South Florida Sports Wire

Miami Dolphins Command Report

Generated Wed Aug 26, 8:28 AM ET · NFL intelligence built for signal over noise
Miami Dolphins logo
FLSportsDesk.com · The Read

FLSportsDesk.com Briefing

The 2026 Dolphins are a stripped-down, bottom-tier rebuild under a first-time head coach and a first-time starting quarterback, and every independent projection, betting market and needs list places them at or near the league floor — the week's churn at the roster's edges deepened the hole rather than filling it.

Miami cut Tyreek Hill in February, handed Malik Willis his first full season as QB1 under Jeff Hafley, and carries five position units ranked 32nd on Mike Clay's board. De'Von Achane is the lone established difference-maker. The opener at Las Vegas — against a Raiders team that scored 14.2 points per game and allowed 64 sacks in 2025 — is the only early soft spot before San Francisco, Kansas City and Minnesota arrive. Treat the season as evaluation, not contention.

Achane anchors a genuine strength behind a run game that averaged 4.7 yards per carry in 2025.

Whether Willis shows regular-season passing efficiency and whether any of the five bottom-ranked units grade better than expected through September.

regular-season kickoff desk

Next Game

at Las Vegas Raiders

Sun Sep 13 · 4:25 PM ET · Broadcast TBD

Allegiant Stadium
exhibition context only

AFC East — Preseason

Buffalo Bills2-0-0 · 1.000
New England Patriots1-0-1 · .750
New York Jets1-1-0 · .500
Miami Dolphins0-2-0 · .000

Preseason — exhibition records do not measure regular-season strength.

front office

Cap Position

$15,773,236

Estimated current team cap space.

Source: OverTheCap · status active. Not an official NFL accounting figure.
signal desk

Latest Intelligence

More reporting (3)
FLSportsDesk.com · The Read

FLSportsDesk.com Briefing

The calendar front-loads the hardest tests and offers a projected last-place team almost no cushion — and this week's line losses made the early pass-rush gauntlet more dangerous without moving a single game.

Las Vegas in Week 1 is the only early breather; then San Francisco, Kansas City and Minnesota crowd the first month. November alternates Detroit and Cincinnati at home with trips to Indianapolis, Buffalo and Denver, and the close runs Lambeau, the Chargers, Buffalo at home and New England at Gillette. For a team projected between 2.5 and 4.5 wins, no stretch does the work.

The Raiders scored 14.2 points per game, rushed 3.6 a carry and allowed 64 sacks in 2025, making Week 1 the most winnable game on the sheet.

The September stretch at Las Vegas and San Francisco; competitive showings there would reopen the win-band question before the division gauntlet.

Sun Sep 13 · 4:25 PM ET
at Las Vegas RaidersScheduled
Broadcast TBD · Allegiant Stadium
Sun Sep 20 · 4:25 PM ET
at San Francisco 49ersScheduled
Broadcast TBD · Levi's Stadium
Sun Sep 27 · 1:00 PM ET
vs Kansas City ChiefsScheduled
Broadcast TBD · Hard Rock Stadium
Sun Oct 4 · 4:05 PM ET
at Minnesota VikingsScheduled
Broadcast TBD · U.S. Bank Stadium
Sun Oct 11 · 1:00 PM ET
vs Cincinnati BengalsScheduled
Broadcast TBD · Hard Rock Stadium
Sun Oct 25 · 1:00 PM ET
at New York JetsScheduled
Broadcast TBD · MetLife Stadium
Sun Nov 1 · 4:25 PM ET
vs New England PatriotsScheduled
Broadcast TBD · Hard Rock Stadium
Sun Nov 8 · 1:00 PM ET
vs Detroit LionsScheduled
Broadcast TBD · Hard Rock Stadium
Sun Nov 15 · 1:00 PM ET
at Indianapolis ColtsScheduled
Broadcast TBD · Lucas Oil Stadium
Sun Nov 22 · 1:00 PM ET
at Buffalo BillsScheduled
Broadcast TBD · Highmark Stadium
Sun Nov 29 · 1:00 PM ET
vs New York JetsScheduled
Broadcast TBD · Hard Rock Stadium
Sun Dec 6 · 4:05 PM ET
at Denver BroncosScheduled
Broadcast TBD · Empower Field at Mile High
Sun Dec 13 · 1:00 PM ET
vs Chicago BearsScheduled
Broadcast TBD · Hard Rock Stadium
Sun Dec 20 · 1:00 PM ET
at Green Bay PackersScheduled
Broadcast TBD · Lambeau Field
Sun Dec 27 · 1:00 PM ET
vs Los Angeles ChargersScheduled
Broadcast TBD · Hard Rock Stadium
Sun Jan 3 · 1:00 PM ET
vs Buffalo BillsScheduled
Broadcast TBD · Hard Rock Stadium
Sun Jan 10 · 12:00 AM ET
at New England PatriotsScheduled
Broadcast TBD · Gillette Stadium
FLSportsDesk.com · The Read

