For the last several weeks, the Miami Dolphins have been a frequent recipient of trade calls, with playoff-ready teams trying to pry a few key players. While there had been some dialogue, opposing general managers left feeling like now former-general manager Chris Grier had little interest in engaging.
Things have changed in Miami.
Grier and the organization parted ways on Friday after nearly a decade, and interim GM Champ Kelly and the rest of the team's current brass are far more open to deals, sources say.
While previously a question about wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was met with a hard "no," the team will now do its due diligence and at least consider offers for the star in his prime, sources say. Miami still would prefer to not trade Waddle, but the Dolphins are at least willing to weigh an offer that blows them away.
With an uncertain future at several key places, all options are now on the table.
Here is a look at what questions and scenarios await Miami, both now and this coming offseason:
What's Tua Tagovailoa's future?
The quarterback question in Miami has become a problem in recent days. Tagovailoa has struggled through a brutal start to the season, leading the league with 11 interceptions. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel has long been a champion of Tagovailoa, knowing their futures are tied together.
Tagovailoa has seen his most success under McDaniel -- including a Pro Bowl selection in 2023. Yet the interceptions have continued in bunches, and the Dolphins are 2-7 this season following Thursday's blowout loss to the Ravens.
If nothing changes, it is reasonable that Miami would consider a QB change.
Zach Wilson has resumed his role as the No. 2 QB, and he has experience with 33 starts while with the Jets. Wilson is one option.
Seventh-round rookie Quinn Ewers impressed enough to replace Wilson for one game recently as Tagovailoa's primary backup, and he's come on in practice, as well. The possibility that Ewers could play meaningful snaps if Tagovailoa continues to struggle should not be discounted.
Tagovailoa's play would have to really fall off for Miami to turn to either Wilson or Ewers, but a potential benching is not off the table at some point this season.
Tagovailoa signed a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension during the 2024 offseason in a deal done by Athletes First, and he is tied to Miami through 2026 with $54 million fully guaranteed next year. Tagovailoa also has $3 million of his 2027 salary that becomes guaranteed on the third day of the 2026 league year.
Essentially, the team is on the hook for $57 million if he plays for them next season.
Miami does have options, however.
One is to move forward with him as the starting QB for next season. A second option is to cut him this coming offseason, as the Broncos did with Russell Wilson in 2024 while taking a hit of $85 million in dead salary cap, the largest dead cap hit in league history.
If the Dolphins release Tagovailoa this offseason it would set a new record cap hit of $114.2 million. Miami could spread that out if he's designated as a post-June 1 cut ($55.4 million in 2026, $61.6 million in 2027). It would be costly, but Denver did it, and Miami could similarly withstand such a hit if it decides that is what's best for the franchise.
Another option, which seems more viable, is pay down some of the salary next offseason and trade him as a bridge QB for a team in transition or one that has a young QB they'd like to have sit. Would a team pay a portion of Tagovailoa's salary to have a bridge starter? Likely, they would. This is what the Dolphins offseason, in part, will be about.
What's Mike McDaniel's future?
McDaniel was not part of Friday's front-office shakeup with Grier. Sources say the fourth-year head coach, who is 30-30 during his tenure, is staying for the foreseeable future, with the hope that he continues to coach through 2025 and beyond. As has been the case for months, owner Stephen Ross likes McDaniel, respects him, has invested in him, and hopes he's the coach for the future.
No doubt, McDaniel has felt the ill-effect of the roster Grier put together.
But at the least, McDaniel it appears will have the opportunity to finish strong and state his case to return for the 2026 season. If the on-field product really suffers, however, and the players essentially stop playing for him, changes could be made prior to the end of the season. But it's safe to say that the organization hopes McDaniel is their coach for the future, believing in him as the key people did while he led them to the playoffs in his first two seasons in 2022 and 2023.
McDaniel has three years left on his contract, signed during the 2024 offseason, beyond this campaign.
How open will Miami be to trades?
The last time Kelly was an interim GM, with the Raiders in 2022, it was after the league's trade deadline, and he didn't have the opportunity to execute any deals.
It's far different this time with the 2025 NFL trade deadline on Tuesday.
Waddle is the biggest piece on offense on the trade block following Tyreek Hill's season-ending injury.
Teams previously called Grier and were told Waddle would not be traded. Though now, the 27-year old, who signed a three-year, $84.5 million extension last offseason but carries a low base salary for this year, comes to the forefront with Grier no longer in the picture.
Sources say the Dolphins would at least consider dealing Waddle. It would be expensive, as young stars in their prime are, but not off the table. Something would have to blow the doors off for them to deal him. But, at least, GMs aren't being pushed to voicemail, metaphorically. With a dearth of pass-catchers available at the deadline, Waddle becomes the hottest commodity.
Miami also has received significant interest in their edge rushers, with Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb receiving the most interest. Matt Judon is a player who could be traded, as well.
Phillips is on his fifth-year rookie option, and teams would have to pay the rest of his $13.25 million salary for this year. That's different from Chubb, who is due $11 million plus incentives this year, though Miami has already paid $7.445 million of that in a signing bonus. Chubb is also on the books for $43.5 million for 2026 and 2027. Both have value (Phillips is younger, Chubb is cheaper).
Expect Miami to make at least one trade prior to Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET deadline, but it could be more.
