The Miami Dolphins‘ trench play has been a hot-button topic for years. Miami’s rich history in the trenches has put the patience of long-time fans to the ultimate test as the Dolphins have struggled to recapture the standard and magic of the years Don Shula coached this team with Hall of Famers up front. This year’s team is not without its struggles. There are durability issues and growing pains for young players. But how well is this team doing its primary objective — protecting the quarterback?

Here’s a look at the Dolphins’ top sources of pressure on the quarterback up front, according to Pro Football Focus.

Dolphins pass protection efforts offer hope for the foundation of a sturdy line in the future

Center Aaron Brewer (10 starts) – 8 pressures allowed in 2025

Take a bow, Aaron Brewer. Miami’s keystone in the heart of the line has been tested on both sides with guard play that’s exactly what you’d expect for either a rookie or a churn of options amid an injury to starter James Daniels — a development that came just three plays into the season. Brewer has been sensational since arriving in Miami in 2024 and got a subtle nod yesterday for his candidacy for the NFL’s new ‘Protector of the Year’ award from the league operations social media page.

Left tackle Patrick Paul (10 starts) – 12 pressures allowed in 2025

If you replied “Not worried at all” on the survey in response to ‘How worried are you in Patrick Paul assuming the mantle of franchise tackle from Terron Armstead this season?’, please stand up. We’d like to recognize you for the liar you are. (Note: Patrick Paul himself and immediate relatives are dismissed from this exercise.)

Paul has been a revelation for Miami at left tackle. He’s had bright moments in both the run game and in pass protection, but it’s his work in pass protection that has been miles ahead of where (most of) us anticipated in his first year as a full-time starter.

Right Guard Cole Strange (7 games started) – 13 pressures allowed in 2025

Cole Strange assumed the starting right guard position after Week 3, as Miami churned Kion Smith and Daniel Brunskill in place of James Daniels in the first three weeks. Strange has not been particularly impactful. His pressure numbers are down relative to some of the other players up front, but that’s in large part due to the help he gets from center Aaron Brewer in even front looks. The Dolphins often turn the center Strange’s way for extra help to Tua Tagovailoa’s blind side.

James Daniels‘ theoretical return would be a massive upgrade if the Dolphins can see it come to life.

Larry Borom (9 starts) – 15 pressures allowed in 2025

This has been a pleasant development for Miami. Borom was a maligned free agent addition this spring after four seasons of largely poor play in Chicago. It turns out asking just about anyone to pass protect for three seconds on every pass play has its warts. Borom has had a handful of rough whiffs in protection this year and more than one untimely penalty. But through the lens of a backup offensive lineman who can play four spots along the line, this performance has been quite good, contextually. Be mad that Austin Jackson has been out nine weeks, not at the backup player who has filled his shoes admirably.

Left guard Jonah Savaiinaea (10 starts) – 29 pressures allowed

Miami’s marquee draft investment into their offensive line this year came when the Dolphins traded a top-100 pick to move up into the top-40 and draft Savaiinaea. He’s struggled mightily in pass protection this season, and his 29 pressures allowed are the most allowed of any interior offensive lineman through 10 weeks of the season.

His continued growth will be a major subplot of the final seven games of this season.

Some final thoughts

What’s most interesting about these pressure numbers for Miami is how they fit relative to some evolving elements of the Dolphins’ passing attack. The Dolphins’ passing attack measured 191 “true pass set” opportunities in 2024 — the traditional drop-back game that didn’t feature screens, play-action fakes, or anything else that would misdirect a defense to the nature of the play. That was in 17 games. Thus far, through 10 games in 2025, Miami is already at 132 true pass set opportunities, meaning their leaning less on the screen game and play action than they did last year.

Additionally, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa continues to have one of the fastest triggers in football. But, according to Next Gen Stats, he’s averaging 2.60 seconds from snap to release this season on 285 attempts — that’s nearly two tenths of a second longer per attempt (2.42s) than Tagovailoa posted on 399 attempts in 2024.

So Tagovailoa is holding the ball significantly longer and the Dolphins are less “easy button” oriented with their passing attack. It creates a more admirable set of conditions for this year’s blockers who are excelling — because they’re working with less bumpers to support them and prop up the pressure numbers. Let’s see if they can continue through the final two months of the season.

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