Despite a few unanticipated hiccups, Mike McDaniel’s second season with the Miami Dolphins appeared to be a positive move in the right direction.
The Dolphins saw a two-game improvement in 2023, but they regrettably placed second in the AFC East and lost to the Buffalo Bills once more. Even yet, the Dolphins’ record of wins and second-place finish were sufficient to bring them back into the postseason. However, it was another swift departure, as they lost to the eventual AFC Champions in the Wild Card Round. Since 2000, they have still failed to win a postseason game.
As McDaniel enters his third season, it’s clear that he wants to improve and earn Miami’s share of the championship as well as perhaps even more. However, in order for the club to have a successful season the following year, that will begin with an examination of the squad’s most pressing requirements during the 2024 NFL offseason. Now, let’s examine.
Eliminate players or rework agreements to reset the pay cap.
According to Spotrac, the Dolphins are about $52 million above the NFL’s anticipated 2024 salary ceiling. That is the second-worst team in the league, right behind the New Orleans Saints. Probably in order to try to rebuild their club for the following season, they’ll need to shed anywhere from $65 to $100 million during the 2024 offseason, whether that’s through present players
After finishing his 11th season, would 32-year-old Terron Armstead decide to hang up his boots? A long list of ailments plagued Armstead in 2023, which was reportedly common in the Dolphins dressing room this season. Armstead started just 10 games.
In the unlikely event that Armstead chose not to retire, the Dolphins would be guaranteed $14.2 million. The Dolphins are probably out of luck with another restructuring because his contract was previously reworked to free up salary money the previous season.
Thus, the Dolphins have to decide whether to maintain Armstead, an old and damaged left tackle, or cut salary space. or go out and try to get another since Armstead’s backup this season, Kendall Lamm, is also a free agent in 2024.
Choosing whether or not Tua Tagovailoa is the right man
The Dolphins’ season ended with a 0-3 record and an average of just 13.3 points per game. With five interceptions for every four touchdowns, the starting quarterback for the Dolphins concluded three games with passer ratings of 71.9, 62.7, and 63.9. In two of those contests, he passed for fewer than 200 yards.
Well, you can partially attribute it to the Dolphins’ string of injuries in the latter stages of the season, but Tagovailoa’s poor play—which included an interception on a drive that was meant to tie the game and win the division—certainly didn’t help.
The crucial choice then becomes whether to sign Tagovailoa to a new, long-term contract or let him play out his fifth-year option. It would seem sense for Miami to go ahead and sign the long-term contract, which would protect them from a $23.2 million cap charge and secure their quarterback, if they have faith in Tagovailoa. Re-signing him with a two-year option may lower the cap impact to perhaps less than $10 million, at least for the first season, depending on the terms of the agreement.
