Bengals Likely In For Quiet Trade Deadline
Sitting in second place in a winnable AFC North, the 3-5 Bengals let an opportunity to make up ground on the division-leading Steelers slip away last week. Hours before the Steelers fell to 4-3 against the Packers on Sunday night, the Bengals dropped a 39-38 shootout to the Jets, who entered the game 0-7.
The Bengals will have a chance to bounce back Sunday against the Bears in their last game before Tuesday’s trade deadline. Despite dealing with an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder, quarterback Joe Flacco is expected to start.
Regardless of the outcome against Chicago, it appears the Bengals are in for a quiet deadline. They’re “highly unlikely to make a move” to bring in more outside talent after already acquiring Flacco from the Browns last month, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. The Bengals also received a sixth-round pick in the Flacco deal, but they parted with a fifth-rounder in return.
The team took a flier on Flacco in a season-saving effort after losing starter Joe Burrow to a toe injury and seeing backup signal-caller Jake Browning perform poorly in his place. Cincinnati is “extremely hesitant to ever surrender future picks,” Dehner writes, making it unlikely that it will cough up even more draft capital in the next few days.
On paper, a loss to the Bears could make the Bengals more likely to sell. With that in mind, superstar pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, linebacker Logan Wilson, and cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt are on the radar of contending teams. The Rams, 49ers, Lions, Colts, and Eagles are among the clubs that have made calls on those players, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. It appears they’ll have to look elsewhere, though.
Hendrickson is a pending free agent who would bring back a quality return in a trade, but Dehner dismisses the possibility of the Bengals dealing him. They’ve shown no willingness to punt a season in early November to acquire future draft choices, per Dehner. That would rule out a Hendrickson trade.
The Bengals have at least given some consideration to parting with Wilson, Albert Breer of SI.com relays. With rookies Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter eating into his playing time, Wilson requested a deal out of Cincinnati last week. He’s probably not going to get his way, though, with Dehner pointing to his pricey contract (he’s under wraps through 2027 on a four-year, $36MM extension) and his role in the Bengals’ defense as reasons why he’ll stay put. There’s a better chance of the Bengals getting rid of Wilson after the season than during it.
Like Hendrickson and Wilson, Dehner expects Taylor-Britt to finish the season in Cincinnati. The free agent-to-be was a healthy scratch in a win over the Steelers in Week 7, but he returned to play 76% of defensive snaps against the Jets. The Bengals still value him as their No. 3 corner over their options.
While a Burrow return sometime in December would be a best-case scenario, the Bengals will likely need to stay in the playoff race for that to become a realistic possibility. For better or worse, it doesn’t appear that their roster will undergo any significant changes in the meantime.
Panthers Activate G Chandler Zavala Off IR
NOVEMBER 1: Carolina will, in fact, see Zavala return at an opportune moment as the Panthers activated him from injured reserve today. Considering Christensen was placed on IR shortly after suffering his Achilles injury, Zavala should have the opportunity to step right back into the position that Christensen had been filling for him.
In order make space on the 53-man roster, the Panthers released veteran running back DeeJay Dallas, who had been inactive in two games since Hubbard’s return to health. Carolina also announced that it would call up outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon as a standard gameday practice squad elevation.
OCTOBER 29: The Panthers’ offensive line took a hit when guard Brady Christensen suffered an Achilles injury in a loss to the Bills in Week 8. While Christensen may miss the rest of the season, the Panthers could welcome back guard Chandler Zavala in the next three weeks. The Panthers opened Zavala’s practice window on Wednesday, giving them 21 days to activate him from IR.
Zavala has mostly served as a backup in Carolina since the team used a fourth-round pick on the former NC State blocker in 2023. He opened this season in a reserve role before right guard Robert Hunt tore his left biceps in Week 2. With Hunt on IR, Zavala started back-to-back games. However, Zavala sustained a knee injury in Week 4, forcing him to join Hunt on the shelf.
The Panthers are dealing with other injuries along their line, including to center Cade Mays (ankle) and right tackle Taylor Moton (knee). It’s unclear if they’ll play this Sunday against the Packers and their Micah Parsons-led defensive front. Likewise, Zavala may not be ready for an immediate return to the lineup. Alongside Damien Lewis, the Panthers’ starting left guard, Austin Corbett, Jake Curhan, and Nick Samac could all be candidates to fill in the interior of a banged-up line this week.
