The Miami Dolphins’ 2025 season isn’t officially over but it is, in the grand scheme of things, indeed over. There will be no playoffs this postseason for Miami and instead, the team has started to transition to protecting players with injury, getting a look at young talent in elevated spots, and doing what is necessary to try to secure extra draft compensation. It’s been a disappointing journey for the Dolphins.

But they do have a chance to leave with something. A little more clarity on their young talents and valuable playing time in regular season action can nudge the development of some players in a direction that could be helpful for their 2026 seasons. The big question that looms — who do we need to see most? The Dolphins have already made one major pivot and are playing rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers.

He should not be alone over the next two weeks.

Three young players the Dolphins should prioritize getting playing time for to end 2025

Interior OL Andrew Meyer – Currently designed for return from Injured Reserve

It’s been a disappointing second season for Meyer after making the team as an undrafted rookie in 2024 — in large part because Meyer has spent the entire season in injured reserve. He’s been activated to return and has seen his practice efforts ramp up the last few weeks — but for a Dolphins team that needed three different players in the first three weeks to man the right guard spot, the injury marred season could have been a major opportunity.

The Dolphins could (and should) get a chance to see him in the next two weeks. Meyer can play guard but he’s primarily a center. And with star center Aaron Brewer ailing with a neck injury, Miami may opt to let the young gun play and boost their evaluation opportunity. Young players with cheap cost will be invaluable to Miami’s 2026 season amid a salary cap shed. Can they actually rely on Meyer? There’s only one way to find out.

EDGE defender Derrick McLendon – Currently on practice squad

Miami’s pass rush room did not live up to the billing this season. EDGE rusher Jaelan Phillips was traded at the deadline. Second-year pass rusher Chop Robinson regressed from the strong second-half of his rookie season. Bradley Chubb has been the team’s most persistent pass rusher but he’s gone cold over the last month. And veteran Matthew Judon? Released in December without logging a sack.

Chubb and Robinson are the only two under contract for 2026 and Chubb may well be a cap casualty. McLendon flashed in a big way in the preseason — can he be a legitimate NFL pass rusher, or did he thrive against bottom of the roster players? The Dolphins, amid their barren 2026 outlook on the EDGE, owe it to themselves to find out.

Wide receiver Tahj Washington – Currently on 53-man roster

Washington was a medical “redshirt” in 2024 as a seventh-round round pick. He did manage to make his NFL debut this season, too — logging an 11-yard reception against the Baltimore Ravens. There’s just one, little, tiny problem. He fumbled the ball on that reception to make an early mistake that snowballed the game out of control. The Dolphins lost 28-6.

Miami elevated wide receiver Theo Wease last week to pair with Ewers and it didn’t go particularly well, as Wease struggled with separation and allowed a tight window throw to clang off his face and into the air for an interception. Washington is a different kind of player but Ewers, as a youngster, could benefit from early separators.

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Kyle Crabbs