Grier is as Predictable as Always

Many opinions have been expressed regarding the recent trade moves by the Miami Dolphins.

The sentiment, according to the NFL pundits, is about a 60/40 split leaning towards the negative for Miami.

At face value, the Dolphins give up two starters, tight end Jonnu Smith and cornerback Jaylen Ramsey, both Pro Bowlers, in return for a multi-year Pro Bowl safety in Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Jonnu Smith’s 2024 performance was a career fluke, and Jaylen Ramsey has slowed down since his Pro Bowl years.

It can also be argued that Minkah Fitzpatrick has had two down years in 2023 and 2024, and, facing a contract year, the Pittsburgh Steelers chose not to gamble on the prospect of future All-Pro years.

Then, within a twenty-four-hour period, the Dolphins acquired tight end Darren Waller, a former superstar for the LA Raiders, and signed him out of retirement, where he had been attempting to launch a music career.

Some of us fans were perplexed by these moves and questioned the supposed strategy or logic behind these decisions.

However, when applying Chris Grier’s “logic” and “strategy” that he has exhibited in the past, these moves are right up Grier’s wheelhouse.

Acquiring Minkah Fitzpatrick gives the Dolphins yet another potential success story for a player nearing his 30s (Minkah is 28) and allows the Dolphins a one-year scenario in which to assess Minkah’s performance.

This logic only works if Grier holds off on extending Minkah’s contract past the 2025 season, creating another nearly impossible salary cap dilemma.

And the risk/reward for signing Darren Waller is even more striking.

We trade for a 33-year-old player who has been out of football for a year due to personal, physical, and motivational issues that led to his initial retirement.

And Grier gives up a discontented player in Jaylen Ramsey, who had no chance of staying with the team and was beyond disgruntled for reasons we have yet to understand.

Grier also releases Jonnu Smith for no other reason than that Grier is not willing to pay high dollars or extend contracts to near-30-year-olds.

So, Grier did what he does best: acquire veterans in the second season of their careers, with the hope that they would contribute in 2025.

Confusing? Given the recent trajectory of this team filling its roster with younger players who have a multi-year lifespan, it seems rather so.

Then again, let’s get back to reality. Grier is simply trying to fill the remaining gaping holes in the Dolphins’ roster, so at the minimum, the team won’t be embarrassed in 2025.