MIAMI GARDENS — How long should it take the Dolphins, under general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley, to reach a Super Bowl?
What would it take for you to declare this rebuild a success?
What blueprint should this rebuild follow?
I’ve wondered about those questions and more.
Here are five thoughts on the rebuilding Miami Dolphins:
Reaching a Super Bowl
Regarding reaching a Super Bowl, I think it’s fair to set a goal for that to happen no later than the 2030 regular season.
That’d give Sullivan and Hafley a five-year window to get their feet wet and work their magic.
It wouldn’t mean either or both are guaranteed to be here for five years, or that either or both should be fired if they haven’t reached a Super Bowl after five years.
It’s a goal.
Can it be done?
Definitely.
We just saw a better turnaround done in less time by Seattle, the Super Bow champs. And the Seahawks, who had back-to-back 9-8 seasons in 2022-23, did it with Geno Smith and Sam Darnold as the quarterbacks and second-year coach Mike Macdonald in charge.
New England, which went 3-14 in 2023-24, rebuilt and advanced to a Super Bowl in two years.
This can be done for the Dolphins.
Successful rebuild
For me to declare the Dolphins’ rebuild a success, which is a high hurdle to jump, they must win two playoff games in a postseason, whether that’s a wildcard game and a divisional round game, or a divisional round game and the AFC Championship game.
Winning a single playoff game, which the Dolphins haven’t done since the 2000 season, meets the requirement for a good rebuild.
But there’s a difference between “good” and “successful.”
Winning a single playoff game is too low of a bar for a successful rebuild.
Two playoff wins. That should be the bar for success.
Teams that met that standard last season are Seattle, New England and the Los Angeles Rams. Teams that met that standard for the 2024 season are Buffalo, Washington, Philadelphia and Kansas City. Teams that met that standard for the 2023 season are Detroit, Kansas City and San Francisco.
You think my standard for success is too high? Ask Buffalo and Baltimore fans how many successful playoffs runs they’ve had in the Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson eras.
Rebuild blueprint
Detroit is a good blueprint for this Dolphins rebuild. Good drafts. Wise player acquisitions. Reliable characteristics in your players.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell took over in 2021, going 3-13 that year.
Through shrewd drafting (right tackle Penei Sewell, running back Jahmyr Gibbs, linebacker Jack Campbell, tight end Sam LaPorta, edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams), good player acquisition (trading for quarterback Jared Goff, signing running back David Montgomery) and making toughness a standard characteristic, the Lions improved to 9-8 in 2022, and then 12-5 in 2023, when they advanced to the NFC Championship game.
No, Detroit hasn’t advanced to a Super Bowl.
But it’s been a successful rebuild, especially considering the franchise hadn’t won a playoff game in 31 years (sound familiar?).
And Detroit is succeeding without a Hall of Fame-caliber quarterback.
Hafley must do more with less
Hafley won’t have nearly as much talent during his time with the Dolphins as ex-coach Mike McDaniel had.
McDaniel had the best talent the Dolphins had in the last 20 years.
Hafley is expected to do more with less.
Your job as an NFL head coach is to find a way to win games with the talent you’ve been given. Period.
Build the offensive line in 2026
It’d be nice if the Dolphins had three or four foundational offensive line pieces in place in 2027 when they possibly/hopefully find their long-term quarterback.
As you might know, I’m a proponent of building the trenches, and reinforcing the offensive line goes along with that plan.
So, use the 2026 season to add to the projected starting offensive line of center Aaron Brewer, left tackle Patrick Paul, left guard Jonah Savaiinaea and, possibly, right tackle Austin Jackson in every way.
Bring in lots of training camp competition at left guard, right guard and right tackle. Perhaps that means a first-round pick. Perhaps that means a third-round pick and one starting-caliber veteran free agent. Whatever. Have competition. Build depth.
And if all goes well, the offensive line should be better in 2027, when you acquire your long-term quarterback. Everybody wins.
By the way, understand that I’m not saying the Dolphins can fix the offensive line in one season. Not at all.
I’m saying the Dolphins, as part of the 2026 rebuilding season, should prioritize improving the offensive line.
I just think it’d be nice to offer the long-term quarterback some pocket protection in his first season.