Regardless of who’s doing the blocking in Week 9, it appears running back Rico Dowdle will take on a larger role. With Dowdle off to an excellent start this year, Panthers head coach Dave Canales said the Panthers are considering a heavier workload for him (via David Newton of ESPN).
Previously with the Cowboys, Dowdle signed a one-year deal with the Panthers last offseason to work behind starter Chuba Hubbard. While Dowdle was a 1,000-yard rusher last year, he has found another gear this season. The 27-year-old has already piled up 605 yards on 106 carries (5.7 YPC). He combined for a franchise-record 473 total yards (389 rushing, 84 receiving) during wins in Weeks 5 and 6. Hubbard missed those games with a calf injury.
Dowdle has seen less action since Hubbard returned, though he still combined for a strong 133 yards on 25 rushes during the Panthers’ previous two games. Hubbard, on the other hand, totaled just 65 yards on 26 carries in that same stretch. The 26-year-old has averaged an underwhelming 3.6 yards on 79 carries this season.
Although Hubbard is seemingly in line for fewer touches, the Panthers “don’t want to move” him before the Nov. 4 trade deadline, Joseph Person of The Athletic writes. With Hubbard in the early stages of an 1,195-yard, 10-touchdown rushing season in 2024, the Panthers signed him to a four-year, $33.2MM extension last November. He’s earning a $4MM guaranteed salary this year and has another $4.5MM guaranteed in 2026.
A talent evaluator with another team told Person that it may be hard for the Panthers to find someone to take Hubbard’s contract while also surrendering a draft pick to acquire him. With Hubbard an important part of the Panthers’ culture, they’re content to keep him as a complement to Dowdle. If Dowdle leaves as a free agent in the offseason, Hubbard could reclaim the No. 1 role in 2026.
Cardinals To Start QB Jacoby Brissett In Week 9
After he missed back-to-back games with a foot injury, it appeared that Cardinals starting quarterback Kyler Murray would return Monday in Dallas. That will not be the case, however, as head coach Jonathan Gannon announced on Saturday that Jacoby Brissett will start in Week 9. (via ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss).
Murray suffered a version of a Lisfranc injury in a Week 5 loss to the Titans. A Week 8 bye was not enough for the former No. 1 pick to get back to game-readiness, so his veteran backup will get the nod for the third game in a row.
“He’s just not ready to go yet,” Gannon said of Murray, clarifying that his absence is purely health-related.
Gannon also indicated that Murray could still have a “role” on Monday, but that seems to be as more of an emergency option, according to team reporter Darren Urban. Kedon Slovis is the only other QB on the Cardinals’ roster.
A stint on injured reserve is not under consideration at the moment, meaning Murray may be ready for a Week 10 meeting with the NFC West rival Seahawks. Though the Cardinals have lost both of their games without Murray, they went 2-3 in his starts and Brissett has outpaced him statistically.
Murray has completed 68.3% of attempts with six touchdowns against three interceptions this year, but his 6.0 YPA and 88.6 passer rating have underwhelmed. The dual threat has added 173 yards (6.0 YPC) and another touchdown on the ground. Brissett, meanwhile, helped the Cardinals put up fights against high-level opponents in the Colts and Packers over the previous couple of weeks. He combined to go 52-for-80 (65%) for 599 yards, four touchdowns, and a pick, also chipping in 47 rushing yards on 10 attempts.
So far, the Cardinals have gotten plenty of bang from their buck from Brissett since signing him to a two-year, $12.5MM contract in free agency last offseason. The journeyman will have a chance to impress again while facing a Dallas team that ranks 31st in pass defense and and points per game allowed. The Brissett-led Cardinals will look to take advantage of that and snap a five-game losing streak. Remarkably, all of their defeats have come by four or fewer points.
Connor Byrne contributed to this post.
Raiders Rumors: Meyers, Stokes, JPJ
The Raiders have placed a high asking price on wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, but that hasn’t stopped other teams from inquiring about his availability before Tuesday’s trade deadline. Buffalo and Pittsburgh (previously reported) are among the teams that have called Las Vegas, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.
Although Meyers will be a free agent after the season, the Raiders are seeking a Day 2 draft pick in return for the soon-to-be 29-year-old. Meyers set career highs with 87 catches, 129 targets, and 1,027 yards during a four-touchdown showing in 2024. His numbers have dipped this year with new starting quarterback Geno Smith running the offense. Six games into his season, Meyers has hauled in 29 of 43 targets for 329 yards and gone without a TD.
