The Miami Dolphins offense will undergo significant changes in the upcoming season with the release of QB Tua Tagovailoa and WR Tyreek Hill, and the trade of WR Jaylen Waddle. Mike McDaniel has been replaced as head coach, and Bobby Slowik will be the new offensive coordinator. The team has also acquired QB Malik Willis. Key players like De’Von Achane, Aaron Brewer, and Jordyn Brooks have been extended, while changes are expected at the wide receiver position
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Falcons fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. It’s become increasingly likely that Tua Tagovailoa will be the opening-day starter for the Falcons when they face the Steelers . That is the last team he faced as the starting quarterback for the Dolphins back in December. While the conditions will be much clearer and the infrastructure around him will be better, there are still plenty of questions surrounding the former Pro Bowler. His departure from Miami left a bitter taste in everyone’s mouth across the organization and within the fanbase. The Falcons will be facing five 2025 playoff teams in their first seven games. One of the biggest criticisms of Tagovailoa is his inability to lead teams to victories against playoff-caliber opponents. There was always a sense around his time in Miami that they were frontrunners who beat subpar competition, but fell well short against the top teams. Those past failures will raise conversations about how many games he will start in 2026, considering how challenging the Falcons’ schedule is in the first part of the season, especially once Michael Penix Jr. is fully recovered from left knee surgery. How do you see the season going for Atlanta’s new quarterback?
The Atlanta Falcons have had a quarterback problem for years, a statement blindingly obvious to anyone who has been an Atlanta Falcons fan over the past few seasons. Since 2022, when the Falcons hastily traded Matt Ryan to Indianapolis in the wake of a failed effort to trade for Deshaun Watson , they’ve started Marcus Mariota , Desmond Ridder , Taylor Heinicke , Kirk Cousins , and Michael Penix Jr.; that’s more than one starter per season. In fact, they’ve had two different quarterbacks starting for the team in each of those four years, and they have not had one true franchise guy at any point in that span. Penix could still be that player, but it’s hardly a given. We enter 2026 with Penix recovering from ACL surgery, one of many such surgeries in his college and now NFL career, and with very little on-field to suggest he’s a potentially elite quarterback. He’s competing with Tua Tagovailoa, who is coming off a dismal season with the Dolphins where he was benched, and has dealt with scary concussions throughout his career. The only guys behind them are big-armed undrafted free agent Jack Strand and journeyman backup Trevor Siemien, so there’s very little chance of a Cinderella story if Tua and Penix don’t pan out. That makes the quarterback battle crucial on two fronts. It’s obviously important for this year, because the better player needs to have the reins of an offense richly veined with playmakers to help these Falcons shake off eight straight losing seasons and recapture hope and competence. But it’s also important for next year, because any outcome outside of Penix seizing this job and excelling will likely have the Falcons looking to draft, sign, or trade for a potential franchise option. The Falcons don’t want to continue to squander their talent. Bijan Robinson was the league’s most productive running back last year, leading the NFL in yards from scrimmage, but was stuck on a team that had a frequently anemic passing attack and blew far too many games. Drake London and Kyle Pitts are game-changing talents who have dealt with streaky, inconsistent passers throughout their careers. Jahan Dotson , Zachariah Branch, and Austin Hooper offer real talent—and in the case of Branch, really intriguing potential—but could see their production blunted if the quarterback position isn’t effectively settled. A great quarterback would have a passing attack with this many weapons humming. A good quarterback would have it looking capable, at minimum. As we’ve seen over the years, promising but inconsistent quarterbacks and shaky ones alike have conspired to make it look elite for shining moments and disappointing for long stretches. The Falcons badly need to figure out whether Tua or Penix is the right fit for these weapons and this passing attack. At his best, Tua can deliver timely, very accurate passes in the short-to-intermediate areas of the field, a skill set that plays well with the YAC capabilities of Bijan, Brian Robinson , London, and Branch, as well as Kevin Stefanski and Tommy Rees’ screen designs. Penix has been more inconsistent across the board in his brief career, but his ability to attack defenses deep opens up potentially devastating big plays for London, Pitts, and Dotson. There are significant stylistic differences here that might come into play if this ends up being a very close battle, but the likelier outcome is simply that one of these quarterbacks is more healthy and effective this summer and wins the battle outright well before preseason wraps. At the moment, my money would be on Tua, who had a head start as the healthy player earlier this summer and should be able to reliably pepper his supporting cast with short-to-intermediate passes the way Kirk Cousins did at his best last year. Whoever wins, however, will need to be good enough to at least partially unlock this passing game’s significant potential, lest their backup catapult past them midseason. Let’s say Tua grabs the starting job and lands som
[... truncated ...]
