Miami Dolphins News

The Miami Dolphins have had trade talks with teams this offseason regarding five-time Pro Bowl safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Miami already released four players earlier this week, including Pro Bowl receiver Tyreek Hill (knee), and they are in the early stages of resetting their roster under a new regime. The Dolphins acquired the 29-year-old defensive back from the Pittsburgh Steelers last year in the deal that sent cornerback Jalen Ramsey to the Steel City. Fitzpatrick could be on the move again this year after he recorded 82 tackles (59 solo), one sack, four tackles for loss, one interception, six pass breakups, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries in 14 games in his return to Miami. He should have plenty of suitors on the trade market as the Dolphins look for draft-pick compensation.

The Miami Dolphins released wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine on Monday, a source told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. In addition to Westbrook-Ikhine, the Dolphins also released receiver Tyreek Hill (knee) and pass-rusher Bradley Chubb. The 28-year-old wasn't much of a factor on offense for Miami in his lone season with the team in 2025, even with Hill suffering a season-ending knee injury in the first half. Westbrook-Ikhine finished with just 11 receptions on 20 targets for 89 yards and no touchdowns in his 15 games played in his sixth year in the NFL. It was a major disappointment after he had a career year in 2024 with the Tennessee Titans in 17 games, when he caught 32 passes for 497 yards and nine touchdowns on 60 targets. He should latch on eventually with a new team, but he'll be in a depth role and will face an uphill battle for fantasy relevance.

FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz reports that the Miami Dolphins' preference has been to find a trade partner for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, and Schultz's understanding is that the new regime doesn't "want it to drag too long." If the Dolphins can't find any takers on the trade market, a cut is "possible in the end." Miami has already started salary cap cuts this offseason, releasing both receiver Tyreek Hill (knee) and pass-rusher Bradley Chubb on Monday. Tagovailoa could be next, although the team will exhaust all potential trade avenues first. The 27-year-old said it "would be dope" to get a fresh start with a new team in 2026 after another disappointing campaign last year in which he was benched late in the year for rookie Quinn Ewers. Trading Tagovailoa won't be easy, though, after they signed him to a four-year, $212.4 million deal in July of 2024. The Dolphins would take a $99.2 million salary cap hit this year if they cut him before June 1, while releasing him after that date would allow them to spread out the cap hit over two years. It's pretty clear the former first-rounder has played his last snap in Miami, but he could compete for a starting role somewhere else in 2026, depending on where he lands.

The Miami Dolphins and two-time Pro Bowl pass-rusher Bradley Chubb are parting ways, and the 29-year-old will become a free agent, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. In his two full seasons with the Dolphins in 2023 and 2025, Chubb had 20 sacks, eight forced fumbles, and 117 tackles, so he should have a nice market this offseason. The former fifth overall pick by the Denver Broncos in 2018 out of North Carolina State played in all 17 games last year in his final season in Miami, tallying 8.5 sacks, 47 tackles (24 solo), eight tackles for loss, 20 QB hits, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Chubb will turn 30 years old in June, but when healthy, he can still be a difference-maker on the defensive line. He did not play at all in 2024 due to a torn ACL, but he had 11 sacks in his first full season in Miami in 2023.

The Miami Dolphins are releasing veteran wide receiver Tyreek Hill (knee), per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Hill's release will save the Dolphins over $20 million against the salary cap and signals a broader changing of the guard in Miami. Hill appeared in just four games in 2025, suffering a season-ending torn ACL and dislocated right knee in Week 4. Before getting injured, he recorded 21 catches for 265 yards and a touchdown on 29 targets. Entering his age-32 season, Hill is now set to become an unrestricted free agent. It's unclear how much the veteran wideout still has left in the tank, given his age and the fact that he'll be coming off a serious knee injury. Hill may not even be ready for the start of the 2026 campaign. However, Hill is one of the best wide receivers of the last decade, and he was still a productive player in his last full season in 2024, recording 81 catches for 959 yards and six touchdowns on 123 targets. Depending on where he lands and his health status, Hill could still provide fantasy value in 2026.