Despite Meyers’ drop in production, it’s hardly a shock that the Bills and Steelers have checked in on him ahead of deadline day. Both AFC contenders have been aggressively seeking wideouts.
Outside of slot target Khalil Shakir, Bills receivers have failed to step up. Meanwhile, the Steelers are lacking a proven WR2 behind D.K. Metcalf. The Bills ($1.67MM) and Steelers ($5.89MM) are low in available spending space, meaning either would have to get creative to add Meyers. He’s playing out the year on a $10.5MM base salary and a $14.962MM cap hit.
Aside from Meyers, Raiders cornerback Eric Stokes and guard Jackson Powers-Johnson have also drawn interest, according to Albert Breer of SI.com. Stokes is a pending free agent on a last-place team, but the Raiders have told inquiring clubs that they’re uninterested in trading him. The former Packer joined the Raiders on a one-year deal last March and has started in all six of his appearances this year. Stokes is second among Raiders cornerbacks in snap share, while Pro Football Focus ranks his performance a solid 38th among 113 qualifiers at his position.
The Raiders may be more amenable to moving Powers-Johnson, per Breer. While he’s not far removed from going in the second round of the 2024 draft, that was under the previous regime of general manager Tom Telesco and head coach Antonio Pierce.
A former Oregon Duck, Powers-Johnson won the Rimington Trophy as the best center in college football in 2023. Working at center and guard as a rookie last year, he started in 14 of 15 appearances. Powers-Johnson’s role has changed this season under new head coach Pete Carroll, who has used him exclusively at guard. The 22-year-old has started in five of six games, but Carroll benched him for Alex Cappa in a 31-0 loss to the Chiefs in Week 7. With the Raiders coming out of their bye and set to face the Jaguars on Sunday in their last game before the deadline, Powers-Johnson’s usage will be worth monitoring.
Colts Eyeing Pass Rush, CB Upgrades
With an elite, well-rounded offense, Colts general manager Chris Ballard is looking to upgrade their defense before next week’s trade deadline.
Specifically, Indianapolis is checking on available pass rushers and outside cornerbacks, per ESPN’s Stephen Holder.
There is no clear need to upgrade their offense. Jonathan Taylor and the offensive line have created an elite rushing attack, and Daniel Jones has three pass catchers with at least 55.0 yards per game (Michael Pittman, Alec Pierce, and Tyler Warren) and the team could ask more of Josh Downs and Adonai Mitchell if needed.
As a result, the Colts will direct their pre-deadline attention toward a defense that has benefitted from a dominant offense and significant turnover luck. Indianapolis has allowed the sixth-fewest points in the league but the ninth-most yards, mostly through the air due to their offense consistently building leads. 16.6% of their opponents’ drives have ended in a turnover, which ranks third among all defenses, but that figure may not be sustainable for the whole season.
Upgrading their pass defense, therefore, could be important for the rest of the year as well as the postseason. The Colts’ pass rush has been solid despite an individually dominant player. The team ranks among the top five defenses in sacks and quarterback hits, so a trade may not make sense unless it is a tangible upgrade to their current rotation. So far, they have not made much progress in acquiring such a player. Indianapolis has been linked to Trey Hendrickson, who would certainly offer a major boost to the pass rush, but the Bengals don’t appear to have interest in dealing him.
The cornerback market has largely consistent of slot defenders so far: Jarvis Brownlee was moved in September, while Michael Carter and Roger McCreary joined new teams in the last week. The Colts, however, need more help on the boundary with Charvarius Ward on injured reserve and a rash of other injuries to a group that was already thin entering the season.
Indianapolis did activate Jaylon Jones and promoted Cameron Mitchell to the 53-man roster on Saturday, but only two other cornerbacks on the active roster – Johnathan Edwards and Mekhi Blackmon – consistently line up outside. Kenny Moore and Chris Lammons primarily play in the slot. Again, this could be a situation where the Colts’ preferred player is not available or too pricey, but they may be inclined to at least add some depth before Tuesday’s trade deadline elapses.
Tony Pollard, T’Vondre Sweat Among Titans Drawing Trade Interest
The Titans swung a noteworthy deal earlier this week in sending cornerback Roger McCreary to the Rams. With the 1-7 club potentially lining up for a fire sale, more players could follow McCreary out of Tennessee before Tuesday’s trade deadline.