After enjoying the successes of a historically dominant offense for the first two years of former head coach Mike McDaniel’s tenure with the Miami Dolphins, the team took major steps back during the final two years of the coach’s four-year stint with the club. As a result, he was relieved of his duties, and the organization decided to hit the reset button — signalling the beginning of another roster reset in South Florida. After hiring new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and new head coach Jeff Hafley, the Dolphins took a machete to their roster — releasing or trading numerous high priced veteran players in an effort to get cheaper and younger. We now find ourselves heading into a 2026 NFL season that sees many questions for the Miami Dolphins needing answers if they hope to expedite the rebuilding process they currently find themselves in. Let’s take a look at the top-three concerns facing the team ahead of training camp which begins next week. Is Jeff Hafley the right man for the job? After moving on from the Mike McDaniel era, the Dolphins enter 2026 with first-year head coach Jeff Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan. The roster has been heavily reshaped, and expectations are centered less on immediate wins and more on establishing a new culture, identity, and longterm foundation. Personalities around the league widely view Miami as one of the NFL’s biggest rebuilds entering training camp. One of the most important aspects of Hafley’s first year is creating accountability and consistency. That includes: Defining leadership in the locker room. Developing players rather than simply acquiring them. Building a team that can withstand injuries. Creating systems that don’t depend on one or two star players. Can Malik Willis prove he’s the quarterback of the future? With Tua Tagovailoa now a member of the Atlanta Falcons , the Dolphins look to the newly signed Malik Willis to lead the offense. His athleticism is unquestioned, but consistency as a passer will determine whether Miami commits to him beyond 2026 or enters the 2027 draft looking for their next franchise quarterback. Willis doesn’t need to throw for 5,000 yards to succeed. If the Dolphins tailor the offense to his strengths, they could look to emphasize the following things: Play-action passing. Designed quarterback runs. Rollouts and moving pockets. Deep shots off run action. Quick, defined reads that allow him to play fast. Miami’s goal would be to create an offense that stresses defenses with both Willis’s arm and his legs while limiting situations that expose his current weaknesses. How quickly can Miami’s rookies develop? One of the more pressing questions for the Dolphins in 2026 is how quickly their rookie class can become meaningful contributors . For a team in the early stages of a rebuild, rookie development isn’t just a bonus, it’s essential to accelerating the franchise’s timeline for being competitive. Unlike veteran heavy contenders that can afford to ease first-year players into limited roles, Miami needs several members of its 2026 draft class to make an immediate impact. Every snap they play this season is an investment in what the organization hopes will become its next core. The Dolphins won’t judge their rookies solely by box-score production. Coaches will be watching for: Improvement from September to December. Increased confidence and consistency. Better understanding of the playbook. Fewer mental mistakes. ___ While expectations for the 2026 Miami Dolphins are low in regards to how many wins they can etch into the record books, it is still an extremely important season for a franchise desperate to get back to the glory days of long, long ago. Answering the questions posed above will go a long way towards achieving that goal, which gives all of us Dolphins fans incentives to watch our guys in aqua and orange compete all season long
