seasons marred by devastating injuries.
An Achilles tear in 2023 and an ACL tear suffered via friendly fire in Week 4 of last season have cost Phillips time and a potential breakout season.
As a result, he's now fighting to shake off the 'injury prone' label and faced with the prospect of doing so on the last year of his rookie contract. If he's successful, he could have a robust market awaiting him in free agency. Would he leap at the chance to cash in or would the Dolphins proactively get a contract done?
Bradley Chubb, EDGE Defender
Chubb, like Hill, is not in a contract year. But he missed all of last season after a severe knee injury in Week 17 of the 2023 season and took a pay cut to avoid being waived this offseason.
Chubb's talent is undeniable but he's a player who is set to turn 30 years old next summer (he turns 29 today) and is scheduled to make $20.23 million in cash in 2026. There's a world in which Chubb earns that money — it must see him return to his 2023 form and stay healthy all season to become reality, though.
Between Chubb, who is out of guaranteed salary after this season, and Phillips, one is almost certain to be gone amid the rising costs and the presence of 2024 first-round draft choice Chop Robinson as a long-term piece in the room.
Kader Kohou, Cornerback
2025 is a big year for Kader Kohou. The former undrafted free agent is in a position to potentially take a huge leap this season. Kohou signed a restricted free agent tender to stay in Miami this offseason and, amid the ongoing rumors of a departure for Jalen Ramsey, could be Miami's top option at cornerback this fall.
One of two thing is going to happen.
He's going to thrive in his first NFL season playing in the same scheme, or he's going to prove that he's a nickel-exclusive talent at the NFL level. If he thrives, he could earn a new contract from the team amid the vacancies at cornerback. But if he falters? Miami may opt not to pay a nickel defender and allow him to walk in free agency if he doesn't meet the moment.
More must-reads:
- Chargers star's brutal injury shows why players should hold out with new contracts on line
- 'Clearly separated himself': Why one QB is winning Browns' competition
- The '2024-25 NFL passing-yard leaders' quiz
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Complete Recap Raiders vs. Seahawks: Good, Bad, Ugly
SEATTLE, Wash.—The Las Vegas Raiders returned Pete Carroll to the Pacific Northwest at beautiful Lumen Field tonight, but it wasn’t the outcome the future Hall of Fame head coach desired. The Raiders completed their first preseason game of the year with a 23-23 tie. It was a typical first preseason game for both teams in which they looked sloppy, made plenty of mistakes, but also gave their respective fan bases some things to cheer about. Pete Carroll was encouraged by his team competing to the very end. The Good Rookie quarterback Cam Miller had an impressive performance as he transitions from FCS to the NFL. Although it's worth noting that he wasn't facing the Seattle Seahawks' starting lineup, or even most of their second team, Miller completed six of seven passes for 76 yards and threw one touchdown, achieving an outstanding rating of 151.5. How big is the transition from FCS to the NFL? He mentioned in the locker room that he had never needed to use a silent snap count in college. Isaiah Pola-Mao (IPM), the emerging star, made a terrific interception early in the game against a strong group of Seahawks players. I believed that when he arrived as an undrafted free agent, he would need some time to develop, but that he had the potential to play at this level. So far, he has done nothing to change that opinion. I think he is a year away from reaching his full potential, but I expect him to become a Pro Bowl-caliber starter by 2026. Thomas Booker, a third-year defensive tackle from Stanford, delivered his best performance of the preseason tonight. He showcased impressive motor and mobility, making a strong statement on the field. He ended the game with four tackles but played a significant role in several other plays as well. The phrase "Can’t keep a good man down" perfectly describes sophomore running back Dylan Laube's journey. At the start of camp, there was speculation that if rookie Tommy Mellott could successfully transition to the role, Laube might be left behind. However, Laube has stepped up impressively, excelling on special teams and delivering a remarkable performance on offense. He recorded four rushes for 31 yards, one catch for six yards, and scored one touchdown. The Bad Wide receiver Alex Bachman has had one of the best preseasons of anyone on the team, earning a spot on the 53-man roster. However, a non-contact injury late in the first half raised concerns. During the game, he recorded two catches for 36 yards, but another impressive catch that gained significant yardage was nullified by a penalty committed by rookie offensive tackle Charles Grant. Carroll said afterward, when I asked about Bachman, that he had been hurt earlier in camp, but did return. The Ugly Aidan O’Connell, in the first half, had a challenging performance. He underthrew a deep ball intended for an open Dont’e Thornton, leading to an interception. Later, he was baited into making another poor throw, resulting in his second turnover of the game. Describing O'Connell's performance in the first half as disappointing would be an understatement; it was nothing short of ugly. He was 9/18, for 114 yards and had an abysmal rating of 30.6 to end the first half. Credit the Raiders and AOC. I didn't think they would keep AOC in to start the 2nd half. They did, and he immediately rewarded them with a TD drive, culminating in a TD pass to Dylan Laube—an enormous confidence builder for AOC. He finished the night 18/30, for 205 yards. His rating rose to 63.9. Find us on X (formerly Twitter) @HondoCarpenter and Instagram @HondoSr and talk to us in 2025 about the Raiders and more. While here, check out our Facebook page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE to discuss all Raiders content in 2025.
