Is There Hope on the Horizon in Miami?

Is There Hope on the Horizon in Miami?

If you listen to the loudest voices in the fanbase right now, you’d think the sky is falling in Miami. Cap space is a mess. The quarterback situation is uncertain. The head coach’s seat is wobbling. And yes, the Dolphins are staring down a hefty amount of dead cap space as they potentially move on from Tua Tagovailoa.

But here’s the truth: this isn’t the end. It’s a reset. And recent NFL history shows that turnarounds can happen faster than anyone expects.

For the most recent example, look no further than the Denver Broncos. They absorbed the largest dead cap hit in league history but paired that financial reset with something critical: an experienced head coach who knew how to build structure and accountability. Sean Payton didn’t fix everything overnight, but he changed the standard. And that’s exactly what Miami needs.

The Dolphins can’t afford another “learn-on-the-job” coach. We’ve seen that trend fail repeatedly across the league. There is so much more to being a head coach than drawing up clever plays — you are a CEO, a culture builder, a leader of men. When Miami lines up across from veteran coaches, the difference shows. The Dolphins need someone who elevates the players — not someone whose limitations become the identity of the team.

Just look at the Patriots. No one expected them to climb out of the basement so quickly, but once they brought in Mike Vrabel, an experienced leader with a proven track record, things began to accelerate. New England is only going to get better from here, and it’s because they hit reset and didn’t let complacency keep them stuck in a cycle of mediocrity.

Miami must follow the same blueprint.

But it can’t stop there. The Dolphins also need a general manager with a vision — someone who can evaluate talent, build through the draft, and commit to their philosophy. That’s how modern winning teams are built.

And despite past mistakes, Miami is not empty-handed as it enters this next era.

While they don’t have nearly the draft capital that the Jets now have — thanks to trading away Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams — the Dolphins do have five picks in the first three rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft, giving them real ammunition to reshape the core of the roster. They also have legitimate young talent already in place — players who can become cornerstone pieces if surrounded by the right coaching and leadership.

So yes, 2026 could be a rough financial year. Yes, the franchise may have to say goodbye to Tua and fully reboot. Yes, patience will be required. But doom and gloom? Maybe not.

This is a chance to finally build it the right way — with alignment, identity, and experience steering the ship.