The Miami Dolphins’ quarterback future remains shrouded in uncertainty as the team navigates a critical offseason with severe salary cap constraints and a roster in transition. With the coaching staff now settled, the organization faces pivotal decisions that will define the franchise’s direction for years to come, and the path forward appears fraught with challenges.
A prominent Dolphins analyst has set a starkly pessimistic outlook for the upcoming season, projecting a mere five-win campaign. This grim forecast is rooted in a depleted roster, a dire lack of cap space, and the absence of a definitive starting quarterback. The analyst stated that an eight-win season would constitute a historic coaching achievement given the current circumstances, underscoring the scale of the rebuild facing new head coach Jeff Hafley.
In a stunning assessment of the AFC East landscape, significant concern was directed at the New England Patriots, despite the Dolphins’ own struggles. The analyst expressed alarm at the Patriots’ rapid resurgence, noting their arrival in the Super Bowl with a young MVP runner-up and a first-year head coach, all while Miami’s playoff victory drought extends a quarter-century. This contrast highlights the steep climb awaiting the Dolphins within their division.
The quarterback position is the epicenter of Miami’s offseason puzzle. The possibility of acquiring a high-profile star like Lamar Jackson was definitively dismissed due to financial impossibility. Jackson’s colossal cap hit, projected at $75 million for the next two years, places him completely out of reach for a cap-strapped team that would still possess numerous other roster holes even with him under center.
Instead, the team is expected to explore the trade market for reclamation projects. Indianapolis Colts backup Anthony Richardson has emerged as a potential target, with his value estimated at no more than a late Day 3 draft pick, such as a sixth-round selection. Richardson’s elite physical tools, including arguably the strongest arm in the NFL, are tempered by significant concerns over his field vision, processing, and accuracy, making him a low-cost, high-upside gamble.
Internally, Mike White is seen as deserving an opportunity to compete for the starting job after displaying confidence and “moxy” in limited action last season. However, the expectation is that the Dolphins will actively bring in competition. The offseason blueprint likely involves adding one quarterback via trade or free agency and selecting another in the 2025 NFL Draft, a philosophy aligned with General Manager John Eric Sullivan’s preference for developing multiple passers.
When pressed on specific draft prospects, the analyst was notably out on Mississippi’s Trinidad Chambliss, citing the quarterback’s own apparent lack of confidence as a major red flag. Chambliss’s ongoing lawsuit to gain a sixth year of college eligibility was interpreted as a signal he does not believe he is ready for the professional level, a sentiment that would immediately disqualify him in Miami’s eyes.
Amid the roster churn, the franchise must identify core pillars to build around. The shortlist includes offensive talents like wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, left tackle Patrick Paul, and center Aaron Brewer, whose age and Pro Bowl caliber play offer stability. On defense, cornerback Devon Han and defensive lineman Kenneth Grant, who showed promising development late last season, are viewed as potential foundational pieces for the future.
The overall picture is one of a franchise bracing for a difficult season. With the second-hardest strength of schedule in the league and a roster undergoing significant turnover, the immediate goal may be less about contending and more about evaluation and development. Every move at quarterback will be scrutinized, as the decision could determine whether the team is simply enduring a short-term reset or embarking on a prolonged search for an identity.
This multifaceted approach—combining a veteran trade, a draft pick, and an internal competition—reflects the complexity of solving the game’s most important position without the resources to secure a proven elite talent. The Dolphins’ journey through the 2025 season will be a testament to their scouting, development, and strategic planning under a new coaching regime, with the quarterback carousel set to define their fortunes for the foreseeable future. The entire AFC East is watching, as a once-proud franchise seeks to find its footing in a division where its historic rival has already accelerated back to the league’s summit.