Deep in the heart of the offseason, I was inspired by an exercise I saw on the NFL Stock Exchange podcast with Trevor Sikkema and Connor Rogers to take a look back at draft history, specifically evaluating and ranking the first-round picks this decade. With a list this large, being clear about the methodology is important. I decided to evaluate each decision from the team's point of view , given the draft capital and options available on the board, rather than evaluating talent alone. This is an important distinction because I'm not simply ranking players. For example, Kyle Pitts is a good player, but the decision to draft him No. 4 overall in 2021 was objectively not a good one considering the next six players off the board were Ja'Marr Chase , Jaylen Waddle , Penei Sewell , Jaycee Horn , Patrick Surtain II and DeVonta Smith . Obviously, with the 2026 draft class yet to play a snap in the NFL, it was not included. Even the 2025 class is difficult to rank this early in their careers, with very few players appearing at either edge of the spectrum. Let's get to the rankings first and then break them down team by team to evaluate how each franchise did over that span. This is unfortunately how a franchise becomes a perennial bottom-feeder. The Cardinals have drafted one Pro Bowl player this decade in second-round tight end Trey McBride , and half of their first-rounders aren't even starters anymore. That's a difficult mess to overcome in one of the best divisions in the NFL. Big hits with glaring holes is very much the story of the Falcons this decade. No hole has proven more difficult to overcome than the one Matt Ryan left at quarterback after the 2021 season. They tried to solve it in the loaded 2024 draft by taking Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall, but his checking in at No. 154 in these rankings tells you how that's gone. They've had a different leading passer every year since and look poised to do it for a fifth straight season with Tua Tagovailoa coming over from Miami this offseason. The Ravens have been one of the NFL's best-run franchises since their inception, and that hasn't changed even after Ozzie Newsome retired in 2018. Eric DeCosta has been solid, albeit unspectacular, in his role as GM ever since. His eight first-round selections without a single one in the bottom third of this list are the most of any team. The Bills may have the most wins of any team this decade, but their recent first-rounders haven't gotten them there. That said, the jury is still very much out on Maxwell Hairston and, to a degree, Dalton Kincaid. Maybe that's why Brandon Beane survived what many thought would be a complete front-office overhaul after another divisional-round exit. A sad fact of the Panthers' draft track record this decade is that they've made an NFL-leading five top-eight picks over that span. Their only non-premium pick was also one of the worst first-rounders in terms of true impact, as Xavier Legette has already been relegated to backup status. Caleb Williams' inclusion in the bottom third of this list may be controversial, but through two seasons, he's been outplayed by both quarterbacks selected immediately after him despite having arguably the best supporting cast. I would be more receptive to arguments that Colston Loveland and Rome Odunze are too low. I'd even agree that they're both likely to end up higher if we redo this exercise in a couple of years. Because both were premium picks with relatively modest production, though, I couldn't justify ranking them higher at this point. While the Bengals' draft track record has rightfully drawn criticism of late, they started the decade with two franchise-changing picks in back-to-back drafts. The duo of Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase has dragged one of the most underachieving franchises in sports to the forefront of the national conversation more often than not over the past half-decade. The Achilles' heel for Duke Tobin in the draft this decade has been the defens
[... truncated ...]
