The Miami Dolphins have become one of the most scrutinized teams heading into the 2025 season. No matter where you look, analysts aren’t impressed with how the roster is shaping up.
There are questions about whether Tua Tagovailoa can remain healthy for an entire season and return to his Pro Bowl form from two years ago. Tyreek Hill, now 31, is another question mark, with many wondering if his best days are behind him. All of this connects directly to head coach Mike McDaniel, who enters the season firmly on the hot seat.
Neither Tagovailoa nor Hill made Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox’s “bust” list for 2025. That designation went instead to the Dolphins’ newest addition at safety: Minkah Fitzpatrick.
“Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is highly unlikely to flat-out bust for the Miami Dolphins in 2025. The five-time Pro Bowler is a quality starter who was on the field for the Pittsburgh Steelers in all 17 games last season,” Knox wrote.
“However, Fitzpatrick also came to Miami as part of a trade that sent cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith to Pittsburgh. He’ll need to play extremely well to bring a sense of balance to the exchange, and the 28-year-old simply hasn’t been as impactful in recent years.
“Fitzpatrick had just one interception over the past two seasons and allowed an opposing passer rating of 127.6 in coverage last season.”
Depending on who you ask, the Dolphins’ blockbuster trade with the Steelers is a toss-up.
“Gotta say, and Dolphins fans will not agree, but Chris Grier turned a terrible situation in which everyone knew he HAD TO trade Ramsey and gets back a younger player the organization (minus Brian Flores) loved years ago is salvaging the situation,” OutKick’s Armando Salguero said. “The Dolphins could be winning this trade.”
“This trade sent away the Dolphins’ leading pass catcher from 2024 and one of its most talented defenders,” NFL.com’s Ed Edholm wrote. “The lack of depth at certain spots has to really worry McDaniel.”
The trade essentially amounted to a swap between Ramsey and Fitzpatrick. But Fitzpatrick, who will make $17.6 million this season, posted his worst defensive grade since his rookie season in 2018 — a 65.2 mark, per Pro Football Focus. He also previously forced his way out of Miami, although that was during the Brian Flores era.
Still, Fitzpatrick’s adjustment back in Miami will be one of the more intriguing storylines to watch this fall.