At least one NFL executive thinks the 2025 trade deadline market is full of pretenders — and it may finally give the Dolphins something to celebrate

You know the thing about supply and demand that is pretty cool? When you have what others want with supply low and demand high, you usually end up getting pretty good prices. Miami's failures throughout the first half of the 2025 season may put them in position to collect a silver lining worth actually being excited for — a handsome rate for any outgoing talent.

That doesn't absolve the Dolphins from the need to be smart about who they're seriously shopping. Looking to move wide receiver Jaylen Waddle would be monumentally stupid in more ways than one. Running back De'Von Achane is a prolific weapon that currently serves as an identity piece of the offense, plus he's in the prime of his career and has two years left on his rookie contract. It's complicated.

But these pass rushers? Jaelan Phillips is in a contract year and Bradley Chubb will almost certainly not be back on his current contract in 2026 — plus he has heavy incentives that he may trigger with Miami.

Miami Dolphins players who could be of interest at the NFL trade deadline

• RB Jaylen Wright
• EDGE Bradley Chubb
• EDGE Jaelan Phillips
• CB Rasul Douglas

Pass rushers always end up getting traded at the deadline. Not all of them, like when Chubb was sent to Miami, land a 1st-round pick coming back. But teams that think they're good will always be seeking another quarterback hunter for a playoff run.

Will Cincinnati have the honest conversation with themselves about Trey Hendrickson? He may be the only fish bigger than Phillips among the struggling teams that is available as a potential one-year rental. Chubb isn't in his prime at this stage but he's got a great pedigree. He's reportedly been inquired about. Both players have.

Miami's play defensively this season thus far has been unserious. It's about time this team gets serious about something, and based on the report by Kaye, it may as well be serving as one of the few actual sellers in this trade deadline market. They may be able to pull a few wins off in the process if they do. And with how hard wins have been to come by on the field, it's hard to imagine they aren't ready to celebrate a few off the field if they have to instead.

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