As NFL training camps begin, USA TODAY Sports examines a key storyline for all 32 teams, covering roster battles, free agent additions, contract extensions, and coaching decisions. Notable quarterback competitions include Jacoby Brissett, Carson Beck, and Gardner Minshew II in Arizona, and Michael Penix Jr. vs. Tua Tagovailoa in Atlanta. The article also touches on defensive improvements under Jesse Minter for the Ravens
The NFL’s reigning tackling leader just got paid. Linebacker Jordyn Brooks and the Miami Dolphins have agreed to a three-year, $51.3 million extension with $35 million guaranteed, a person familiar with the situation confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. The 28-year-old Brooks is a pillar on Miami’s defense and was one of the few bright spots on the squad in 2025. Brooks registered an NFL-high 183 combined tackles and 99 solo tackles. He was named a first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler for his performance. Brooks was originally drafted in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks . He led the NFL in solo tackles (109) in 2021. He signed with the Dolphins prior to the 2024 season. The linebacker was previously entering the final year of his contract. OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans) CB Trent McDuffie: Traded to Los Angeles Rams (previous team: Kansas City Chiefs) RB David Montgomery: Traded to Houston Texans (previous team: Detroit Lions) WR DJ Moore: Traded to Buffalo Bills (previous team: Chicago Bears) OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans) OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans) CB Trent McDuffie: Traded to Los Angeles Rams (previous team: Kansas City Chiefs) RB David Montgomery: Traded to Houston Texans (previous team: Detroit Lions) WR DJ Moore: Traded to Buffalo Bills (previous team: Chicago Bears) The Dolphins offloaded a lot of well-known players this offseason, such as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa , wide receiver Jaylen Waddle , wide receiver Tyreek Hill , pass rusher Bradley Chubb and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick as they go through a rebuild. But the team also gave notable extensions to center Aaron Brewer , running back De'Von Achane and now Brooks. It’s a clear indication that the Dolphins view Brewer, Achane and Brooks as building-block players as they usher in a new era of their franchise with head coach Jeff Hafley and quarterback Malik Willis . Brooks has led the Dolphins in tackles in each of the last two seasons. He’s produced over 140 tackles for two straight seasons and has registered over 100 tackles for five consecutive seasons. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY Sports: Dolphins sign NFL tackling leader to extension amid rebuild
This is Part II of my fantasy football top-36 overall players series. Analysis for the first 12 players went live on Monday , and I was able to sneak in Kenneth Walker III as the last on that list. He’d be the biggest surprise there, but the difference between Walker and the next half-dozen players in today’s column is slim to none. Unfortunately, what is “slim to none” before the season is going to be significant during the season. Let’s get these decisions correct. Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2026 NFL season Picks 1-12 Picks 13-24 Picks 25-36 (coming Thursday) De’Von Achane, RB7, Dolphins It's fair to assume the very peak of Achane's fantasy status is behind him. He was the RB5 on RB7 last year, and he's been the RB7 on RB10 usage over the past two seasons in half PPR. He's even better than that in full PPR (RB6 on RB7 usage). Mike McDaniel is one of the best play designers in the NFL, especially for his RBs after orchestrating the Kyle Shanahan rushing offense for years. Achane has been the RB6 in rush yards over expected (+13%) over the past two seasons, while routinely getting to the edge off of fancy designs. I'm far less optimistic that new OC Bobby Slowik and his OL coach from a failed Texans stint will be nearly as effective on the whiteboard. There's also some risk that the new staff won't give Achane (5'9"/191 lbs) the same workload as McDaniel did. It takes some out of the box perspective to do so, and it's not a guarantee that his top-16 carries per game carry over. I think it will, but it's not a given. As important to everything else listed above is the QB change. Malik Willis will help Achane spring open rushing lanes, in similar ways Lamar Jackson has for his RBs over the years. Willis is also a threat for goal-line scores in ways that Tua Tagovailoa wasn't, and he's far less likely to check the ball down than Tua was because he can simply scramble himself. It'd be insane to not feature Achane as a receiver, however, so the Dolphins coaching staff would have to get a near failing grade to not keep Achane in the low-end RB1 mix, especially in full-PPR. They have nobody else to throw the ball to, and Achane is a building block for the entire organization. The underrated part of the Dolphins team is this OL. Aaron Brewer is a top-three center, LT Patrick Paul broke out last year with elite athleticism and first-round LG Kadyn Proctor is as big as a house with rare feet for his size. That is the foundation to keep Achane rolling, even if we'll miss McDaniel on the sticks. James Cook, RB8, Bills Cook was the RB6 on RB7 usage if we remove his Week 18 game. He did it on the most carries (19.1) and rushing yards (98.3) per game. All sustainable, too. His YPC (5.1) was great but not so high that it's not somewhat repeatable. It's just the reality of playing next to Josh Allen and behind a quality OL which returns 4-of-5 starters. Cook is also quite talented himself. Cook also didn't run super hot with TDs. He was the RB10 in inside the five-yard line carries. He had another five scores from outside the 20-yard line, but that's expected for someone as quick as he is in an efficient offense. The Bills were third in scoring last year and are second in projected scoring in 2026, per the betting markets. The RB depth chart is the same, and his play-caller Joe Brady was just promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach. The offense should feel nearly identical, with the only changeups being D.J. Moore is on the team and the OL coach is gone. That could matter on the margins, but Allen had a relatively down season last year and could be back to his MVP level self in a hurry. It's difficult to find the legendary season from Cook because he was the RB39 in receptions per game (1.9) and Allen will steal some short-yardage TDs, but it's hard to ignore his mid-range to low-end RB1 status, especially in half-PPR or standard scoring. Ashton Jeanty, RB9, Raiders Everything went wrong [... truncated ...]
