The Miami Dolphins Will Not Live Up To Expectations in 2024
The Miami Dolphins were one of the most entertaining teams in the league last year. Their high-flying offense was filled with playmakers who put up big numbers against inferior teams. After a lackluster performance against the Chiefs in the playoffs, the Dolphins will look to have even more success in 2024. Unfortunately for Miami fans, signs are pointing for the team to regress in 2024.
Why The Miami Dolphins Will Disappoint
The Dolphins' offense will look the same as last year, but their defense had a lot of turnover in the offseason. They lost four of their top seven tackle leaders from 2023 in free agency. To make things worse, Bradley Chubb and Jaelen Phillips, two of the best defenders on the team, will start training camp on the PUP list. Phillips is coming off a torn Achilles tendon he suffered in November, while Chubb is working his way back from a torn ACL that happened in week 17.
Phillips has a chance to be ready to go before the start of the season, but Chubb will likely miss at least a few weeks. When those two players return to action, there is no guarantee either will be the same player from last season since they both suffered significant injuries.
Miami brought in Linebacker Shaquil Barrett in the offseason to add depth to their injured pass rushers. Barrett is a solid player but has experienced some regression in the last couple of seasons. He's only recorded 7.5 sacks in the previous two years combined. The defense could struggle if he is one of their primary pass-rushers to start the season.
The Dolphins also signed Saftey Jordan Poyer to a one-year deal. Like Barrett, Poyer is a solid player but has struggled in the last couple of seasons. He battled injuries in that span but did play 16 games last season. While he did play almost every game in 2023, he failed to record an interception. That was the first season he went without a pick since 2016 when he only played six games.
While Poyer and Barrett are fine players, but those are the only notable names they brought in on the defensive side of the ball. That could be detrimental for a defense that struggled against almost every good offense they played last year.
Another factor that needs to be considered is the health of Tua Tagovailoa. He played all 17 games last season, but that was the first time he played an entire season in his professional career. It was the first time he played more than 13 games since his sophomore year of college at Alabama. While no one wishes injury upon anyone, Tua has not been reliable when it comes to playing a full season, so seeing an injury this season would not come as a surprise.
Miami's schedule does not do them any favors, either. Eight of their final 10 games will be against teams that will likely end up in the playoffs, or at least in contention. Six of those games will be on the road, with trips to Buffalo, Green Bay, Cleveland, and New York all being in cold weather. The Dolphins have not excelled in the cold, losing their last 10 games played in under 40 degrees.
After finishing 11-6 last season, there is a chance Miami could finish third in the division in 2024. Their projected win total is 9.5 at most sportsbooks. Given their roster turnover, injuries, and difficult schedule, it's hard to see them winning 10 games. There is a good chance they end up a few games below that number.