The Miami Dolphins are under pressure to at least make the playoffs in 2025 for the season to be deemed a success. After guiding the team to the postseason in 2022 and 2023—only to be ousted in the wildcard round both times—head coach Mike McDaniel finds himself in a precarious position after the Dolphins regressed significantly in 2024.

McDaniel started the previous season as one of the NFL’s most promising young coaches, but the league’s dynamics can shift rapidly. In his inaugural season with Miami, McDaniel introduced his dynamic offense, helping the Dolphins sneak into the playoffs with a 9-8 record. The following year, the team improved significantly, ending the regular season with an 11-5 record.

Crucially, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa played every game in 2023 for the first time in his career, performing at a high level, which prompted the Dolphins’ management to grant him a lucrative contract extension ahead of the 2024 season.

In July, Miami placed a significant bet on Tagovailoa, offering him a four-year extension worth $212.4 million, with $167 million guaranteed. During his first two seasons under McDaniel, Tagovailoa ranked second in the NFL for passing yards per attempt (8.5) and passer rating (102.9), fourth in total passing yards (8,172), and fifth in passing touchdowns (54).

It’s clear why the organization decided to invest in the former Alabama quarterback as their franchise player, although his history with injuries, particularly concussions, remains a serious concern. Tagovailoa missed several games due to concussions in his initial three NFL seasons, and after playing every game in 2023, another head injury early in 2024 cast doubts on his career’s viability.

He ended up missing four games, during which Miami’s offense fell to the bottom of the league rankings. By his return, the Dolphins found themselves in a hole too deep to escape, concluding the season with an 8-9 record and missing the playoffs.

Miami hasn’t made any major free agent signings but a few notable additions stand out. Bringing in Zach Wilson provides a dependable backup quarterback in case Tagovailoa is sidelined. They also added running back Alexander Mattison to bolster their backfield and signed wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, who had a breakout year with the Titans last season.

Westbrook-Ikhine ended the 2024 season with 32 receptions for 497 yards and nine touchdowns. He has shown enough potential to possibly become a No. 2 receiver in the NFL, raising questions about whether the Dolphins plan to trade Tyreek Hill and elevate Jaylen Waddle to the No. 1 spot. TWSN predicts the Dolphins will trade Hill to the Chicago Bears, who have been active in free agency by adding protection and weapons for second-year quarterback Caleb Williams.

Once again, the Miami Dolphins failed to meet expectations. Consequently, Tyreek Hill has seemingly reached his peak with the team and is seeking a trade to conclude his career with a franchise that can better utilize his skills. As free agency continues and the second wave of the offseason approaches, the Dolphins haven’t signed enough players to significantly improve upon their 8-9 record from last season.

This could indicate a shift toward a younger strategy, drafting to meet team needs, which might result in trading established players as the offseason unfolds. A key player to watch is Tyreek Hill. The Chicago Bears have been making significant moves in free agency to build around Caleb Williams but have yet to fully address the wide receiver position.

Trading for Hill could fill this gap. Chicago boasts a young, talented receiving corps with DJ Moore and Rome Odunze, but they didn’t perform as expected in 2025. Adding Hill would provide Williams with a speedy downfield threat and the winning experience to help Odunze and Moore develop, potentially forming the league’s best receiving trio. The Bears are on the cusp of being Super Bowl contenders, and Hill could propel them closer to that goal.