Football is the ultimate team sport, but some positions are still more important than others. You won't be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy with lackluster quarterback play. We've seen Patrick Mahomes power a dynasty that reached the Super Bowl five times over a six-year span, while the greatest player of all time, Tom Brady , won a record seven Super Bowls during his Hall of Fame career. A quarterback room is more than just the starter. Half of the starting quarterbacks around the NFL can't stay healthy for a full season, and it's up to the backup to come in and guide the offense. The Indianapolis Colts weren't prepared for Daniel Jones going down, and it sank their season. Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers fared just fine when Brock Purdy was forced to miss some time. The second-string quarterback is the most overlooked position in today's NFL . Which NFL teams have the best quarterback situations and which have the worst? Below, we will break down the five worst and five best QB rooms in the league. QBs: Michael Penix Jr. , Tua Tagovailoa , Trevor Siemian , Jack Strand One of the more strange moments from this offseason was when the Atlanta Falcons immediately pivoted to Tua Tagovailoa after the Miami Dolphins made the decision to take on an NFL-record $99 million in dead cap just to get rid of him. Tagovailoa led the NFL in passer rating in 2022 and passing yards in 2023, but has struggled with both consistency and injuries since signing that massive $212.4 million extension. It's also understood that he's not an electric playmaker who can carry offenses alone with his arm. He played his best football in a Mike McDaniel scheme that relied on timing, yet Miami reached the postseason just twice. Tagovailoa threw a career-high 15 interceptions last year while averaging a career-worst 6.9 yards per attempt. Can he resurrect his career under Kevin Stefanski? If it's not Tagovailoa, then it will be Michael Penix Jr. under center for Atlanta. The former No. 8 overall pick is recovering from the third torn ACL of his football career, and is just 4-8 as a starter. Penix is averaging one touchdown pass per start and has completed fewer than 60% of his passes. As a prospect, it was hard not to be intrigued by his arm, but Penix just hasn't been good enough. His bad throw percentage (24%) ranked worst in the NFL last season, according to Pro Football Reference. The Falcons' offense features several fun weapons, including Bijan Robinson , Kyle Pitts and Drake London . However, if this group doesn't have a legitimate starting quarterback that can get them the ball, Atlanta is in for its ninth-straight losing season. QBs: Malik Willis , Quinn Ewers , Cam Miller , Mark Gronowski The Dolphins secured the most intriguing quarterback in this free agency class with Malik Willis. It wasn't a surprise, as Miami hired a general manager and head coach that Willis was familiar with. Jon Eric-Sullivan, Jeff Hafley and Willis all come over from the Green Bay Packers . Willis completed 79% of his passes while averaging 10.9 yards per attempt with six touchdowns and zero interceptions in his two seasons with the Packers. He became the first quarterback to complete 85% of his passes in a game while averaging 13+ yards per attempt and rushing for 60 yards. If you want to extrapolate his numbers over three starts, Willis would be a franchise quarterback. The problem is our sample size for Willis is very small. According to Kurt Warner , Willis had just 28 dropbacks over the past two seasons if you take out screen plays, "pick-n-stick" throws at five yards and quick scrambles. He will also be quarterbacking for what is expected to be one of the worst teams in the NFL. De'Von Achane is a fantastic running back, but Malik Washington , Jalen Tolbert and Tutu Atwell are not exactly elite wideouts. Willis is a huge question mark in general, but even if you're optimistic about his talent, you have to admit that the rebuilding Dolphins are not in a great [... truncated ...]