Running back Tony Pollard and defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat are among the Titans generating the most interest around the NFL, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. The previously reported pass-rushing duo of Arden Key and Dre’Mont Jones are also on teams’ radars, per Russini. Albert Breer of SI.com adds tight end Chig Okonkwo to the list of Titans who have drawn interest.
With rookie quarterback and No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward at the helm, the Titans will “be careful about further gutting certain areas of the roster,” Breer writes. Having already fired head coach Brian Callahan last month, the Titans don’t want to further risk stunting Ward’s development. Trading Pollard and/or Okonwko would subtract from Ward’s weapons, though neither player has put up big numbers on a last-ranked offense this year.
Pollard, a former Cowboy, is in the second season of a three-year, $21MM deal he signed in March 2024. Previous Titans general manager Ran Carthon was at the controls then. The current regime of president of football operations Chad Brinker and GM Mike Borgonzi may be willing to part with Pollard, which would leave Tyjae Spears as the Titans’ No. 1 back. While Pollard is due to count $9.25MM against the salary cap in 2026, the Titans or another team could release him in the offseason and save $7.25MM.
After turning in his third straight 1,000-yard showing in 2024, Pollard has rushed for 424 yards and two touchdowns on a career-low 3.9 YPC this season. The 28-year-old also entered 2025 with four straight seasons of at least 39 receptions under his belt. With 18 catches through eight games this year, he’s on a similar pace.
Kansas City, New England, and the Los Angeles Chargers are among contending teams that are reportedly in the market for running backs. Pollard could be of interest to those clubs as a prominent name in a thin market for RBs, especially if they deem the Jets’ asking price for Breece Hall prohibitive.
Okonwko, 26, has been a mainstay in Tennessee’s lineup since the team used a fourth-round pick on him in 2022. While the former Maryland Terrapin has played in 59 straight games since his pro career began, a trip to free agency is looming in the offseason. The Titans could move on via trade before then, leaving an acquiring team to take on the remainder of Okonkwo’s $3.41MM salary. Okonkwo leads the Titans with 27 receptions this season, putting him on pace for his third straight 50-catch campaign, but they have a successor in fourth-round rookie Gunnar Helm.
It’s fair to say Sweat would command the largest return of any of the Titans’ potential trade candidates. The 2024 second-rounder from Texas started in 16 of 17 games as a rookie and logged 51 tackles and a sack. An ankle injury has limited Sweat to three games (all starts) this year, but the 366-pounder is now healthy. He has already notched a personal-best two sacks in 2025.
The Titans, who understandably aren’t in any hurry to move on from Sweat, “would like to see if a new staff can reach him,” Breer writes. Interim head coach Mike McCoy replaced Callahan, but it’s unlikely the Titans will promote him to the full-time job after the season. If that’s the case, and if Tennessee keeps Sweat, a different Titans staff will be in charge of getting the most out of him in 2026.
Colts Activate CB Jaylon Jones From IR
NOVEMBER 1: The Colts activated Jones from IR ahead of their Week 9 matchup with the Steelers, per a team announcement. They also promoted cornerback Cameron Mitchell from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. Both will provide some much-needed depth on the boundary.
To make room on the active roster, Indianapolis waived linebacker Chad Muma and safety Trey Washington, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.
OCTOBER 22: Even at 6-1, the Colts have been dealt a bad hand at cornerback. They have seen each of their top four options go down with significant injuries, with one of whom — third-round rookie Justin Walley — lost for the season.
Indianapolis lost Kenny Moore to an early-season injury, though the slot ace returned in Week 7. The team also placed Charvarius Ward on IR due to a strange pregame incident that resulted in a concussion. This has forced the team’s hand at all three CB spots. Though, Indy could have a reinforcement back soon.
The Colts are opening Jaylon Jones‘ practice window, according to ESPN.com’s Stephen Holder. This will give Jones three weeks to be activated. The Colts could certainly use the starter back sooner, with Ward guaranteed to miss at least three more games.
Jones has been battling the same hamstring injury since training camp. Missing much of the Colts’ summer work, the third-year cornerback aggravated the injury during the team’s season opener. He has been on the shelf since. This has not been a pattern for Jones, who became a key player after injuries did become a trend for JuJu Brents. The former second-round pick’s issues staying healthy opened the door for Jones — a 2023 seventh-rounder — to work as a starter.