FLSportsDesk.com Intelligence Assessment

Miami is a bottom-tier rebuild whose 2026 ceiling is player evaluation, not contention, and nothing in the current evidence clears the case for improvement — the week's injury news and roster churn made the margin slightly worse, not better.

Four independent reads — Clay's 2.5-win projection, the DraftKings 4.5 total with the under juiced, NFL.com's needs list and PFN's depth chart — all land at or near the league floor, and the daily reporting fits: Hafley said he is concerned Kenneth Grant may miss the opener, Jamaree Salyer left via injury settlement, a rookie ankle injury will cost significant time, and waiver claims patched receiver rather than upgrading it. Malik Willis is a first-time full-season starter throwing to rooms Clay ranks 32nd, behind a line that just lost another body, opening at Las Vegas, at San Francisco, then Kansas City and Minnesota — the one soft spot being a Raiders team that scored 14.2 points per game, rushed 3.6 a carry and allowed 64 sacks in 2025. The strongest legitimate countercase is PFN's offensive impact rank of 19 paired with Achane's 4.7 yards per carry and that Raiders opener, enough to picture five wins and a November with stakes. But no supplied evidence shows regular-season Willis efficiency or improvement in two weak units, so the verdict stands until games say otherwise; the 0-2 preseason record is exhibition noise and the verified $15.77 million in cap space confirms the front office can patch but not reconstruct. Grant's possible absence compounds a 32nd-ranked secondary — pressure and coverage fail together, and nine interceptions made in 2025 fit that picture — so the facts justify the rebuild frame.

PFN's offensive impact rank of 19 is a genuine single-source dissent suggesting the offense may be functional rather than league-worst.

Grant's status for the Las Vegas opener, Willis's Week 1 pass protection and efficiency, and whether the Joey Porter Jr. trade chatter gains a second source.

reporting behind the read

Dolphins Wire

More reporting (5)
FLSportsDesk.com · The Read

FLSportsDesk.com Briefing

Roughly $15.8 million in verified space is enough for August triage and nowhere near enough to fix five last-place units, and the spending pattern still says patchwork rebuild.

OverTheCap shows $15,773,236 in active space, resolving the prior verification gap. The observable moves — claiming wideout Ryan Miller off waivers, releasing Tahj Washington, settling Jamaree Salyer's injury — are minimum-cost churn at the roster's fringes, not investment at receiver, corner or edge. The Porter Jr. trade chatter is single-source reporting and cannot be read as a spending plan.

OverTheCap figures are estimates that shift with every transaction, so the precise number carries softness.

Whether the Porter Jr. talk becomes a corroborated trade, and whether any deadline move consumes most of the room.

estimated cap desk

Salary Cap

$15,773,236

Estimated current team cap space.

Source: OverTheCap · status active. Not an official NFL accounting figure.
personnel market

Free Agency

  • Open-market watch: monitor credible Dolphins links, visits and signings.
  • Internal decisions: extensions, restructures, releases and practice-squad movement.
  • Verification: transactions remain REPORTED until confirmed by the club or NFL transaction wire.
signings · trades · releases

Free Agency Wire

roster economics

Contract Watch

  • Track extensions and guarantees.
  • Separate cash savings from cap savings.
  • Show current-year and future dead-money effects when verified.
FLSportsDesk.com · The Read

FLSportsDesk.com Briefing

Headcount is ordinary construction but the distribution of proven starters sits at the bottom of the league, and this week's settlement, waiver swap and Grant injury question piled more strain onto the thinnest rooms.

Ninety-one players across offense, defense and specialists is normal; the shortage is starter-caliber quality. Achane is the one established difference-maker; Robinson, Proctor, Brewer and rookie Chris Johnson are building blocks, and nearly everything else is projection. The week trimmed the edges: Salyer left via injury settlement, Washington was waived for the Miller claim, and Hafley said Grant may miss the opener. Rookie receiver Chris Bell, coming off an ACL tear, plays the preseason finale — development news, not team-quality news.

