Miami Dolphins get unflattering honor among NFL worst teams

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12 February 2026 at 17:33

The NFL has now transitioned to the next phase: the offseason. The Scouting Combine is roughly two weeks away, with the new league year and free agency following shortly behind.

18 teams will be looking to change their fortunes in 2026 as they seek to improve their positioning to one of the 14 playoff teams. However, not all teams will be able to build Rome overnight.

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ESPN listed teams facing the worst rebuilds, and the Miami Dolphins were ranked among the worst. The only team behind them was the New York Jets.

Feb 2, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane (28) with Dolphins mascot T.D. during AFC practice at the NFL Flag Fieldhouse at Moscone Center South Building. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Perhaps second-worst is a generous position for South Beach. They face a cap positioning of over $27M over the cap, one of the worst cap casualty situations with Tua Tagovailoa, and have question marks at multiple spots.

Still, there are some positives. The Dolphins can move on from Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill’s contracts, have young, promising staples on the offensive line, and possess high-end skill position talent.

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The biggest hurdle for Miami competing in 2026 is the quarterback position. Tagovailoa showed early promise, but ultimately fizzled out as his mental and physical limitations were exposed.

A new era

The Dolphins also now have a new coaching staff. Jeff Hafley was hired after spending two seasons as the Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator.

Jan 22, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley meets with his wife and daughters after his introductory press conference at Baptist Health Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Not only will Hafley need to work with his front office on finding a quarterback of the future, but they will also need to retool their defense. Luckily, Hafley did well in Green Bay and will likely be able to provide a boost to that department.

At the end of the day, the Dolphins are faced with a lot of question marks, limited resources, and a brand new coaching staff. It’s easy to see why their battle is uphill.