Miami Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon II saw his name linked to fantasy waiver wires throughout the year, but he ultimately spent most of his rookie season playing second, or even third fiddle, to De'Von Achane. With a new head coach and offensive coordinator set to take over in Miami, many have speculated whether the sub-190-pound Achane will continue to handle bell-cow duties. Unfortunately for Gordon, even if Jeff Hafley and Bobby Slowik choose to preserve Achane by moving to a more committee-based approach, 23-year-old Jaylen Wright could stand in his way. After missing the first six weeks of the season as a result of injury and performance, Wright took over as the team's primary change-of-pace back behind Achane, out-touching Gordon 75 to 50. And when given work, Gordon's 2.8 yards per carry ranked among the league's worst. With Gordon's Doak Walker Award-winning season in 2023 now feeling a lifetime away, there were very few signs in 2025 that a sophomore breakout could be on its way.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (knee) could be headed for a change of scenery during the NFL offseason. Hill tore his ACL during Week 4 of the 2025 campaign, finishing the year with just 21 catches, 265 yards, and one touchdown. The former superstar pass-catcher now faces an uncertain future in Miami as he works his way back to full health. It seems unlikely that Hill would flat-out retire at this point, so we do expect him to come back and contribute somewhere in 2026. However, he'll have plenty of suitors if Miami decides to trade or release him. His contract is structured to give the Dolphins a potential out this offseason, as a post-June 1 cut would create $35.2 million in cap space with $15.9 million in dead money. Almost 32 years old, Hill has passed the peak of his career, but his talent is still undeniable. He remains one of the fastest receivers in football, and he's just two years removed from an eight-year streak of making the Pro Bowl. He's also only two years out from a phenomenal 2023 campaign, during which he caught 119 passes for 1,799 yards and 13 touchdowns. It looks like Miami could be pursuing a soft reset this offseason with head coach Mike McDaniel gone, and Hill and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa potentially headed for new teams. Change can be difficult for any player, but a fresh start might be exactly what Hill needs as he returns from injury and looks to get back above 1,000 yards for the first time since 2023. He's a firm hold in dynasty leagues right now, as his 2026 fantasy value will depend on where he's playing and which quarterback is throwing passes to him.

The Miami Dolphins have not made a final decision on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's future yet, but all signs are pointing towards him not returning in 2026 under the new regime, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. A trade is a possibility, but it's complicated. The Dolphins would have to eat a large chunk of Tagovailoa's $54 million fully guaranteed salary, and they'd have another $42.5 million dead-cap charge in 2026. Releasing the former first-rounder would be cleaner and would allow the team to spread the money out over two years. A final decision on Tagovailoa should come before the new league year begins on March 13, when another $3 million in 2027 would become fully guaranteed. The 27-year-old was a Pro Bowler in 2023 and led the league with 4,624 passing yards, but defenses quickly figured out Miami's offense, and concussion issues have plagued Tua as well. A fresh start elsewhere would be best for all parties, and Tagovailoa already said a change of scenery "would be dope."

