Dolphins Enter Financial Reset After Years of Heavy Spending

The Miami Dolphins are tightening up their books after several seasons of aggressive roster moves. General manager Chris Grier admitted Wednesday that the team is going through a financial reset, shifting from big-money signings to a more sustainable approach.

“Every year is different,” Grier told reporters. “We’ve had years here where it’s been all draft focus for a couple years and then at some point you have to reset. When you go and make aggressive moves like we had made for a few years, you have to reset again and start it over.”

A Shift in Strategy

The reset wasn’t ordered by owner Stephen Ross. Instead, Grier explained it as a response to past spending. This offseason Miami traded away star cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith to Pittsburgh in exchange for Minkah Fitzpatrick. The front office also stayed quiet in free agency while safety Jevon Holland left for the Jets. In recent years, the Dolphins have also lost key contributors like Robert Hunt, Christian Wilkins, and Andrew Van Ginkel, leaning instead on younger players to fill those roles.

“It’s just not sustainable the way the contracts are with players and what they’re making now,” Grier said. “For us, it was just good business sense working through it and trying to find value, but we also had to get younger. Like a year ago, we were one of a couple teams with all the one-year vet contracts, so we’re in a different spot now.”

Reset vs. Rebuild

While talk of a reset often signals a rebuild, Grier stressed this is different. He insists the Dolphins still expect to compete while restructuring their roster.

“In terms of reset, it was just talking about the money philosophy and spending,” Grier said. “We were always going to try to win this season. It’s all about winning in 2025.”

Pressure in Miami

Head coach Mike McDaniel enters his fourth season leading a team that hasn’t won a playoff game since 2000. With fewer splashy signings and more pressure to develop young talent, the Dolphins must prove their financial reset won’t stall their pursuit of postseason success.