Some might say that the Miami Dolphin‘s win in Madrid against the Washington Commanders was a positive. However, some may still be thinking about bigger ramifications. One that might mean more to those connected to the front office and the management. As of today, a second straight win manes a shift in the rankings, but also the draft standings.
Draft Position Improves, but Long-Term Concerns Linger
The Miami Dolphins as of right now would own the 11th pick in the first round and the 43rd pick in the second for the 2026 NFL draft and . Still, there are other ramifications surrounding other teams’ that also may affect the Dolphins’ other draft picks as well. They currently hold the Houston Texans’ and Philadelphia Eagles‘ third round picks, which ultimately lends credence to a bittersweet feeling despite a win for Dolphins fans.
There’s nothing the Dolphins could have done even. Both the Houston Texans win over the Tennessee Titans and the Eagles win over the Lions were equally bad. The Texans are in the same boat as the Dolphins, having won three of their last four. The win over the Titans moved them back to .500, further lowering the Dolphins owned draft pick. Furthermore, the Eagles grabbing hold of the No. 1 seed in the NFC means that while they are 95th overall in draft positioning for the third round, their playoff position makes that number ever more precarious. For what it’s worth, Dolphins fans should hope for a swift exit for the Eagles in the playoffs as they would not be affected as much.
Front Office Decisions and Tua’s Future Complicate Miami’s Path Forward
Getty ImagesCould Tua’s future be uncertain moving forward?
Still, for a franchise trying to find direction, any negative news surrounding next year’s draft feels almost like a curse. With the firing of Chris Grier, it’s clear the franchise wants to look ahead to the future, but with the retention of head coach Mike Mcdaniel, who knows what that direction could be? Most importantly, considering next year’s draft, it might not be a bad idea for the Dolphins to pursue a new QB. Tua signed a four year contract last year, but looks like a shell of himself and the weapons the Dolphins do have are not being used to the best of their abilities. It is up to Dolphins owner Stephen Ross to determine which route to take both with the GM and how the team will approach next year’s draft. Either the new hire aligns with Mcdaniel’s philosophy and doesn’t choose to tinker with the infrastructure of the team, or Ross throws caution to the wind with an ambitious hire aiming towards moving the team forward. It seems like the retention of Mcdaniel skews more towards the former, but time is ticking on the Dolphins current plans. They know the risks Tua brings and the fact that roster is steadily aging around him. With a recent uptick in performance however, the question must be asked of whether or not this can continue. If not, this Dolphins team could look wholly different by this time next year.
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