Jaydon Blue injury update: Major news emerges on Cowboys RB after Thursday practice exit
According to Nick Harris of The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue suffered a bone bruise in his heel on Thursday. Blue was stepped on during practice, initially looking at an ankle sprain. Thankfully, the MRI came back with some positive news. “Cowboys RB Jaydon Blue’s MRI revealed a bone bruise in his heel after it was stepped on in today’s practice, according to a @startelegram source,” Harris said via X. “No ankle sprain. Good news for the young back who has emerged as an offensive playmaker in camp.” Blue previously told Harris that an ankle injury was what he suffered. Questions about the running back’s availability for Saturday’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams are now present. Something to watch as kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT from SoFi Stadium. Dallas took Blue in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, hoping to address its running back situation. Blue played his college ball inside the Lone Star State, suiting up for the Texas Longhorns. Plenty of guys at the position have come out of Austin and found quick success. Blue is hoping to be the next one. For now, there is an injury for him to deal with. No exact timeline has been provided per a report or by a team official. Hopefully, Blue is able to get things cleared up quickly and get his first taste of the NFL before Sept. 4’s season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. More on Jaydon Blue, Cowboys running back situation Running back was a position the Cowboys needed to desperately figure out this offseason. Rico Dowdle, the team’s leading rusher, was no longer on the roster. Behind Dowdle, Dallas did not have much else. A nice mix of veteran presence and youngsters was needed. Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders provide the former, while Blue was a part of the draft class alongside Phil Mafah. A combination of those four figures to be on the opening night roster. Exactly how head coach Brian Schottenheimer splits up the carries is not yet known. Blue’s injury certainly does not help the situation. Cowboys players, in general, have been going down throughout training camp thus far. Making sure everyone is healthy will be critical heading into the season. Especially an explosive back like Blue, someone who can change the outcome of any game in just the snap of your fingers.
Rory McIlroy's controversial decision leaves PGA Tour 'very concerned'
Seventy players qualified for the first round of the playoffs at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, but only 69 will tee it up at TPC Southwind this week. That's because Rory McIlroy, who ranks second in the FedEx Cup standings behind only Scottie Scheffler, is skipping the first playoff event to prepare for the BMW Championship and Tour Championship. The PGA Tour isn't thrilled with his contentious decision. Peter Malnati, a PGA Tour pro and player director on the PGA Tour Policy Board, told Golfweek he's "very concerned" the new playoff format allows top players in the standings to skip playoff events. "I think there is stuff in the works, and I'll leave it at that," he said. The PGA Tour must make changes because McIlroy won't face any repercussions for skipping the FedEx St. Jude Championship. As the No. 2 player in the FedEx Cup standings entering the postseason, McIlroy is guaranteed to qualify for the Tour Championship. Before this year, he would've been incentivized to improve his spot in the standings because of the advantage the starting strokes format gave the No. 1 player. That's no longer the case. This year, the Tour Championship will operate like every other tournament on the PGA Tour schedule. There will be no starting strokes advantage for the top players, so every player from No. 1 to No. 30 will have an equal chance to win the $10 million prize. It doesn't matter where McIlroy resides in the standings. It just matters that he makes it to East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, and he's already locked up his spot in the season finale. Why spend a week in scorching-hot Memphis when you could stay home and prepare for the tournament that actually matters, right? The new playoff format will make the Tour Championship more entertaining for fans, but it renders the other two playoff events irrelevant for the PGA Tour's top players. The Tour must make playoff events mandatory to prevent other stars from following McIlroy's lead.
NBA Analyst Believes Former League MVP Would 'Flourish' With Knicks Amid Free Agency Rumors
The New York Knicks entered the offseason looking to make some small upgrades to their roster as they try to build of their run to the Eastern Conference Finals last season. Of course, the Knicks are set to bring back their core of Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges next season but one area they needed to improve was their bench. That is exactly what the Knicks focused on during free agency as they signed Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele, filling two key holes in their second unit. After signing both Yabusele and Clarkson, New York still does have one more roster space open and they have been linked to many players. Rachel Nichols believes Knicks should sign Russell Westbrook Two player who have garnered the most attention from the Knicks are Ben Simmons and Russell Westbrook and NBA analyst Rachel Nichols believes that Westbrook would “flourish” in New York. “That’s a team that needs a guy like him. That actually has a slot for a guy like him. I think he would flourish in New York,” Nichols said on the Open Floor podcast. “I think New York fans would love him, and I think he would be able to fill that sort of vet energy role really well.” Nichols does make a great point about Westbrook being a solid fit in New York off the bench as the backup point guard behind Brunson. Of course, Westbrook revitalized his NBA career last season with the Denver Nuggets as he proved that he could still be a key piece both off the bench and in the starting lineup on a contending team. Last season, the former MVP averaged 13.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 44.9% from the field and 32.3% from three. For the Knicks, adding Westbrook to their roster would give them another great scorer and playmaker off the bench and would allow Miles McBride to slot in as the backup shooting guard with Clarkson being a forward. By signing Westbrook, the Knicks would be able to upgrade their bench even more this offseason and with the East being weakened due to injuries, New York could be the team to beat next season in the conference.
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