The Miami Dolphins are seeking a new identity under new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and HC Jeff Hafley, aiming for a tougher, more physical approach after a complete front office overhaul. This comes after the releases of QB Tua Tagovailoa and WR Tyreek Hill, and with questions surrounding the development of recent draft picks
Michael Penix Jr. remains a dynasty hold as his role in the Atlanta Falcons offense is unclear heading into training camp. Despite a history of ACL injuries and a partially torn ACL last season, he participated in spring drills. His fantasy value relies heavily on his arm, with potential support from Drake London, Bijan Robinson, and Kyle Pitts Sr. Dynasty managers should wait for camp clarity before making a move
Two years ago, Kyler Murray sought growth after solid returns from a major injury; the Titans were preparing to trade Malik Willis , who had fallen out of favor; Tua Tagovailoa was coming off the best year of his career, having led the league in passing and led the Dolphins to the playoffs; and Kirk Cousins , coming off a torn Achilles, cashed in on a four-year, $180 million deal with the Falcons , which subsequently surprised him by drafting Michael Penix Jr . What a difference two years make. This offseason, Arizona unceremoniously dumped Murray, and he landed in Minnesota. Willis landed in South Beach. Tagovailoa is in a quarterback battle in Atlanta. Cousins is now mentoring No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza -- while hoping to prove he can still play, too -- in Las Vegas. The bets on these four quarterbacks are all small in their individual ways. Because Murray and Tagovailoa are still making so much off their Cardinals and Dolphins extensions, respectively, their new teams are paying hardly anything. Willis received significant money -- three years and $67.5 million, still relatively cheap for a veteran starter -- but that certainly wouldn't stop Miami from pursuing a quarterback in the loaded 2027 class if he doesn't perform. And Cousins? Well, the sooner Mendoza is deemed ready, the better. But all four bets are significant in their own way, too. Is Murray the missing piece for a team that went 9-8 last year despite dismal quarterback play? Can Willis prove he's not just a small-sample wonder and be a central piece going forward? Can Tagovailoa be the guy to finally elevate an offense that features Bijan Robinson , Drake London and Kyle Pitts ? Can Cousins keep things on track before Mendoza takes over? NFL quarterbacks have no place to hide, whether they're leading Super Bowl contenders, leading rebuilds or simply battling for a starting spot. These four are no exception. Murray has been one of the most polarizing, mercurial players for most of his NFL career for his play, his play style, his injuries and his demeanor . Murray spent the first four years of his career in Kliff Kingsbury's shotgun, quick-hitting spread, carried over from college. For the last three years, he was in Drew Petzing's offense, which emphasized more under-center and play-action concepts. It never gelled. He also played in just 30 of the 51 games available over the past three years. What's funny is that for all the ups and downs of his career, he's generally been steadily average -- or slightly above it -- overall. His career expected points added per dropback is 0.05. By definition, zero is average. He has only been below zero once, in 2023, when, coming off an ACL injury, he was at ... -0.01. For reference, the Vikings ' collection of quarterbacks last year was at -0.16, only ahead of the Titans and Browns . J.J. McCarthy was at -0.13. While Murray hasn't officially beaten out McCarthy, one would think he is the favorite. That means Kevin O'Connell accentuating Murray's strengths and Murray evolving are critical. The Vikings were under center on nearly 45% of their snaps last year, one of the league's highest rates; Murray's career under-center rate is 15%. Murray is on the smaller side, and he, like many quarterbacks who have played in the past half-dozen years, didn't come up as an under-center, turn-your-back-to-the-defense guy. That doesn't mean he can't do it, though. In fact, over the past three years, he ranks eighth in yards per attempt (8.9) on under-center passes. The arm talent, which has never been a question, can shine. Marvin Harrison Jr. we love you pic.twitter.com/GE6a9vVabw MARVIN. HARRISON. JR. pic.twitter.com/3s8MkueA2C Arguably, Murray's bigger adjustment, though, will be where his passes go. He has always been an outside-the-numbers thrower when going downfield. Only 35% of his career attempts at least 10 yards downfield have been thrown between the numbers. That ranks 20th out of 23 quarterbacks who have thrown at
[... truncated ...]
