The Real Issue with Chris Grier’s Dolphins Strategy
The last time Dolphins GM Chris Grier spoke to the media, it was a whirlwind of random thoughts and unexpected takes. He criticized Tua Tagovailoa for not protecting his body, oddly pointed out the loss of a backup-level lineman (Kion Smith) as a major blow, and even dropped an expletive over Zach Sieler and De’Von Achane missing the Pro Bowl.
But what he Didn’t say has been nagging at me ever since.
For months now, it’s become clear that Miami isn’t addressing two major issues:
1) Building dominance in the trenches.
2) Being more cautious with injury-prone players.
When asked about competing with cold-weather powerhouses like the Chiefs, Bills, and Ravens, Grier should have talked about strengthening the offensive and defensive lines. Instead, he brought up Buffalo’s 61-yard game-winning field goal and blamed Miami’s struggles on “self-inflicted wounds.” While fair, that doesn’t explain 24 years of playoff failures.
And when questioned about Miami’s habit of signing players with injury histories who then inevitably get hurt he should have admitted they need to be more careful. Instead, he shrugged it off, saying injuries are a “100%” part of football.
A Confusing Offseason Moves Miami Backward
Fast forward to now, and the Dolphins’ offseason moves make those answers even more concerning.
Instead of beefing up their defensive line, they lost Calais Campbell (ranked the NFL’s 4th-best interior defender last year) and still haven’t replaced him. Instead of ensuring Terron Armstead sticks around, the team seems to be preparing for life without him despite no clear plan at left tackle.
They re-signed Benito Jones, a defensive lineman with consistently poor performance grades. They added Larry Borom, a tackle who gave up seven sacks last season. At guard, they made a solid signing in James Daniels but are still rolling with Liam Eichenberg, hoping someone better magically appears.
Meanwhile, Miami’s new defensive signings safeties Ifeatu Melifonwu and Ashtyn Davis have missed a combined 47 games over the past seven seasons. Even their former teams immediately mentioned injuries when discussing them.
Can the Dolphins Fix This Before It’s Too Late?
Miami still has a chance to salvage its trenches, but they’ll need to:
– Draft a defensive lineman who can immediately start next to Zach Sieler.
– Convince Armstead to return (if he’s even willing).
– Find a starting-level guard (which is tricky given the thin free-agent market).
– Add depth to the defensive line.
The problem? They only have one pick in the first round (13th overall) and will likely need to fill multiple holes with their second- and third-round picks (48th and 98th). Given Miami’s mixed track record with mid-round picks, that’s a risky bet.
Grier seems to believe Miami doesn’t need a major shift in strategy, but after a decade of playoff failures, that approach hasn’t gotten them very far. Maybe this year will be different. Maybe Miami shocks everyone. But so far, nothing about this offseason suggests that real change is happening.
Grier’s Last Dolphins Press Conference Left a Troubling Impression