Achane, Brewer, Proctor, Johnson and Robinson give the rebuild genuine anchors at five spots.

Grant's Week 1 availability, Bell's recovery arc after the preseason finale, and any external veteran addition at receiver or cornerback — including whether the Porter Jr. chatter becomes real.

42 players

offense

#28De'Von AchaneRB · Texas A&M
#4Tutu AtwellWR · Louisville
#72Gottlieb AyedzeOT · Maryland
#18Chris BellWR · Louisville
#55Aaron BrewerC · Texas State
#63DJ CampbellG · Texas
#79Kevin ClineOT · Boston College
#83Kevin Coleman Jr.WR · Missouri
#30Ethan ConnerTE · Troy
#70Marques CoxOT · Kentucky
#7Caleb DouglasWR · Texas Tech
#85Greg DulcichTE · UCLA
#36Donovan EdwardsRB · Michigan
#14Quinn EwersQB · Texas
#41Jeremiah FranklinTE · Boston College
#0Ollie Gordon IIRB · Oklahoma State
#16Mark GronowskiQB · Iowa
#67Charlie HeckOT · North Carolina
#88AJ HenningWR · Northwestern
#34DJ HermanFB · San Diego State
#73Austin JacksonOT · USC
#82Will KacmarekTE · Ohio State
#86Terrace Marshall Jr.WR · LSU
#80Donaven McCulleyWR · Michigan
#60Andrew MeyerC · UTEP
#15Cam MillerQB · North Dakota State
#—Ryan MillerWR · Furman
#52Patrick PaulOT · Houston
#68Josh PriebeG · Michigan
#74Kadyn ProctorOT · Alabama
#17Jalen ReagorWR · TCU
#71Jonah SavaiinaeaG · Arizona
#89Ben SimsTE · Baylor
#1Jalen TolbertWR · South Alabama
#49Seydou TraoreTE · Mississippi State
#87Cole TurnerTE · Nevada
#75Caedan WallaceOT · Penn State
#6Malik WashingtonWR · Virginia
#37Carlos Washington Jr.RB · SE Louisiana
#81Theo Wease Jr.WR · Missouri
#2Malik WillisQB · Liberty
#5Jaylen WrightRB · Tennessee
46 players

defense

#23Zayne AndersonS · BYU
#26Alex AustinCB · Oregon State
#22Darrell Baker Jr.CB · Georgia Southern
#35Miles BattleCB · Utah
#51Robert Beal Jr.DE · Georgia
#93Zeek BiggersDT · Georgia Tech
#27Ethan BonnerCB · Stanford
#8JuJu BrentsCB · Kansas State
#20Jordyn BrooksLB · Texas Tech
#43Major BurnsS · LSU
#91Matthew ButlerDT · Tennessee
#90Seth Coleman-LylesDE · Illinois
#97Keith Cooper Jr.DT · Houston
#34Stephen Dix Jr.LB · Arkansas
#25Tyrel DodsonLB · Texas A&M
#29Storm DuckCB · Louisville
#98Clelin FerrellDE · Clemson
#40Willie Gay Jr.LB · Mississippi State
#53Cameron GoodeLB · California
#78Kenneth GrantDT · Michigan
#24A.J. Green IIICB · Oklahoma State
#56Ronnie Harrison Jr.LB · Alabama
#96Alex HuntleyDT · South Carolina
#3Chris JohnsonCB · San Diego State
#32Lonnie Johnson Jr.S · Kentucky
#57Max LlewellynDE · Iowa
#19Kyle LouisLB · Pittsburgh
#33Jason Marshall Jr.CB · Florida
#59Rodney McGrawDE · Western Michigan
#—Jai'Onte' McMillanCB · Minnesota
#41Louis MooreS · Indiana
#17Trey MooreLB · Texas
#95Fatorma MulbahDT · West Virginia
#50David OjaboLB · Michigan
#94Jordan PhillipsDT · Maryland
#58Cam RiceDT · Maryland
#38Cam RileyLB · Florida State
#44Chop RobinsonLB · Penn State
#10Jacob RodriguezLB · Texas Tech
#92Zach SielerDT · Ferris State
#31Michael TaaffeS · Texas
#30Jaheim ThomasLB · Wisconsin
#11Dante Trader Jr.S · Maryland
#9Josh UcheLB · Michigan
#21Marco WilsonCB · Florida
#42Jackson WoodardLB · UNLV
3 players

