MIAMI — The NFL bye week isn’t just a time for players to rest their bodies and get their minds off football. It’s also a time for each team’s front office and coaching staff to do a thorough self scout, an evaluation of their team, seeing what changes can be made to improve the season’s outcome in what’s left on the schedule. The Miami Dolphins, which exit the bye week with a 4-7 record, seemingly need a total reset based on how the 2025 squad has played this season because there isn’t a single unit on the team that has met expectations I had placed on them coming into this critical season. Here’s a look at how I would evaluate the Dolphins heading into this critical six-game stretch, where Miami needs to win five games to produce a winning record, and possibly win all six to earn a playoff berth.

Offense: It’s been a while since the Dolphins’ offense was lighting the league on fire, ranked as one of the best units in 2022 and 2023. This season the Dolphins, which lost two starting offensive linemen in the season opener, and Tyreek Hill after game four, possess the 26th best offense when it comes to scoring (20.5), and 24th in yards produced (300.4). Tua Tagovailoa is a shell of quarterback he was in his 2023 Pro Bowl season, and there’s growing concern that hip issues have decimated his athleticism. The one thing he’s typically been is careful with the football, and most of this season he’s led the NFL in interceptions. De’Von Achane is having a Pro Bowl caliber season, but the implementation of a six-person offensive line has jump started Miami’s run game, and the entire offense the past month. It will be interesting to see how the offense evolves when tight end Darren Waller (pectoral), and offensive linemen Austin Jackson (foot) and James Daniel (pectoral) return to action. Grade: D

Defense: Miami’s defense ranks 23rd in points allowed (349.8) per game, 29th against the run (142.6 rushing yards allowed per game), 26th in third down defense (41.9 conversion rate), 20th in points allowed per game (24.5). There are 15 defenses that have created fewer turnovers than Miami (12), eight teams have produced fewer sacks (21), and only the Washington Commanders defense has a worse passer rating for opposing quarterbacks than Miami (109.5) heading into Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints. That means there isn’t one area on defense where the Dolphins have excelled this season. Every aspect of this unit needs to tighten up. Grade: F

Special Teams: Craig Auckerman’s unit had shown significant improvement from the group Danny Crossman coached the past couple seasons under Brian Flores and Mike McDaniel, and that’s despite losing kicker Jason Sanders to a hip injury before the season started. But special teams has contributed to a couple of the team’s fourth-quarter losses this season, and the Dolphins need better coverage in the return game. Grade: C-plus

Captains: Bradley Chubb, Jordyn Brooks and Aaron Brewer have made significant improvements as team leaders, but the Dolphins need more from Tagovailoa, who had an embarrassing incident when questioned whether his teammates were fully committed to turning the season around after a loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Jaylen Waddle and Achane also should be doing more on the leadership front. Losing Hill, the team’s emotional spark plug, was a shock to Miami’s system and the team had to move offensive coordinator Frank Smith from the booth to the field to address the energy and confidence void Hill’s absence created. Grade: D-plus

Rookie Class: Miami’s entire 2025 draft class struggled out the gate, having the kind of struggles, and making the kind of mistakes that cost teams wins. But the group slowly, but steadily began improving as the season progressed, and we’ve all witnessed the growth from Kenneth Grant, Jordan Phillips, Zeek Biggers, Jason Marshall Jr., Dante Trader Jr., Jonah Savaiinaea and Ollie Gordon II. They have all proven they belong in the NFL, but the Dolphins need a couple of those rookies to become difference makers, game changers. Grade: C-minus.

Coaching: Mike McDaniel has been creative and inventive in his four seasons, but his ability to make halftime and in-game adjustments needs work. He also needs to do a better job communicating with his players, media and the fan base. The Dolphins defense has fallen short of meeting expectations, and that might cost Anthony Weaver a head coaching opportunity this cycle. Player development has been fairly inconsistent the past four seasons, and at this point that’s on the coaches, whose youngsters on the roster have been fairly stagnant. Grade: C-minus

Midseason MVP: Achane is 100 yards away from rushing for 1,000 for the first time in his career, leads the Dolphins in receptions (54), and leads the team with nine touchdowns. Only four skill players — San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey, Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor, Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson and Buffalo’s James Cook., have more offensive yards than Achane heading into Sunday’s games. If Achane can finish this season healthy and remain productive, he’ll likely be in position to demand a substantial raise from the $1.5 million he’s currently slotted to make in 2026 on the final year of his rookie deal.

Most Improved: Patrick Paul went from inconsistent rookie to franchise left tackle in one offseason. It’s probably the most significant improvement this franchise has seen in more than a decade. He’s been a force in the run and passing game for the Dolphins, exhibiting a ton of the skills Miami’s talent evaluators saw at the University of Houston. If Paul remains on this trajectory he’ll eventually become one of NFL’s highest past left tackles.

Needs the Most Improvement: Jonah Savaiinaea was viewed as one of the 10 can’t miss offensive line prospects in the 2025 NFL draft. That’s why the Dolphins gave up valuable draft assets to move up in the second round, positioning themselves to select him. Problem is, the former Arizona standout wasn’t well coached in college, and is struggling from a technique standpoint after being moved from the right side, which he primarily played in college, to the left side. At this point Savaiinaea is rated one of the NFL’s worst starting offensive linemen and needs to show significant improvement in the season’s final six weeks.

Unit of concern: No team would thrive after losing a weapon like Tyreek Hill, who was on a Hall of Fame trajectory before he suffered a career-threatening left knee injury against the Jets. But the Dolphins receiver unit has been stifled by poor talent evaluation during the former general manager Chris Grier’s reign over the franchise. At this point all Tagovailoa has to rely on is Jaylen Waddle and Achane. Another pass catcher needs to step forward and become a consistent contributor who can beat single coverages.

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