The Miami Dolphins offense faces plenty of question marks this offseason, but running back De'Von Achane offers refreshing consistency. Achane is under contract for the 2026 season and has been playing the best football of his young career. He finished last season with a career-high 1,350 rushing yards, and he also caught 67 passes for 488 receiving yards. For the second year in a row, he scored 12 touchdowns and was the overall RB5 in full-PPR leagues. This past year, he accomplished those marks despite missing one game. Miami did make a concerted effort to get Ollie Gordon II and Jaylen Wright more involved, but that decision didn't really detract from Achane's role. If anything, it kept his legs fresh and allowed him to remain as dominant as ever. The Dolphins did make a coaching staff change this offseason, replacing offensive-minded head coach Mike McDaniel with the defensive-minded Jeff Hafley. Achane also got a new offensive coordinator in Bobby Slowik, who was with the Dolphins as a senior passing game coordinator in 2025. Miami has some key questions to answer surrounding quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and wide receiver Tyreek Hill this offseason. As a result, the passing game faces major uncertainty. However, we expect the running game to remain unchanged, leaving Achane in line for another fantastic season in 2026. He should be a top-five running back in fantasy football drafts next summer.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle bounced back from the worst season of his career in 2024 by catching 64 of his 100 targets for 910 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 16 starts in his fifth year in the NFL in 2025. Waddle also had 28 rushing yards. It was good enough to put him as the WR22 in half-PPR scoring. It was nice to see the 27-year-old pass-catcher bounce back from a disastrous 2024 campaign, but it might have still been somewhat of a disappointment for him, considering Tyreek Hill (knee) missed most of the year with a season-ending injury. Waddle thankfully had a larger target share, but the Dolphins' offense just was unable to find its explosiveness for a second straight season, and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was benched late in the year. Waddle still has the talent to provide plenty of value in PPR fantasy leagues, but his value is in major flux heading into 2026 under a completely new coaching staff. Hill's return (whenever that may be) will also be a negative for Waddle's ceiling.

The Miami Herald's Barry Jackson writes that the Miami Dolphins "almost assuredly" will release wide receiver Tyreek Hill (knee) before mid-March. Hill suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 4 and is due to make $29.9 million in 2026. However, none of that money is guaranteed until mid-March, when $11 million of it becomes guaranteed if he's on the team, in addition to a $5 million roster bonus. His contract carries a $51.9 million salary cap hit, so even if he wasn't injured, Hill wouldn't have returned to Miami on that deal. If the speedy wideout is released, as expected, his 2026 cap hit would drop from $51.9 million to $28.2 million. If he's cut after June 1, the team's cap hit would be just $15.9 million. Hill is entering his age-32 season in 2026, and after tearing multiple ligaments in his knee, his trademark speed could be affected going forward. Ultimately, his fantasy stock will depend on where he's playing next season, but his arrow is definitely pointing down.

Miami quarterback Carson Beck was once viewed as a future top signal-caller prospect for the NFL Draft, but his final season at Georgia put a damper on his outlook. After throwing for 3,941 yards, 24 touchdowns, and just six interceptions in 2023, Beck threw double the interceptions in 2024, and his Bulldogs career ended after suffering an elbow injury in the SEC Championship Game. Now, in Miami, the sixth-year senior has the Canes in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game behind 3,581 passing yards, 31 total touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. The 23-year-old has prototypical NFL size at 6'4", 225 pounds, and we've seen the stock of quarterbacks rise dramatically in the past following great postseason runs. Although he's highly unlikely to be a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, he may be playing himself into the third round after coming into the season as a Day 3 prospect. He's an interesting dynasty quarterback stash option in Superflex leagues.

The Buffalo Bills announced on Wednesday that they placed defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (ankle) on Injured Reserve. Phillips returned in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the New York Jets on Sunday after missing the previous two games with an ankle injury. The 33-year-old veteran apparently aggravated his ankle injury and now won't be available at all for the Bills' defensive line during the postseason. It's a hit to Buffalo's interior defensive line depth the rest of the way. Phillips, a former second-round pick in 2015 out of Oklahoma, had just nine tackles (five solo) and one sack in his 11 games played for the Bills during the 2025 season. The Bills' defense/special teams unit will be a middle-of-the-pack option for those in fantasy playoff leagues while going up against a surging Jaguars offense in the Wild-Card round this Sunday.

Miami Dolphins offensive guard Liam Eichenberg (knee) said he's hoping to play again, but he's uncertain if he'll be able to continue his career, according to Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post. Eichenberg was wearing a brace on his left knee in the locker room on Monday. The 27-year-old injured his knee last offseason and stayed on the Physically Unable to Perform list for the entire 2025 season. Miami drafted Eichenberg in the second round back in 2021 out of Notre Dame. He started 52 of 60 regular-season games in his first four years in the league before being sidelined by a career-threatening knee injury in 2025.