The Miami Dolphins are entering a new era with a new general manager, Jon-Eric Sullivan, and head coach, Jeff Hafley. Following significant roster changes, including the departures of QB Tua Tagovailoa and WR Tyreek Hill, the team aims to establish a new culture and develop younger players in their first season under the new leadership
The Miami Dolphins gave former #5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, his walking-papers this offseason when new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan began the organization’s latest rebuild upon taking the job in South Florida. Soon after, the lefty signal-caller was picked up by the Atlanta Falcons . The Falcons already had a lefty starting quarterback — the #8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Michael Penix — which left some wondering who would be the man lining up behind center come the start of the 2026 regular season. During his interview with former Dolphins left tackle, Terron Armstead , on the former player’s podcast, “ The Set,” Miami’s current starting left tackle, Patrick Paul , predicted that Tagovailoa would have a bounce-back year with Atlanta while winning the starting job with the Falcons. “He’s definitely going to win that spot,” stated Paul. Now, it must be said that Tagovailoa may have a leg-up in the competition with Penix, considering the soon-to-be third-year player is coming back from a torn ACL suffered in November. If Penix isn’t ready to return until late in the offseason, Miami’s former starting quarterback may win the job by default. Regardless, Paul is rooting for his former teammate. “He’s a great player, so definitely rooting for him.” For Armstead’s entire interview with Paul, watch the video below
Tagovailoa's former Dolphins teammate Patrick Paul believes Tagovailoa will win Atlanta's quarterback competition against Michael Penix (knee), Grant Gordon of NFL.com reports. Visit RotoWire.com for more analysis on this update
Miami Dolphins rookie wide receiver Caleb Douglas has a path to snaps, but that alone does not make him a redraft sleeper. Miami selected him 75th overall after he posted 54 catches for 846 yards and seven touchdowns at Texas Tech, his second straight season with at least 54 receptions and 840 yards. At 6-foot-4 with a 4.39-second 40, Douglas brings a size-speed profile that stands out in an unsettled receiver room. The opportunity is real after the Dolphins released Tyreek Hill and traded Jaylen Waddle. So is the competition. Malik Washington, Jalen Tolbert, Tutu Atwell, Jalen Reagor, and fellow rookies Chris Bell (knee) and Kevin Coleman Jr. are all fighting for work. Miami is also replacing Tua Tagovailoa after releasing him and signing Malik Willis. Douglas is currently WR107 and 265th overall in RotoBaller's PPR rankings. That is deep-league territory, not a player fantasy managers need to force onto standard rosters. Douglas is worth tracking through training camp, especially if he earns regular outside snaps, but he can stay undrafted in most 12-team leagues for now
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Dolphins fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. The NFL calendar is slowly approaching the end of the offseason and the start of training camps. For the Miami Dolphins, the 2026 season is one of rebuild and reset as they transition from the Mike McDaniel era of the team to new head coach Jeff Hafley’s system. The team has been transformed, with veterans like quarterback Tua Tagovailoa , wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle , linebacker Bradley Chubb , and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick no longer with a team that will rely primarily on younger players and veterans on one-year, prove-it contracts. Training camp should be an interesting time for the Dolphins as position battles play out and the team starts to form into the mold Hafley envisions. But, what do you want to see this summer? Which position group interests you the most. Our SB Nation Reacts survey returns to ask you that question today. Check it out and let us know why you voted the way you did in the comments below
The Miami Dolphins are entering a rebuild under new coach Jeff Hafley, with many expecting a rough season after parting ways with key players. However, the article explores a potential path to a winning season by focusing on an efficient, run-heavy offense led by running back De'Von Achane and quarterback Malik Willis, who is encouraged to lean into his mobility rather than traditional pocket passing
Data comes from cached Sleeper and KTC snapshots. Values update when the sync jobs run.
