The Dolphins walked into the 2025 offseason with a whole lot of uncertainty on their hands—and one glaring weakness that stood out above the rest: their offensive line. That unit was a major reason for the dismal 2024 campaign that saw the Dolphins’ rushing attack rank near the bottom of the NFL. They really had no choice but to fix that. With both guard spots up for grabs and questions surrounding the future of veteran left tackle Terron Armstead, an overhaul was not just needed—it was necessary.
Three weeks into free agency, and the Dolphins still haven’t made the kind of progress that’s getting the job done. League insiders are starting to speak up—and rightly so. They’ve made some moves, but it’s pretty obvious there’s still a lot of work to be done before that line can be considered anything close to solid.
NFL Exec Sounds the Alarm
That recent The Athletic article on AFC teams’ free agency performance really got one NFL executive speaking his mind about Miami’s situation.
“They just don’t have the pieces in place to commit fully to the run game and give Tua the protection he needs,” he said bluntly. “Chicago, on the other hand, made two trades for starting linemen before free agency even started. That’s not the Dolphins’ way of doing things up front.”
You can’t really disagree with that assessment. The Bears have taken a very different approach to their offensive line. They traded for Chiefs OL Joe Thuney and Rams G Jonah Jackson, then signed center Drew Dalman to a three-year, $42 million deal. That should give them one of the league’s top units in 2024.
In contrast, the Dolphins have taken a more cautious approach. Their biggest splash so far? Signing James Daniels, a former Pittsburgh Steeler recovering from an Achilles tear, to a three-year, $24 million deal. Daniels has potential if he can stay healthy—but he’s not a solution to Miami’s problems on his own.
What About Liam Eichenberg?
Another head scratcher was bringing back 2021 2nd round pick Liam Eichenberg on a one year deal. Despite flashes of potential Eichenberg has yet to prove himself as a starter. For a team desperate for stability on the line doubling down on him feels like a gamble not a solution.
Does Adding Daniels Offset Losing Armstead?
If Terron Armstead retires, replacing him won’t be easy. Even if Patrick Paul steps up as a starter, the loss of Armstead would leave a huge hole in leadership and experience on the line. Add that to the unresolved guard situation, and it’s hard to say the Dolphins have improved from last year.
On paper, adding Daniels and subtracting Armstead doesn’t inspire confidence. Yes, Daniels has an upside if he gets back to form, and Paul could surprise some people, but these are big ifs. Until proven otherwise, this line still looks shaky at best.
Draft Day Could Be a Turning Point
If the Dolphins don’t address their offensive line in those first three rounds of the draft, they’ll be making a pretty glaring error. That’s where a player like Georgia’s Tate Ratledge in the second round could really come in handy. Ratledge brings a level of versatility and reliability that would be attractive to Miami if they pass on an offensive lineman in Round 1.
But relying on late-round picks or undrafted free agents to round out the unit is a risk the Dolphins can’t afford to take. They need contributors who can step in right away—not projects that might or might not pan out.
Is This Line Ready for 2025?
Miami’s offensive line is still a major concern heading into the 2025 season. Without some significant reinforcements through the draft, it’s tough to see this group improving enough to support Tua Tagovailoa and elevate the running game.And as any NFL fan knows, you can’t win without a strong O-line.
If Miami doesn’t get that right, their playoff hopes could slip away before the season even starts.
