The Miami Dolphins are not in action this week, enjoying a Bye Week after their 16-13 overtime victory over the Washington Commanders in Spain.
The victory, the first for the NFL on Spanish soil, saw the Dolphins improve to a 4-7 record. In terms of Draft position, this climbs the Dolphins up to 11th overall and starts to push them towards the ‘In The Hunt’ group in terms of the playoffs.
For many, when the Dolphins were staring down a 2-7 record just two weeks prior, aiming to land the best pick in the Draft next year would have been the obvious choice, particularly with the decision to part ways with general manager Chris Grier.
However, the Dolphins have looked surprisingly rejuvenated of late and have scraped together two positive results, including the 30-13 blowout of AFC East rivals the Buffalo Bills.
These victories could lead to more positive things for the Dolphins, particularly as their remaining strength of schedule could set them up for a surprise challenge for the postseason.
Miami Dolphins Need to Try to Win Out
It has not been an easy time for the Miami Dolphins in 2025, suffering seven defeats by the time they reached the halfway point of the year, but their last two victories should give them renewed hope that a winning record could still be possible when all is said and done.
The Dolphins have just six games left, with a 5-1 record over that stretch enough to see them end the year 9-8. It would be a small solace for a year that has been filled with disappointments, but it would be a huge point in favour of many people keeping their jobs.
Most importantly, Mike McDaniel. The head coach is still fighting for his job in Miami, with owner Stephen Ross believed to be far less willing to give up on him even after parting ways with Grier, especially since players hold him in high regard.
That has been rewarded so far with back-to-back wins, with the Dolphins looking reinvigorated and relying more on the running game while also being more creative with formations as they seek to pick up victories.
While a 5-1 record is a difficult feat to achieve, the team’s remaining schedule heavily favors them, as they currently have the third-best strength of schedule in the entire league for the remainder of their games.
They come up against several other struggling teams, including the New Orleans Saints (2-8), Cincinnati Bengals (3-7), and New York Jets (2-8). The Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and New England Patriots all lead their divisions, but some surprises could be on the cards.
If the Dolphins can get wins from the three teams with losing records and the Steelers, which are their next four games, they would suddenly have an 8-7 record heading into the final two weeks of the season.
If players are determined to stick around, and the coaching staff wants to keep their jobs beyond this year, then getting their team to win as much as possible is the logical choice.
This is equally important for whoever comes in as the new general manager for 2026.
2026 Draft Not Worth Tanking For
The 2026 NFL Draft class is viewed by some to be somewhat of a ‘down’ year in terms of player talent, meaning that the Dolphins likely would not do themselves much harm if they continued to battle for wins compared to seeking the highest possible pick.
At present, the Dolphins would select 11th overall, and this middle range could still land the team with some decent talent, including potentially Ohio State’s Caleb Downs, a safety who could turn out to be the best player in this class, given the lack of higher-end prospects at other positions.
As the Dolphins are firmly looking at retooling in 2026, going all-in on a Draft that won’t bring much in return doesn’t appear to be the logical decision to make, with stability and the hope that results can come next year with the same coaching staff and core group of players being far more palatable.
Tua Tagovailoa is likely QB1 next year, in no small part due to his enormous contract, so looking at undergoing a rebuild with one hand tied behind their backs doesn’t look to be the path the team will take when all is said and done.
Achieving wins and positive results throughout the rest of the season provides the next general manager with a clearer understanding of what this current group of players is capable of achieving, which could help facilitate a successful retooling.
If results aren’t there in 2026, then the team can tear everything down and look at acquiring more assets for a much deeper 2027 Draft class, where even the quarterback prospects are believed to have much higher ceilings.
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