specialTeam

#46Tucker AddingtonLS · Sam Houston
#47Riley PattersonPK · Memphis
#48Bradley PinionP · Clemson
3 players

injuredReserveOrOut

#65James EsterG · Northern Illinois
#95Rene KongaDT · Louisville
#77Carter WarrenOT · Pittsburgh
0 players

suspended

0 players

practiceSquad

FLSportsDesk.com · The Read

FLSportsDesk.com Briefing

Miami projects to the bottom of the AFC East and near the bottom of the league, with the market pricing a realistic ceiling of four to five wins and nothing in the preseason changing that.

No regular-season standings exist; the 0-2 preseason mark is exhibition noise. The range comes from markets and models: Clay says 2.5 wins, DraftKings says 4.5 with the under favored, and the league-fewest-wins prop pays +350. Buffalo remains the division's class, and Miami's realistic race is escaping fourth place — a race this week's injuries did not help. The futures prices are a month stale and should be treated as such.

The 4.5 win total prices a better floor than Clay's 2.5, so the market range is not literally the league minimum.

September results against Las Vegas and San Francisco — a competitive opening month would reopen the 4.5-win band question.

exhibition context only

AFC East — Preseason

Buffalo Bills2-0-0 · 1.000
New England Patriots1-0-1 · .750
New York Jets1-1-0 · .500
Miami Dolphins0-2-0 · .000

Preseason — exhibition records do not measure regular-season strength.

regular vs exhibition

Season Context

The competitive standings and playoff desk activate after regular-season games begin. Preseason wins and losses are excluded.

FLSportsDesk.com · The Read

FLSportsDesk.com Briefing

Miami's 2025 profile — efficient rushing chained to a stalling passing game and a takeaway-poor defense — explains the teardown, and none of it predicts 2026 results.

The 2025 identity was a run-first offense dragging a bottom-tier passing game: 4.7 yards per rush but 195.4 passing yards per game, a 34.9 percent third-down conversion rate and 18 interceptions thrown against a minus-4 turnover ratio. The defense made 39 sacks but picked off only nine passes. These verified ESPN numbers describe a roster since gutted — they explain the rebuild, not the coming season, and 2026 game data activates only after completed regular-season games.

A 67.2 completion rate and 4.7 yards per rush show real competence in the run game and short passing.

Third-down and red-zone efficiency in the first two or three completed 2026 games as the first real identity test.

verified game data

NFL Performance Lenses

How we read the Dolphins: We start with whether Miami can sustain drives, protect the quarterback, finish in the red zone and prevent explosive plays. Then we check third down, turnovers and opponent quality to see whether the result travels. Only verified regular-season games count, and a single Sunday does not trigger a trend without a season baseline and a second supporting window.

ScoringPoints, drives and red-zone outcomes populate with verified games.
EfficiencyEPA-style context, third downs and explosive plays.
ProtectionSacks, pressures and turnover-worthy outcomes.
DefenseOpponent efficiency, takeaways and money downs.

The desk stays quiet until verified regular-season data gives it something honest to say.

collector status

Source Health

  • ESPN schedule: active
  • ESPN roster: active
  • ESPN standings: active
  • OverTheCap: active
  • Local/RSS + podcasts: active
  • Firecrawl/SearXNG: active
  • FLSportsDesk.com intelligence: active
beat and dedicated sites

Local Coverage + RSS

More reporting (19)
reported analysis · not verification

Podcast Desk

  • Drive Time: August 25 Training Camp Report
    Drive Time with Travis Wingfield · Tue Aug 25, 5:03 PM ET

    The penultimate day of camp was one of ups and downs. Travis describes the day in detail with sound from HC Jeff Hafley, OC Bobby Slowik, OT Patrick Paul and S Zayne Anderson. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info

  • Drive Time: August 24 Training Camp Report
    Drive Time with Travis Wingfield · Mon Aug 24, 3:57 PM ET

    The final week of camp is here. Travis has the final Monday camp report from a light day of work from the Dolphins. Travis talks the rhythm of the offense, a big day for Chris Johnson, some final thoughts from the Giants

  • Drive Time: Dolphins Fall to Giants 26-3
    Drive Time with Travis Wingfield · Sat Aug 22, 9:38 PM ET