The Colts waived Brents before the season, having used Jones as a 17-game starter last season. With Jones having missed so much time during Lou Anarumo‘s first offseason in charge, the Colts signed Xavien Howard and plugged him into their starting lineup immediately. Howard did not fare well and abruptly retired, preceding Za’Darius Smith with a surprise early-season exit. With Howard also out of the picture, the Colts have used Mekhi Blackmon and rookie UDFA Johnathan Edwards as boundary starters.
Pro Football Focus graded Jones 49th among CB regulars in 2024. The Colts are looking for more help on defense, potentially in the secondary as injuries pile up, but they will likely have Jones ready to contribute to this bounce-back season soon.
Bills Rumors: Defensive Tackles, Olave
Although the Bills pulled off a dominant 40-9 win against the Panthers last week, they didn’t escape Carolina unscathed. The Bills lost their top defensive tackle and one of their most important players, Ed Oliver, to a torn biceps. In a best-case scenario, Oliver will return sometime during the postseason. That’s assuming the 5-2 Bills, who trail the division-leading Patriots in the AFC East, earn a playoff berth.
Oliver’s injury was the latest (and costliest) shot to the interior of the Bills’ defense. They were already thin at D-tackle before Oliver went down. DeWayne Carter suffered a season-ending torn Achilles in the preseason, T.J. Sanders went on IR with a knee injury on Oct. 11, and DaQuan Jones will miss his third straight game Sunday with a calf issue.
With two starters (Oliver and Jones) and a pair of reserves (Carter and Sanders) unavailable, fourth-round rookie Deone Walker, Larry Ogunjobi, and Jordan Phillips are the only healthy tackles on the Bills’ active roster. Zion Logue, who has already received the maximum of three standard gameday elevations this year, and Phidarian Mathis represent experienced options on the practice squad. Either could play in this week’s all-important clash with the Chiefs, though the Bills will have to sign Logue to their active roster if they plan on using him.
Thanks to their injury woes at the position, the Bills are “taking a hard look at what’s out there at defensive tackle,” Albert Breer of SI.com writes. The Jets’ Harrison Phillips (a former Bill) and the Browns’ Maliek Collins have been mentioned as potential fits for Buffalo.
Tuesday’s trade deadline is fast approaching, leaving Bills general manager Brandon Beane little time to find outside help to improve his team’s last-ranked run defense. The Bills also have other areas to address – including at wide receiver and safety – and under $2MM in available cap space. It’s a less-than-ideal situation for Beane.
In clear need of an upgrade at boundary receiver, the Bills have recently inquired about the Saints’ Chris Olave, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. However, Russini is the latest to note that the Saints are expected to retain Olave, who’s under team control through 2026 on a fifth-year option. Barring a 180 from the Saints, Olave teaming with Bills quarterback Josh Allen looks unlikely to happen.
Giants Rebuffing Trade Interest In OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux; First-Round Asking Price Set
NOVEMBER 1: The Giants “do not plan to move” Thibodeaux, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. Teams who have reached out have been informed of a first-round pick asking price. That may cause interest in Thibodeaux to dry up; after 11.5 sacks in 2023, he has only eight in 20 starts since the beginning of the 2024 season.
OCTOBER 28: Abdul Carter‘s arrival at No. 3 overall drew immediate speculation about Kayvon Thibodeaux‘s long-term place in New York. The Giants, however, picked up the 2022 first-rounder’s fifth-year option soon after. Thibodeaux, Carter and Brian Burns have coexisted this season.
Burns and Carter, however, are tied to long-term deals. Thibodeaux is signed beyond 2025, thanks to the option guaranteeing his 2026 salary ($14.75MM), but natural questions persist about his Big Apple future around the league. This has led to trade interest, according to veteran insider Jordan Schultz.
At least a few teams have inquired, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo, but the Giants are rebuffing interest at this point. The Giants took this approach last year, declining trade offers for Azeez Ojulari and Darius Slayton. Both players were pending free agents. The team did not circle back to Ojulari with a re-signing, but it did retain Slayton on a three-year, $36MM deal.
Thibodeaux has started all eight Giants games this season, registering 2.5 sacks, five tackles for loss and nine QB hits. Carter has played as a backup, but the Giants are still using the Penn State product on 71% of their defensive plays. That nearly matches Thibodeaux’s usage rate (73%). Burns remains the team’s pass rush anchor, and he is enjoying a strong season. Burns’ 10 sacks lead the NFL; his 76% usage rate paces New York’s edge-rushing contingent.
