Ranking the Miami Dolphins' five biggest roster needs for 2025

The Miami Dolphins took a step backwards in 2024 after falling one game short of the AFC's 2-seed the year before.  Certainly, Tua Tagovailoa's injuries, which cost him six games, played a significant role in the team missing the playoffs in the season's final week.  

However, you don't go 8-9 without having significant issues across the roster, and the Dolphins have plenty of areas they need to address this offseason. 

Here are the five most important positional groups that general manager Chris Grier must improve over the next several months (for the purpose of this exercise, I'm going off of who's under contract for 2025, including Tyreek Hill).

5. Tight end

It's a positional group that Miami got a big answer at for 2024 in Jonnu Smith, one of the best moves by Grier last offseason. 

However, behind Smith - who has only one year remaining on his contract entering his ninth season in the league in 2025 - Miami has very little.  Julian Hill's penalty woes speak for themselves, and Durham Smythe has never made an impact.  

You've seen what Mike McDaniel can do with a good tight end.  Imagine someone like Tyler Warren in that offense.  Sheesh. If nothing else, the Dolphins need better blocking to help spring their outside run game. 

4. Backup QB

The Dolphins' offseason moves last year consisted of going with Mike White and Skylar Thompson as their backup QB options going into training camp.  That reared its ugly head when Tua went on injured reserve, Thompson struggled and suffered a rib injury, and Miami scrambled to find a capable body to toss in there.  Any decent level QB play nets them a win over Indianapolis at minimum, which would have made their playoff prospects a different story heading into a Week 18 game against the Jets that Miami clearly gave up in when they saw the Chiefs-Broncos score. 

In short, Miami has to bring in a capable veteran this offseason to compete for the QB2 job, especially with Tua's injury history. 

3. Defensive line

Calais Campbell just wrapped up his 17th season in the league and had a renaissance season in South Florida in 2024.  Will he come back for one more?  Who knows at this point (although the Dolphins would surely welcome him back), but the fact is Miami needs to get younger and better for the future in just about every spot on the line outside of Zach Sieler.  Miami needs to improve in the trenches, and that's not just on the offensive line. 

2. Safety

The Dolphins will likely need to find two starting safeties this offseason.  Jordan Poyer, who is a free agent, woefully underperformed and likely won't be back. Jevon Holland will likely receive a top-of-the-market offer that cap-strapped Miami - like with Robert Hunt and Christian Wilkins - either won't be able to or won't want to match.  

Targeting a safety early in the draft is a distinct possibility for Miami, depending on who's there.  However, the Dolphins very likely will also take a long look at........ 

1. Interior offensive line

No surprise here.  Miami going with Robert Jones and Liam Eichenberg as their starting guards was panned by fans and media alike.  Not surprisingly, they were right, as neither were even league-average players.  Isaiah Wynn's return from a near-season long absence was too late. 

Miami needs to find two starting guards this offseason, and it has to be among their highest priorities.  Fortunately, it sounds like Grier already knows that to be the case. 

Just missed the cut: inside linebacker, cornerback, wide receiver