The Miami Dolphins are shaping up to be one of the more intriguing teams to watch as the regular season kicks off in just over a week. While there are plenty of long-term questions the franchise will need to address throughout the season, one issue stands out above the rest: the team’s culture. If Miami wants any shot at success, it must resolve that problem quickly.
“Except this isn’t a one-year issue with Miami. Set aside the iffy football decisions, like Grier’s inability to field a stable offensive line or properly manage high-profile salaries over the course of a nine-year tenure featuring exactly zero playoff victories. Just from a culture perspective, Miami has been the NFL equivalent of an accident — a controversy, a feud, a drama — waiting to happen,” CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin wrote.
Beyond culture, roster moves may soon come into play as well. One potential name on the trade block is Jaelan Phillips, especially with Matthew Judon now joining the Dolphins on a one-year deal. A recent trade prediction suggests Phillips could be shipped to the Philadelphia Eagles.
“The Dolphins edge is in the final year of his rookie deal after Miami picked up the team option for this season after drafting him 18th overall in 2021. That makes this the final year of his deal. Perhaps the Dolphins would take something for him, especially since he hasn’t played much the past two years, answering the call in just 12 of a possible 34 games. Miami just signed Matthew Judon to a one-year deal so maybe they’d be willing to part with Phillips,” SI’s Ed Kracz wrote. “As for the compensation, it wouldn’t be as steep as what it would cost to get Walker, who had 6.5 sacks in eight games two years ago but only one in four last year. His cap charge is $13.2, which is high if he can’t stay healthy, but at least he comes off the books at the end of the season.”
If a deal like this were to go through, it could benefit both sides. The Eagles would further solidify their defensive line depth, while Phillips would get a much-needed change of scenery. When healthy, he’s shown flashes of becoming a high-impact defensive lineman — but durability remains the key concern. If Philadelphia can manage that risk, this trade could pay off.
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