NFL
By: Rick O’Donnell
There’s still plenty of time before the Miami Dolphins have to worry about the offseason. Yet, despite there being five games left this season, we can’t help but look ahead to the next GM’s checklist to get this team back on track. Next on the list, the offensive line.
Find Instant Game Changers
If there was a black eye on the resume of Chris Grier’s time with the Miami Dolphins, it was the offensive line. No matter how much time, effort, and resources were dumped into this unit. It never seemed to reach its full potential. Between players who got hurt, players who never panned out, and players who didn’t fill depth the way they could’ve, it never quite came to be. If the Dolphins want to fix this unit, they need a guy who will be a game-changer on day 1. They need a guy who can come in and move bodies in the pass and the run game. Not a guy who needs to come in and develop techniques, a big brute who just pancakes opponents. Those might be like finding a needle in a haystack, but that’s what Miami needs more of.
Fix the F#@-ing Penalties
The Dolphins have a high-powered offense more often than not. Yet, also more often than not, penalties are drive killer. Miami needs discipline and accountability when it comes to the offensive line, and it continues to drill down on this. In 2025, they dramatically decreased their offensive penalties, but on the flip side, they’ve allowed 27 sacks this season. Clean football is not being played. Either they’re losing yards on penalties or allowing free lanes to the quarterback. No line is without mistakes, but even with the low count on penalties this season, the ones they do commit seem to always come at the wrong time.
Development Needs Improvement
The Dolphins are getting guys to come in and make an impact, but what they’re not getting is guys to get past potential. Guys are not coming in and making leaps and bounds in their skill set; they’re coming in and making slow and incremental improvements. The next GM has to find coachable guys who can come in and take to the Dolphins system like a fish to water. If they’re not going to be a day 1 starter, then the Dolphins have to find guys who can step in when the starter goes down. This has improved over the last year or so, but they’re still a few players short of a complete unit.
There’s still plenty of room for the Miami Dolphins to grow on the offensive line. Despite their six-man sets and improved play, plenty of their success comes from Tua Tagovailoa getting the ball out quickly. Scanning the field is not his strong suit, and unfortunately, he needs more time to do it. If Miami can fix its offensive line woes, it might start to climb back into the top offense in the league convo.
