The Miami Dolphins made youth a priority in the 2025 offseason. While the team had the oldest roster in the NFL last year, the Dolphins have the ninth youngest squad this season.
The departure of experienced players like Jalen Ramsey, Calais Campbell, and Terron Armstead is part of the reason experts are bearish on the Dolphins’ chances at being a contender in 2025.
But here are three bold predictions for the Dolphins this season with an emphasis on youth stepping up and showing out:
Jaylen Waddle outperforms Tyreek Hill
Both Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle had lackluster seasons in 2024, partly due to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa missing six games. Hill recorded his lowest touchdown total since his rookie season with six and posted just 959 receiving yards, his lowest since 2019. Waddle also experienced a down year, recording career lows in all major receiving categories while missing two games due to injury.
Heading into 2025, Hill must regain Tagovailoa’s trust after removing himself from Miami’s final regular-season game in January. His public comments about his future with the Dolphins led to him losing his captaincy and has some convinced he’ll be trade fodder later this season.
Waddle, who signed an extension last season, is being paid like a top-tier receiver, and this could and should be the year he overtakes Hill. His chemistry with Tagovailoa, dating back to their collegiate days at Alabama, is strong. At 26 years old, five years younger than Hill, Waddle is poised to take the next step in his career with a bounce-back season.
Hill, meanwhile, is dealing with off-field issues and injuries, including a lingering wrist problem from last season and a current oblique concern. There’s also the unavoidable battle with Father Time for the 31-year-old receiver.
Chop Robinson leads the Dolphins in sacks
The Dolphins’ formidable group of edge rushers, includes veterans Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips, who are both returning from major injuries. Miami also added free agent Matt Judon to the mix. That trio has combined for 134.5 sacks in the NFL.
However, it’s 22-year-old Chop Robinson who should have opposing offenses most worried. With Chubb sidelined for the entire 2024 season and Phillips lost in Week 4, Robinson emerged as a dangerous threat in the latter half of last season.
After getting off to a slow start with zero sacks in September and October, Robinson recorded more quarterback pressures in the second half of the 2024 season than every NFL player other than perennial Pro Bowler Micah Parsons.
With a deep defensive line creating opportunities and defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver likely moving him around the front seven, Robinson should hit double-digit sacks in his sophomore campaign and lead the team in that category.
Ollie Gordon leads the Dolphins in rushing touchdowns
The Dolphins enter the season with a potentially dynamic backfield. Dual-threat De’Von Achane led all NFL running backs in receptions and receiving yards last year, a trend expected to continue in 2025.
For now, sixth-round rookie Ollie Gordon has the primary backup role after veteran Alexander Mattison suffered a season-ending injury in preseason and second-year back Jaylen Wright required a procedure that currently has him sidelined. While Gordon is still listed third on the depth chart, a strong preseason performance showed he’s capable of handling the Dolphins’ goal-line work.
Gordon is well set up to assume a role similar to Raheem Mostert’s in 2023, when Achane was a rookie. While Achane is capable of running between the tackles, his skill set is better suited for outside runs and receiving duties. Gordon, on the other hand, has showcased a tough, physical running style this summer, making him the likelier option for short-yardage situations.
Two years ago, Mostert led the NFL in rushing touchdowns with 18. If Gordon proves reliable at punching the ball into the end zone, he could rack up big numbers too.