The Giants do have a rookie salary at quarterback for the first time since 2022, and Jaxson Dart‘s terms will allow for roster flexibility that did not exist during the ill-fated Daniel Jones second contract. Jones is still on the Giants’ 2025 payroll, covering $22.2MM. Next year, however, no more Jones money is on the team’s books. That will create more room, though it remains to be seen if the Giants will entertain Thibodeaux extension talks now that Carter is under contract.
No known Thibodeaux talks transpired this offseason; even before the Carter pick, Thibodeaux did not expect them to commence. After an 11.5-sack 2023, the Oregon product missed five games in 2024 and totaled 5.5 sacks. With Carter now on the team and Burns tied to second-tier money (after this year’s EDGE market boom), the Giants have let this situation play out. If they hold onto Thibodeaux beyond the trade deadline, offseason trade rumors figure to follow as well. For now, though, the Giants’ formidable Burns-Thibodeaux-Carter-Dexter Lawrence quartet is expected to remain in place through at least season’s end.
Dolphins, GM Chris Grier Part Ways; HC Mike McDaniel To Finish Season
After more than two decades with the Dolphins, general manager Chris Grier is out. The sides are mutually parting ways, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
Grier had been in place as Miami’s GM since 2016 but had only held full autonomy since 2019. Both he and Mike McDaniel were believed to be on shaky ground this season, and a 2-7 start will lead the veteran front office boss out of the picture. The Dolphins are retaining McDaniel through season’s end, according to Schefter.
[RELATED: Fallout From Dolphins’ Grier-McDaniel Split]
“This morning, I made the decision along with general manager Chris Grier to mutually part ways. I have incredible respect for Chris and his family, and I want to thank him for his many contributions to the Miami Dolphins over the past 26 years,” Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said.
“As I assessed the state of the team and in my discussions with Chris, it became clear to both of us that change could not wait. We must improve — in 2025, 2026 and beyond — and it needs to start right now.”
Former Raiders interim GM Champ Kelly is back in that role, per Schefter. The Dolphins installing Kelly as their interim FO boss comes at a key point. He will be at the wheel as the Dolphins consider selling key pieces from their struggling team. Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb are known trade candidates, and it is worth wondering if this shakeup will lead to the Dolphins listening on Jaylen Waddle — something they have not been doing thus far ahead of the Tuesday deadline.
The Dolphins had been viewed as reluctant to sell thus far, with NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero indicating the team had brushed off trade calls in hopes of a turnaround. With Grier and McDaniel clinging to their jobs ahead of Week 9, the Dolphins stood in a curious position at the deadline. With decision-makers having no incentive to make the team worse, the team had held off. It can be expected, with Kelly having far looser ties to the roster, the Dolphins will be more open for business now.
Grier hired McDaniel in 2022, doing so after the Dolphins chose their GM over HC Brian Flores — in a firing that preceded a highly publicized lawsuit from the three-year Miami sideline boss. But the duo was not viewed as a package deal heading into this season. Grier had made a host of shaky contract decisions in recent years, and while McDaniel is also on the hot seat, the HC will survive for the time being.
The 55-year-old exec had been with the Dolphins since 2000, having come up through the scouting ranks. The Dolphins hired Grier after a six-year tenure with the Patriots. In 2016, the team promoted him to the GM level. But Mike Tannenbaum still held the hammer as executive VP. That changed after the 2018 season, as Grier’s promotion keyed Tannenbaum’s exit.
A radical rebuild — one that came with tanking allegations from Flores against Ross — commenced that year, with the Dolphins trading Ryan Tannehill, Laremy Tunsil and Minkah Fitzpatrick. Grier’s overhaul did generate some success, but the next phase of that rebuild began to move the roster to its present state. With Ross’ statement making it rather clear Grier would have preferred to remain in his position, it is worth reexamining how this operation moved into this place.
While 2020 No. 5 overall pick Tua Tagovailoa — chosen one spot ahead of Justin Herbert — has been productive in stretches, the team has not seen its $53.1MM-per-year extension for the southpaw quarterback pay off. Grier’s 2022 trade for Bradley Chubb — the rare deadline move to involve a first-round pick changing hands — also preceded an injury that wiped out the standout edge rusher’s 2024 season. The team also did not see too much from the Jalen Ramsey trade, and Grier’s proceedings with Ramsey highlighted an interesting roster-building trend.
