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I think just the opposite.  I think we are going to be biblically bad for the next year, probably two -- no matter what.

We have a ton of cap money spent on people no longer on the team and there's just no way to make that up.

We are going to be starting practice squad guys at key positions, I think.  We just don't have money to sign players.

Not only does the Dolphins lead the league in dead money for 2026, they lead the league in dead money for 2027.  Per over the cap they have ~$57 million in dead money for 2027. Which is more than all but 6 teams have for 2026.     

That's what we pretty much all know going into this. This is going to be a rebuild from (still steamy) scorched earth, and it's going to be tough for us to watch.

I think there is already signs there that players are expected to perform, or they can expect to be moved on quickly. We're not going to have bad draft reaches like Eichenberg, Cam Smith, Dallas Thomas, Daniel Thomas, etc, continue to linger on the list in the hope that they justify the pick.

I think we are going to find out who can play - and who will be cut to make way for someone who can - with more urgency than we've seen throughout the whole era of ownership under Ross. It just has to, or this new coach & GM combo aren't going to be around for very long.

[MVP]

I said "starter," not "alternate."  Achane was neither; he was a reserve, as Pro Bowl teams do not "start" 3 running backs.  (The starter at RB for the AFC was IND's Jonathan Taylor.)

"Starter" means you were voted in as the top player at that position for your conference (or top 2 if it's a position like WR or CB with 2 starters).
"Reserve" means you were voted in, but not as the top player; you didn't start the game.
"Alternate" means you were not voted in, but made it anyway because a player who was voted in elected not to participate.

Tua was voted the starter at QB for the 2024 Pro Bowl after he led the league in passing yards.
Waddle was voted team MVP after his rookie season!  I mean, if you count being voted team MVP as "contention for MVP voting," which you shouldn't.  Team MVP is not a serious award.
When Waddle was the focal point of Brian Flores' terrible offense, he set the NFL rookie record for receptions.  He followed that up by leading the league in yards/reception on a 1300+ yard season in 2022, and had a third straight 1000+ yard season in 2023.

There's also a contradiction in the premise: if Tua was a terrible, overpaid QB, how was Waddle expected to perform well?  Justin Jefferson didn't perform like a #1 receiver last year, either.

And just to be clear: Achane got a top 3 contract at his position, which is higher than Tua and a LOT higher than Waddle.  So we'll see if he outplays them post-signing, because - while he has played well - he hasn't played nearly as well as Tua or Waddle had when they received their extensions.

I will have to eat a bit of humble pie here.

Yes you are correct that under the technicalities of the Pro Bowl, Achane wasn't named as the starter (which was Taylor).

You are also correct about Waddle being Team MVP his rookie year - how did I forget that... seems an eternity ago, and I guess 5 years is close enough to an eternity.

Tua was named a Pro Bowl Starter, once after the 2023 season.

But here's the thing...

By your own measures, the massive contracts for both Tua and Waddle were for just the one year of achievements (a Pro Bowl starter for Tua, a Team MVP for Waddle) - contracts that when added to the ridiculous ones dished out to a few other choice individuals, ended up being team crippling to the point of killing the rebuild before it had finished.

You may argue that Achane is being paid as one of the best players at his position, but the early indications are not only does it look good for all parties, it's nowhere near going to cripple our cap position either. The devil will be in the detail of the contract, and while the top brass have said they are not going to "kick the can down the road" like the previous regime, I would be surprised if there wasn't an element from this year back-ended with both Achane & Malik's contracts just to literally fit into the less than 40% of the cap debacle we find ourselves in for 2026. I remember thinking foolishly that Tua's contract was around market value when it was announced... until we eventually found out it was heavily back-ended and all guaranteed.

Today marked what was inevitable, but was always going to be hard to take. Former Australian Rules Football player and coach Neale Danniher passed away after a long battle with Motor Neurone Disease.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neale_Daniher
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-25/ex-essendon-afl-player-coach-neale-daniher-dies/104227390

After being diagnosed with MND in 2013 and publicly announcing it the year later, he devoted his live to awareness and fundraising through FightMND, raising over $140 million for research funding, and being named Australian of the Year in 2025 to reflect his incredible efforts.

The annual "Big Freeze at the G" (the annual FightMND event) game held every King/Queen's birthday holiday is just two weeks away, June 8th. It's going to never be quite the same without him there. 

DEN led the league in dead money for 2024.
SF led the league in dead money for 2025.
Both teams made the playoffs in those years.

Saints not SF lead the league in dead money in 2025.  

Miami has over half of its salary cap tied up in players not on the team.  Typically for the worst team that is about a third.  

So maybe it's not about how much dead money you have, but rather whether you have competent management.

It is definitely a huge factor.  There's a reason why certain teams are making the playoffs year in and year out despite every effort by the league to establish parity.   Those teams GM's do an excellent job evaluating talent, managing the salary cap, knowing when to lock a player in to a long term deal, and knowing when to cut a player loose.   

And both of those teams have highly competent GMs and front office staff to absorb the dead money hits.

So maybe it's not about how much dead money you have, but rather whether you have competent management.

I like what they have done/are doing but I have no expectations of them being very good this year. I'll have to see where we are prior to next season to guess that but I agree it does not look good right now. 

The 2026 season has 180 million and accounts for 60% of their 301.2 million salary cap. That is historically awful. By comparison the 2024 Denver Broncos were only at about 33% in dead money after dumping Russell Wilson. 

DEN led the league in dead money for 2024.
SF led the league in dead money for 2025.
Both teams made the playoffs in those years.

And both of those teams have highly competent GMs and front office staff to absorb the dead money hits.   The Dolphins did not for a number of years and this regime is brand new so the jury is out.  Still, I am skeptical of them reaching for an O-Lineman whose game has flaws when they could've gotten the best pass rusher in college football in 2025 right out of their own backyard.

Not only does the Dolphins lead the league in dead money for 2026, they lead the league in dead money for 2027.  Per over the cap they have ~$57 million in dead money for 2027. Which is more than all but 6 teams have for 2026.

DEN led the league in dead money for 2024.
SF led the league in dead money for 2025.
Both teams made the playoffs in those years.

I think just the opposite.  I think we are going to be biblically bad for the next year, probably two -- no matter what.

We have a ton of cap money spent on people no longer on the team and there's just no way to make that up.

We are going to be starting practice squad guys at key positions, I think.  We just don't have money to sign players.

+1