The Miami Dolphins are pressing forward without newly retired offensive tackle Terron Armstead in 2025. It's a big change but one that Armstead himself believes the Dolphins can succeed through — if three things go right.

Armstead, who announced he was hanging up the pads in April, made an appearance on ESPN programming this morning to talk about all things Miami Dolphins. He talked about his retirement, his career, and as you'd expect, he talked about his former quarterback. 

Tua Tagovailoa is a lightning rod of opinion. He always has been. And while there's an opinion to be found at every corner of the media and the internet, getting the perspective of someone like Armstead, who has lived in the trenches with Tagovailoa for the past three seasons, is a rarity — especially when it comes through the unfiltered lens of a player who is now retired. 

Armstead drew a Hall of Fame comparison for Tagovailoa and included the quarterback among the three players that will ultimately decide the fate of Miami's 2025 season. 

"If we get those three factors — those three guys I named — there's no limit (to Miami's 2025 season) to me. I feel that strongly," said Armstead when pressed about what kind of expectations the Dolphins should have if things go right with his three key players in 2025. 

Who else got the call? 

Terron Armstead reveals his three key players for Dolphins 2025 season

Why should Dolphins fans have confidence that Tua is the long-term guy for the franchise?@T_Armstead72 | @ESPNRadio pic.twitter.com/AYVSkgFKSx

— UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio (@UnSportsESPN) June 17, 2025

"I wholeheartedly believe in Tua. I believe in his ability, I've seen him snap into a mode that was familiar to me, from Drew Brees. That's why I have no problem making that comparison. The consistency of that, him snapping into that assassin mode, that sniper mode, that's that championship DNA that we want to see more consistently. I believe he can do it. I believe we can keep him upright up front. I believe the Dolphins season comes down to Tua's availability and if we can get Bradley Chubb & Jaelan Phillips healthy on that defense. I think those two guys healthy, with Chop Robinson, it changes the whole dynamic of the team." – Terron Armstead

The Dolphins' actions this offseason seem to echo what Armstead is suggesting. Miami's 2024 season got no snaps from Chubb and just three and a half games from Phillips. With Miami's secondary undergoing a drastic change in 2025, the ability of the star duo up front could do wonders to reshape how blitz-reliant the Dolphins are on getting pressure from someone not named Zach Sieler or Chop Robinson. 

The fact that Armstead, who was with the team since 2022, feels as strongly as he does seems to affirm Miami's feelings about their most important players. Putting so much on the shoulders of three players who have just two combined 17-game appearances between the three of them over the last three seasons is, admittedly, a risk. 

The reward for the Dolphins is simple. If everything comes together with those three players in 2025, Armstead is probably right that this team will far exceed the expectations around them. The likelihood of all three playing all 17 games? Well, that's another story entirely. 

But Armstead's insight into the psychology of his former football team should provide some valuable context to why the Dolphins are carrying on the way they are this offseason. They believe those are the right players to set the temperature and make the plays the Dolphins need to thrive through the changes brought this spring. 

There's a lot riding on the Dolphins, and Armstead, being right. And there could be a lot more players and personnel joining Armstead with the title of "former Dolphin" next winter if they're wrong, too.