After rewarding Xavien Howard with an extension in his first offseason with full roster control, Grier gave into the Pro Bowl cornerback’s demands. Howard received a guarantee bump in 2021 and then another extension in 2022, despite years remaining on his previous accord. That created a lofty dead money bill when the Dolphins cut Howard in 2024. Miami is still on the hook for nearly $16MM in Howard dead cap this year, and the team’s decision to operate similarly with Ramsey will create notable 2026 dead money.
A day after the Broncos reset the cornerback market with Patrick Surtain‘s extension, the Dolphins paid Ramsey (three years, $72MM). Like Howard, Ramsey had more than a year left on his previous deal. Ramsey’s Rams-designed extension ran through 2025, but Grier — who had already approved a guarantee influx upon trading for Ramsey in 2023 — authorized another early extension. That complicated the June 2025 trade. Grier proceeded down this path again with Tyreek Hill, whose gripes about a new deal — as the receiver market exploded again in 2024 — led to a $54MM guarantee package in summer 2024. Grier also extended Zach Sieler with more than a year left on his contract this summer.
The Dolphins are expected to release Hill in 2026. The polarizing wide receiver stamped his Hall of Fame credentials in Miami, rewarding Grier for surrendering a five-pick package — including a first-rounder — in 2022. But Hill did not play well after the GM paid him again in 2024. The severe knee injury Hill suffered this season has his career at a crossroads. Ramsey counts more than $35MM in dead money between 2025 and ’26, with the extension he signed inflating that total. Hill’s release will tag the Dolphins with $28.25MM — a figure that could be spread through 2027 via a post-June 1 designation.
Grier did well to fleece the 49ers for the No. 3 overall pick in 2021, as San Francisco surrendered two first-rounders and a third to move up nine spots for Trey Lance. The Dolphins used one of the picks to climb up for Waddle in 2021. They included the other in the Hill trade. Hill’s arrival made a significant impact on Tagovailoa’s career, as the embattled QB led the NFL in yards per attempt in 2022 and in passing yards in 2023. But the southpaw’s concussion issues hindered him in 2022 and ’24. Through nine games in 2025, Tua sits 25th in QBR.
McDaniel oversaw the Dolphins’ first instance of back-to-back playoff berths since the Dave Wannstedt era, coaching the team to the postseason in 2022 and ’23. While the Dolphins’ playoff win drought leads the NFL at 24 seasons, McDaniel and Hill did plenty to coax Tagovailoa’s turnaround. The Dolphins rewarded the HC with an extension — one that runs through 2028 — before the ’24 season. Hill encountered a wrist injury before the 2024 season, and Tagovailoa went down with another concussion in Week 2. That harpooned the Dolphins’ offense, which dropped from second in scoring offense in 2023 to 22nd in ’24.
After Ramsey had taken issue with McDaniel’s leadership style, reports pointed to a lack of accountability under he and Grier. Hill famously refusing to return to action in Week 18 of last season became the image associated with these assertions, and while McDaniel said he spoke with the mercurial pass catcher about that act, Hill remained in place as Miami’s WR1 — after walking back his trade desire — entering this season. Tagovailoa also recently apologized for criticizing teammates for missing meetings or showing up late to them, further leading to the perception a lack of institutional control exists under McDaniel.
The Dolphins went 8-9 last season under McDaniel, whose performance through three seasons had been the best of any Miami HC since Wannstedt more than 20 years ago. His 2-7 start this season, however, certainly points to a firing at the campaign’s conclusion — or sooner.
It will be interesting to see if Ross gives McDaniel a chance to succeed without Grier, as his offensive acumen became clear — even with the team developing an earned frontrunner reputation, with late-season swoons taking place in 2022 and ’23 — during this tenure. McDaniel would surely be a coveted OC if the Dolphins move on following this season. Considering a new GM will be en route by then, McDaniel certainly faces an uphill battle to coach a fifth season in Miami.
The team hired Kelly as a senior personnel executive in March. This came after the Raiders split with the veteran exec, as they retooled their front office once again this offseason. Kelly served as interim GM in 2023 but was retained under Tom Telesco in 2024. The Raiders considered Kelly for the job Telesco received, and Kelly has taken part in GM interviews elsewhere. His work at the trade deadline figures to help determine where he lands in 2026 — should the Dolphins fully clean house at that point.