Tyreek Hill tops list of Dolphins’ 10 Most Important Players
Credit Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier and coach Mike McDaniel for amassing one of the NFL’s most talent-rich rosters each of the past two years. They’ve truly done a nice job.
I know they haven’t won a playoff game, but the talent is there.
With that in mind, it’s a good time to look at the 10 Most Important Players (not the 10 best players) on the Dolphins roster to help guide free-agency decisions.
Of course, the Dolphins’ roster could change greatly in the next month because free agency begins on March 13.
Until that time, the fact remains the Dolphins have one of the NFL’s most talented rosters.
One key to turning that talent into regular season and playoff victories is ensuring the Most Important Players are healthy and contributing.
Before unveiling my top 10, some honorable mentions (in no particular order): defensive tackle Zach Sieler, linebacker Jerome Baker, safety Jevon Holland, running back Raheem Mostert, quarterback Mike White, cornerback Kader Kohou, kicker Jason Sanders, right guard Rob Hunt, right tackle Austin Jackson and running back De’Von Achane.
Here are the Dolphins’ 10 Most Important Players (by sheer coincidence, five are offensive and five are defensive; five were drafted by the Dolphins and five weren’t drafted by the Dolphins; five were acquired under McDaniel and five were acquired pre-McDaniel):
10. Center Connor Williams: Williams, a converted left guard, was developing into a top-tier center before a knee injury ended his 2023 season. He’ll be costly, perhaps $8 million a year, and you likely can’t afford Williams and Hunt (likely $8-10 million a year), so in this case you keep the more important player over the better player, which means you keep the center and keep your offensive line backbone of left tackle-center-right tackle intact.
9. Edge rusher Jaelan Phillips: Phillips (6.5 sacks) is recovering from a season-ending Achilles injury and there’s a huge rush (pun intended) to get him back to 100%. Aas we’ve seen the past two seasons, the road-challenged Dolphins need at least one home playoff game, and the key to that is a strong regular season, and one critical factor to that is a strong pass rush, and Phillips undoubtedly is a key component to a strong pass rush.
8. Edge rusher Bradley Chubb: Chubb (11.0 sacks) is recovering from a season-ending knee injury, and we can basically repeat the same analysis about Phillips. Having a talented set of edge rushers is vitally important in today’s pass-happy NFL. It’s also a huge advantage. Miami has a potentially fearsome defense with Chubb and Phillips both at 100%.
7. Left tackle Terron Armstead: Armstead missed seven games in 2023 due to various injuries after missing four in 2022. Regardless, Armstead, a two-time Pro Bowl selection in two seasons with Miami, is the Dolphins’ most important offensive lineman because of his roles on and off the field. He’s a high-quality veteran who is a highly-respected tutor for younger players. And considering he’s a left tackle who faces some of the league’s best pass rushers, he’s vitally important.
6. Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins: Wilkins’ importance to the Dolphins has been well-documented. He had a career-best 9.0 sacks in 2023, and a career-best 98 tackles in 2022. Wilkins can be dominant. He’s an emotional leader, someone who talks the talk and walks the walk. He’s also a potential free agent. Franchise tag him. Extend him. Whatever. Just make sure he returns in 2024.
5. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle: Waddle, who had 1,014 yards receiving and four touchdowns last season, is among the league’s most important (and best) No. 2 wide receivers. His role in the Dolphins’ offense is more important than any running back or tight end. This is a passing offense that relies on speed. Without Waddle, the passing game is incredibly lopsided and much easier to defend. Tyreek Hill was wise to call the Waddle trade rumors “ludicrous.”
4. Cornerback Xavien Howard: Howard will cost $25.9 million on the salary cap as things now stand. That must be negotiated down. Howard is a quality, proven veteran who is essential to the team’s success. Granted, he’s an injury risk. But even if you designate him a post-June 1 cut and save about $18 million, the money isn’t available until after June 1, when the vast majority of top free agents are gone. And there’s not an equal replacement on the roster.
3. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa: Tagovailoa, who somewhat surprisingly isn’t the Dolphins’ Most Important Player, established personal bests for games played (17) and passing yards (4,624) but had 14 interceptions in 2023. As the quarterback in a league that relies heavily on QBs, and on a team that relies heavily on its quarterback, you’d think he’d be No. 1 on the list. But the two future Hall of Famers are more important than Tagovailoa, and better at their jobs than anyone else on the roster.
2. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey: Ramsey, a future Hall of Famer, can do it all defensively, and it sounds as though defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver will allow that to happen. If that’s the case, it’d be tough for quarterbacks to avoid Ramsey, the three-time All Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl selection, even if Howard doesn’t return. Ramsey is the Dolphins’ best defensive player, and their most important defensive player. Without him, this defense is only so-so.
1. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill: Hill, another future Hall of Famer, makes this offense feared. He’s the key to the pre-snap motion, speed, big plays and excitement that this dynamic offense provides. We’ve seen what happens when Hill (career-best and franchise-record 1,799 yards receiving and 13 touchdowns last season) is slowed by injury. The offense was never the same after the first half of the Tennessee game when Hill sustained an ankle injury that be battled through the rest of the season and playoffs. And we’ve seen what happens when Hill drops passes or gets so much defensive attention he’s not effective — a big reason they were 1-6 against playoff teams last season and lost by an average score of 32-16.
