The Miami Dolphins face a pivotal offseason ahead.
Throughout the season, the Miami Dolphins were widely regarded as the top team in the AFC. Mike Daniels’ team was 5-1 entering Week 7 and 11-4 with only two games remaining in the season and the top seed in their possession.
However, the Dolphins’ failure to beat good opponents stopped them from reaching the playoffs. Five of their six regular-season losses came against playoff teams, and they only won one game against a team with a winning record. Miami’s season came to an end with a devastating road loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in freezing weather.
The Dolphins have now won four seasons in a row but have yet to win a postseason game. In fact, with the Detroit Lions’ Wild Card victory over the Los Angeles Rams, Miami now has the NFL’s longest streak without a postseason win at 23 years.
In the upcoming offseason, the team must make crucial decisions, including the future of standout quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa is in the final year of his rookie contract and has a $23 million cap charge, a $14 million increase from the 2023 season.
Miami also has a number of big players in free agency. While not household names like Tua or Tyreek Hill, these free agents were crucial unsung heroes who helped to the Dolphins’ success.With the offseason started, these are four players the Dolphins need to re-sign.
Christian Wilkins (DT)
For all of the attention the Miami offense earned, the Dolphins offensive was equally vital to the team’s success. Christian Wilkins finished third on the squad with nine sacks (an remarkable figure for a defensive tackle) and 23 quarterback hits. The Dolphins also allowed the fourth-lowest yards per run, with Wilkins anchoring the defensive line.
Andrew Van Ginkel (LB)
Is there a more underrated defensive player in the NFL this season than Andrew Van Ginkel? Van Ginkel recorded six sacks, 19 quarterback hits, and eight passes defended while playing only 66% of Miami’s snaps. His Pro Football Focus Player Grade of 91.1 ranks him in the “Elite” category. Andrew Van Ginkel, like Christian Wilkins, is a vital defensive player at the backbone of this Dolphins team.
Connor Williams (C)
While explosive skill players like Tyreek Hill and Raheem Mostert get a lot of credit for the Miami Dolphins’ offense, the team’s success is built around an elite offensive line. The Dolphins topped the NFL with 5.1 yards per carry and eight rushes of 40 yards or more. In the passing game, this offensive line allowed the fewest quarterback hits in the NFL and the third-fewest pressures.
No Miami offensive lineman performed better than center Connor Williams. In 2023, the sixth-year man was Pro Football Focus’ finest run-blocking center and highest-rated center overall. Williams missed half of the season due to injury, and his absence made a big difference. Miami averaged 161 running yards per game over his eight full games played. When Williams was out of the lineup, the total was only 111 yards.
Re-signing Williams is critical for the Miami offense.
Robert Hunt (G)
While not a standout on this 0-line, like Connor Williams or Terron Armstead, Robert Hunt was a consistent presence at right guard for Miami. Hunt had only two penalties and allowed one sack this year. This offseason, the Dolphins should prioritize keeping this offensive unit together.
