NFL analyst is already pouring cold water over Dolphins’ prospects for 2026
The Miami Dolphins will look very different this fall after some major shakeups, and one analyst thinks the path towards improvement will be a gauntlet.
Following another underwhelming season in 20256, the Miami Dolphins finally did what needed to be done: bit the bullet and started over. Mike McDaniel was fired, and key remnants of the old guard in Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, and Jaylen Waddle were all swept away. Other painful but necessary moves were made, with Minkah Fitzpatrick’s South Florida return lasting just one season after being traded to the rival New York Jets.
Now, the Dolphins begin anew, with a new general manager, head coach, starting quarterback and a number of new pieces across the roster, including first round draft picks and likely rookie starters Kadyn Proctor and Chris Johnson.
Naturally, the expectations are not high for the Dolphins’ first post-McDaniel/Chris Grier season. Most Las Vegas sportsbooks have the Dolphins’ win total set around over/under 4.5 for the season. That’s made them a popular pick to have the No. 1 or 2 overall selection in the 2027 NFL Draft by many outlets.
And speaking of over/under projected totals, NFL analyticial guru Warren Sharp put out his list of the toughest and easiest schedules based largely on those. According to Sharp, the Dolphins will have the second-toughest schedule in the league next year.
Warren Sharp ranks Miami Dolphins’ 2026 schedule as the second toughest in the NFL
“Projected win totals incorporate current information about team strength, including offseason acquisitions, injuries, and coaching changes,” Sharp wrote. “These projections are crafted by sportsbooks aiming to predict future performance, making them more reflective of a team’s current capabilities.”
As things stand, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Dolphins have the lowest number set among AFC East teams for over/under regular season wins at 4.5. The Jets, following what appears to be a strong draft, are set at 5.5. The Patriots are at 9.5, and the Bills are at 10.5. Miami also will face off against a trio of potential Super Bowl contenders who all missed the playoffs last year in Kansas City, Detroit, and Green Bay. The Bears, Chargers, 49ers, and Broncos also are on the slate, as are Joe Burrow and the Bengals.
It could be a bumpy road to see improvement in 2026 for the Dolphins. But the silver lining could be a shot at landing a generational talent very early in the 2027 NFL Draft, such as Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith.
