One of the Dolphins’ biggest offseason investments hasn’t touched the field in weeks and a future in Miami should hinge on a successful return
A cloudy team future with no full guarantees is a bad mix!
The Miami Dolphins‘ future is cloudy. There’s not a lot of clarity on the football operation — from who will run it, to who will coach it, to who will play in it. It’s, admittedly, an uncomfortable place. But it is the reality of where Miami stands after dropping to 9-15 since the start of the 2024 season.
For the players, it sets the stage for a high-stakes remainder of the season. Your play is your resume. And there appears to be a whole bunch of change looming on the horizon for the Dolphins. For one veteran in Miami, there should be even more pressure — because he’s again out of action and offers a deadline on some 2026 guarantees. If he wants to collect them, he needs to get back into the game.
What is at stake for injured, veteran offensive guard James Daniels the rest of the season?
Offensive guard James Daniels signed a three-year, $24 million contract in Miami this offseason. He’s played three snaps against the Colts in Week 1. That’s it. Daniels was the Dolphins’ marquee free agent signing, a moderately large investment into the position group that was a big part of Miami’s offensive collapse in 2024. But Daniels suffered a pec injury against the Colts on the opening series of the season and hasn’t been seen since.
The players Miami has tabbed to play in his place? Kion Smith, Daniel Brunskill, and Cole Strange. It’s been arguably worse than last season under the watch of Liam Eichenberg. Eichenberg, by the way, was brought back this season on a one-year deal and has not left the Physically Unable to Perform list since the start of training camp.
Miami Dolphins offensive line snap leaders through Week 7
- Center Aaron Brewer – 396 snaps
- Left tackle Patrick Paul – 396 snaps
- Left guard Jonah Savaiinaea – 396 snaps
- Swing tackle Larry Borom – 358 snaps
- Backup guard Cole Strange – 230 snaps
- Swing lineman Kion Smith – 138 snaps
The Dolphins, as I looked at last night, are in a position to offload a lot of contracts this offseason amid any possible regime change. Their maligned offensive line, ironically enough, is the one position group that has perhaps the best long-term stability. Patrick Paul and Jonah Savaiinaea are on rookie contracts. Aaron Brewer and Austin Jackson are under contract for 2026. And Daniels is under contract through 2027.
The health stability is something else entirely. Daniels has missed nearly the entire season. Jackson has missed six games. And both missed most of 2024, as well.
So for Daniels, who is in a position to collect more than $15.5 million in compensation in 2026 and 2027, his long-term stability would be greatly aided by a healthy return and a good performance in the back-half of 2025. Without a return to the field, a new football operation or head coach that comes in would view Daniels as a player owed nearly $8 million with no guarantees due until March, who has played barely 200 snaps offensively in the last two seasons.
That’s not a strong resume to stay in place. So keep an eye on this one. Will Daniels get back into the fray? And how does he do once he does? It could serve as an audition for 2026 for whoever is at the helm because his contract doesn’t necessitate a long-term commitment if he continues to miss time at an alarming rate.
Miami Dolphins News
A trio of Dolphins players are currently threatening to derail one of Miami’s 2026 assets with their play this season
Boy, there sure are a lot of conflicting interests ’round these parts!
