For the first time in what feels like forever, the Miami Dolphins have a vacancy at general manager.
In October, the Dolphins finally parted ways with Chris Grier, who served as general manager for 10 seasons. In that time, the Dolphins failed to win a single playoff game, and never finished higher than 2nd in the AFC East. But all that is in the past, and the Dolphins are now firmly focused on the future.
Though Champ Kelly currently holds the title of interim general manager, one would assume that owner Stephen Ross will do his due diligence on an outside hire. If recent reports are to be trusted, the Dolphins will have their pick of the bunch. According to Diana Russini of The Athletic, many executives around the league believe Miami’s opening is an “exceptional” opportunity.
Upon first glance, that may seem like a wild statement.
Any incoming general manager would likely be tied to head coach Mike McDaniel, with reports suggesting the Ross wants to keep him through the 2026 season. In the same vein, the Dolphins are unlikely to move on from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa next season. And finally, to make matters worse, the Dolphins are currently projected to have just $5.1 million in cap space in 2026, according to OverTheCap.
In other words, any outside hire would not have his pick of head coach, his pick of quarterback, and would have minimal cap space to make improvements to the roster. So, why exactly is the vacancy so coveted?
Well, a few reasons.
First, the Dolphins have five picks (11th, 43rd, 75th, 78th, 95th) in the top-100 of the 2026 NFL Draft, and are currently projected to pick 11th overall in the first round. These picks could go a long way in rebuilding much of this team’s roster, and on the cheap too.
Second, though the on-field product hasn’t been great, the Dolphins consistently rank among the league’s best in the annual NFLPA Report Cards. These reports cards are submitted by players, and are aimed to provide insight into which organizations are the best off the field. Last season, the Dolphins received an “A” grade in all 11 categories (treatment of families, food, nutrition, locker room, training room, training staff, weight room, strength coaches, travel, head coach, and ownership). In fact, the Dolphins were the #1 overall team in NFL, and Ross was the league’s highest-graded owner.
Third, though Dolphins fans have long wanted to move off Grier, Ross’ patience with Grier is certainly a plus point around the league. At the very least, Ross is willing to take big swings, spend money, and most importantly, be patient. Any new hire will welcome such conditions, considering how many other teams refuse to spend money, or are in the habit of cycling through coaches and general mangers every few years.
So, though there are obvious downsides to Miami’s vacancy at general manager, there are certainly many positives that could be enticing to candidates around the league. It remains to be seen what route Ross decides to take in the offseason, but one thing is clear—the Miami Dolphins will be among the league’s most attractive destinations.
What do you think the Dolphins should do at GM this offseason? Do you agree that it’s good opportunity? Let us know down below!
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