When asked if he was hoping for a "fresh start," Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said on Monday, "That would be dope. I would be good with it." Although Tagovailoa avoided another concussion this year, the 27-year-old former fifth overall pick struggled to take the next step for the Dolphins' offense in his sixth year in the NFL. Tagovailoa completed 67.7% of his 384 pass attempts for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions in his 14 starts, a year after leading the league with a 72.9 completion percentage. After the Dolphins were eliminated from playoff contention, the team benched Tagovailoa in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers for the final two weeks of the season. As of right now, head coach Mike McDaniel has not been fired, and if he returns for next season, it's unlikely that Tagovailoa will join him in South Beach. Tagovailoa is owed $54 million guaranteed next year, but he could be released with a post-June 1 designation to split his $99.2 million salary cap charge over two seasons.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Theo Wease Jr. (head) was evaluated for a concussion during the fourth quarter of Sunday's Week 18 loss against the New England Patriots. The game ended before the team was able to provide any additional information on his status. Wease did not return; he finished the contest with three catches for a team-high 44 receiving yards. The 24-year-old put together an impressive end to his rookie season, catching six passes for 139 yards and one touchdown over his final three games. He took on an expanded role with Tyreek Hill (knee) on injured reserve and Darren Waller (groin) and Jaylen Waddle (ribs) suffering late-season injuries. Wease should be in the mix to handle a larger workload during his second pro season next year.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers (knee) exited after taking a sack during the fourth quarter of Sunday's Week 18 loss against the New England Patriots. He was listed as questionable but ultimately did not return in the final minutes of the contest. Zach Wilson played the final few offensive snaps for Miami. Ewers finished the final game of the season with 137 passing yards, one touchdown, one interception, and four sacks. The rookie took over for Tua Tagovailoa in Week 16 and seemed to play well enough over the final few weeks to remain in competition for the backup job ahead of the 2026 season. However, Miami's starting quarterback plans for next year remain up in the air, as Tagovailoa is expected to be traded or released. Ewers is unlikely to be in the mix for the starting job, so he's not an appealing option in 2026 redraft leagues.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington (thumb) exited during the second quarter of Sunday's Week 18 contest against the New England Patriots. He appeared to suffer the injury on a punt return and is officially listed as questionable. At the time of his departure, he had caught one pass for a two-yard touchdown, and he also had two punt return yards. Washington entered this week as Miami's No. 1 receiver with Jaylen Waddle (ribs) inactive, Tyreek Hill (knee) on injured reserve, and Darren Waller (groin) on injured reserve. Now, with Washington sidelined, Miami will turn to Cedrick Wilson Jr. and Theo Wease Jr. as its top wide receivers.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (ribs) is officially inactive for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the New England Patriots. He had been listed as questionable after practicing in a limited capacity. This Quinn Ewers-led offense finds itself incredibly short-handed with Waddle, De'Von Achane (shoulder), Darren Waller (groin, IR), and Tyreek Hill (knee, IR) all sidelined. Malik Washington, Cedrick Wilson, and late-season breakout Theo Wease Jr. should step up as Ewers' top targets in the passing game on Sunday. Those receivers will look to outduel a Patriots defense that has allowed the fifth-fewest yards to opposing wide receivers in 2025.

Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane (shoulder) is officially inactive for Sunday's Week 18 contest against the New England Patriots. He had been listed as doubtful after missing all three practices this past week. Achane finishes his third NFL season with a career-high 1,350 rushing yards. He also logged 67 catches, 488 receiving yards, and 12 total touchdowns while ranking as the overall RB5 in full-PPR scoring to this point. We expect second-year back Jaylen Wright to earn more snaps with Achane sidelined. Wright had 24 carries, 107 rushing yards, and one touchdown against the Jets in Week 14, and he also found the end zone in Week 16 versus Cincinnati. New England has a very strong run defense, but Wright still ranks as a volume-based RB2 for fantasy football.