The team’s last playoff appearance came in 2016 and the club’s last postseason win came in 2000. But it could be a different year for the Miami Dolphins.
It remains one of the league’s more popular franchises, even though postseason success has eluded this club for quite some time. The Miami Dolphins went to three straight Super Bowls in the early 1970s and took home Lombardi Trophies in 1972 (VII) and ’73 (VIII). Led by Hall of Fame coach Don Shula, the Dolphins reached Super Bowls XVII and XIX. But there’s been no NFL championship in nearly 50 years.
More recently, the organization has really stubbed its toes in many regards. There has been no AFC East title since 2008 and no playoff appearance since 2016. And you have to go back to the start of this century to find the last time the Dolphins won a postseason game.
The organization has seen its share of changes at head coach in recent years and the latest man to take over the job is former San Francisco 49ers’ offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. He takes over for Brian Flores, who led the ‘Fins to back-to-back winning seasons the past two years but missed out on the playoffs. So how will the new sideline leader fare? And how will these three new additions to the roster help in 2022?
Miami Dolphins top offseason pickup no. 3: G Connor Williams (Dallas Cowboys)
It doesn’t work unless you have the guys in the trenches to open the holes and protect the quarterback. The former part should now be a bit more efficient with the addition of this former Cowboys performer.
Guard Connor Williams was a second-round pick by Dallas in 2018. The former University of Texas standout started at least 10 games for the Cowboys in each of his four seasons. And the Dolphins added him in mid-March via an economical two-year, $14 million deal (via Spotrac).
The Dolphins have been working on their offensive front the last few years. Williams is a solid addition and should work well with another quality addition via general manager Chris Grier.
Miami Dolphins top offseason pickup no. 2: T Terron Armstead (New Orleans Saints)
Back to the offensive front and one of the club’s major financial investments this offseason. And roughly a week after signing guard Connor Williams, the Dolphins added quite the bookend in left tackle Terron Armstead. A third-round pick of the New Orleans Saints back in 2013, he would slowly develop into one of the best players in the league at his position.
The former Arkansas-Pine Bluff product didn’t see a lot of action as a rookie but made 14 starts in his second season and was a 13-game starter in 2015. And starting in 2018, Armstead would earn the first of three straight Pro Bowl invitations.
But Armstead also comes off a year in which he was limited to just eight games due to various injuries. His play certainly dipped and his 75.9 grade in 2021 by Pro Football Focus (subscription required) was the lowest of his nine-year career.
Nonetheless, the Dolphins signed him to a five-year, $75 million deal in late March (via Spotrac). He will be counted on to keep quarterback Tua Tagovailoa out of harm’s way. Despite a mediocre overall ranking by PFF (due in part to missing 9 games in 2021), only three tackles in the NFL earned a better grade in terms of pass protection than Armstead this past season.
Miami Dolphins top offseason pickup: WR Tyreek Hill (Kansas City Chiefs via trade)
He is arguably the best big-play weapon in the NFL. Tyreek Hill has been in the league for six years and has been named to the Pro Bowl in each of those seasons. He’s also a three-time All-Pro and he has been able to scald opposing defenses and special teams units throughout his career.
A year ago, general manager Chris Grier used the sixth overall pick in the draft to secure the services of University of Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. He played and started in 16 games this past season and set a new NFL rookie record for catches (104), good for 1,015 yards and six scores. Now add arguably the league’s top big-play artist and new head coach Mike McDaniel and the team may have something going on in 2022.
The organization gave the Kansas City Chiefs five draft choices (3 in 2022 and 2 in 2023) to secure the services of six-time Pro Bowler Tyreek Hill. The three-time All-Pro has amassed quite a resume in such a short time. And he comes off a 2021 campaign in which he rolled up a career-best 111 catches. His six-year receiving numbers alone are impressive enough. He’s totaled 479 grabs for 6,630 yards and 56 touchdowns in 91 regular-season outings.
But Hill also brings something that the Dolphins have lacked as of late. He’s been the member of a playoff team each year he’s been in the NFL. Will that continue in 2022?