    The Dolphins lost the second game of the preseason to the New York Giants. Travis breaks down the game flow, the schematics, and the individual performances. Plus, we’ll hear from Head Coach Jeff Hafley. See omnystudio.c

  • The 2026 Miami Dolphins Training Camp Awards Ceremony
    Locked On Dolphins · Tue Aug 25, 12:00 PM ET

    Miami Dolphins’ 2026 training camp reveals breakout stars and pressing concerns—can Malik Willis unlock this offense’s true potential? Kyle Crabbs hands out camp superlatives, spotlighting Malik Willis as Best Newcomer a

  • A Hitchhiker's Guide To The Miami Dolphins' Week 2 Preseason Tape Against The New York Giants
    Locked On Dolphins · Mon Aug 24, 6:00 AM ET

    Miami Dolphins suffer a 26-3 preseason loss to the New York Giants as Jeff Hafley prioritizes talent evaluation over schemes. Which young prospects are seizing their NFL moment, and who’s struggling to make the 53-man ro

More reporting (4)
  • DOLPHINS SQUAD SHOW: Miami Dolphins Backups Get DOMINATED by NYG in 26-3 Loss | Major Depth Concerns
    Locked On Dolphins · Sat Aug 22, 8:34 PM ET

    The Miami Dolphins' second preseason game delivered far more questions than answers as the New York Giants dominated Miami 26-3 at Hard Rock Stadium. With Malik Willis and most of Miami's established starters held out, t

  • 3YPC-Camp Report 8-25-26
    3 Yards Per Carry · Tue Aug 25, 1:35 PM ET

    CAMP REPORT W/ Alf Arteaga 8-25-26 JOIN OUR @Discord : https://discord.gg/onlyfins VISIT: https://thelowredzone.substack.com/ STORE: https://onlyfins.printify.me/ Brought to you by: @MyBookie https://bit.ly/joinwith3YARD

  • 3YPC-Camp Report 8-24-26
    3 Yards Per Carry · Mon Aug 24, 1:41 PM ET

    CAMP REPORT W/ Alf Arteaga 8-24-26 JOIN OUR @Discord : https://discord.gg/onlyfins VISIT: https://thelowredzone.substack.com/ STORE: https://onlyfins.printify.me/ Brought to you by: @MyBookie https://bit.ly/joinwith3YARD

  • 3YPC-(Camp Talk-WK4) Episode 9.567
    3 Yards Per Carry · Thu Aug 20, 10:00 PM ET

    In this episode, the guys talk about week 4 of *Training Camp*, and look forward to Preseason game #2 against the New York Giants. JOIN OUR @Discord : https://discord.gg/onlyfins VISIT: https://thelowredzone.substack.com

firecrawl-local

Deep Web Pull

More reporting (5)
  • Miami Dolphins Football News, Videos & Scores | Miami Herald
    REPORTED · firecrawl-local

    Follow Miami Dolphins NFL football team news and updates including game highlights, analysis, team recruits, schedule, roster, and draft picks.

  • Miami Dolphins Roster: 2026 Active Players & Injuries
    REPORTED · firecrawl-local

    Explore our Miami Dolphins roster guide for current players, position details, and injury updates, with personnel info kept current all season.

  • Dolphins Transactions | Miami Dolphins - dolphins.com
    REPORTED · firecrawl-local

    Signed quarterback Mark Gronowski and inside linebacker Cam Riley; also placed guard/tackle Jamaree Salyer on the injured reserve list and waived/injured cornerback Ethan Robinson. 08/10 Agreed to terms on a trade with New England to acquire tackle Caedan Wallace and a 2029 seventh-round pick in ...

  • The Miami Dolphins 2026 Roster Reset: New Team, New Era, New Hope
    REPORTED · firecrawl-local

    The Miami Dolphins are armed with a new general manager (GM), new head coach (HC), and 54 new faces. They seek to end the NFL's longest active winless postseason streak of 25 years without a playoff victory. This won't happen overnight for GM Jon‑Eric Sullivan and HC Jeff Hafley, but they are laying a younger foundation. Miami Dolphins Roster Reset The Dolphins started their rebuild with ...

  • Dolphins News Today - Latest Miami Dolphins Updates & Rumors
    REPORTED · firecrawl-local

    Breaking Dolphins news updated every 15 minutes. Latest on Tua Tagovailoa, NFL Draft, game recaps and Dolphins rumors.

build health

Collector Diagnostics

  • No core collector errors.