When it comes to team-building, sometimes you just can’t beat a trade. Need to get younger? Make a trade! Need a veteran for a playoff push? Make a trade! Want to desperately catch lightning in a bottle by acquiring a former first-round quarterback bust? Trade your <wince> second-round pick to Arizona! (I see you, Josh Rosen. I wish I didn’t.)
Over the past year, the Dolphins have aggressively reshaped their roster, trading away established veterans, former first-round picks and even future Hall of Famer Quinn Ewers in an effort to accelerate the rebuild. With another deadline approaching, let’s revisit the biggest deals of the past 12 months and see how they’re working out so far.
November 2025: Jaelan Phillips
The Deal
Dolphins traded EDGE Jaelan Phillips for the Eagles’ 2026 third-round pick (No. 87), which was used to select TE Will Kacmarek.
The Financial Impact
After finishing the season with the Eagles, Phillips signed a massive four-year, $120 million contract with the Carolina Panthers this offseason, including $80 million guaranteed.
How Phillips Has Performed
After nearly five full seasons in South Florida, where he recorded 177 tackles and 26 sacks, Phillips managed just 28 tackles and two sacks in eight games with Philadelphia. So far in 2026, he has 2.5 sacks and 10 tackles, though he does lead the Panthers with 18 pressures. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but Phillips has also missed time with an injury, suffering a hamstring injury in Week 4 before re-aggravating it after the bye.
How Kacmarek Has Performed
Kacmarek, who was drafted primarily for his run-blocking ability, has largely delivered in that role. After a somewhat slow start, he posted PFF grades north of 70 against Kansas City and Minnesota before turning in a more pedestrian performance against Cincinnati.
Early Verdict
You’ll recall Phillips called being traded to Philadelphia “the best thing that’s ever happened” to him. Rude. Still, most of us agreed at the time that a long-term, big-money extension carried significant risk. Turning a player you weren’t likely to re-sign into a third-round pick was sound business. You can debate whether Miami reached for a blocking tight end at No. 87, but there’s something to be said for building a nasty offensive line, and Kacmarek helps you do that. For now, I’m good with it.
March 2026: Minkah Fitzpatrick
The Deal
Dolphins traded S Minkah Fitzpatrick for the Jets’ 2026 seventh-round pick (No. 238), which was used to select EDGE Max Llewellyn.
The Financial Impact
Immediately following the trade, Fitzpatrick signed a three-year, $40 million contract with the Jets.
How Fitzpatrick Has Performed
So far in 2026, Fitzpatrick is doing Fitzpatrick things. He’s recorded 26 tackles, an interception and two passes defended while posting a 73.8 PFF grade. Nine years into his career, the five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro still looks like one of the better safeties in football.
How Llewellyn Has Performed
Well, he hasn’t been released yet, and if you’re a seventh-round pick, that’s a good sign. Llewellyn received five snaps against the 49ers, two on defense and three on special teams, and currently resides on the practice squad.
Early Verdict
Before the trade, I hoped the Dolphins would do with Fitzpatrick what they did with Jordyn Brooks and keep a proven veteran around as part of the rebuild. If you’re looking to build a secondary of Minkahs, it helps to have the real Minkah on the roster to learn from. So while I understand it, I don’t love that Fitzpatrick was traded. I really don’t love that the return was only a seventh-round pick. And I really, really don’t love that he was traded to the Jets. But when a team commits to a rebuild, sometimes even popular veterans become cap casualties.
March 2026: Jaylen Waddle
The Deal
Dolphins traded WR Jaylen Waddle and a 2026 fourth-round pick (No. 111) for the Broncos’ 2026 first-round pick (No. 30), third-round pick (No. 94) and fourth-round pick (No. 130). After subsequent trades involving the 49ers, the transaction ultimately became Waddle and picks No. 90 and No. 111 for CB Chris Johnson, WR Chris Bell, LB Trey Moore and S Kyle Louis.
The Financial Impact
In May 2024, Waddle signed a three-year, $84.75 million extension that included $76 million guaranteed and kept him under contract through 2028. The Broncos absorbed the entire contract, though the Dolphins incurred a $26.3 million dead-cap charge in 2026 while receiving a $3 million cap credit in 2027. Meanwhile, Johnson, Bell, Moore and Louis are all playing on rookie deals.
How Waddle Has Performed
Much to the surprise of many, including one fantasy football manager (who shall remain nameless) who selected Bo Nix to lead his team, Denver’s offense has been a complete mess this season, and Waddle’s production has suffered along with it. Through five games, he has 22 receptions for 228 yards and one touchdown. A cynic might point out those are WR1 numbers for the Dolphins, but they’re almost certainly not what Denver envisioned when it acquired him.
How Johnson Has Performed
Chris Johnson has been every bit as good as Dolphins fans could have hoped. He has a Minkah-esque 31 tackles, two passes defended and a forced fumble. After a slow start against the Raiders and 49ers, he’s been outstanding, highlighted by an 86.9 PFF grade against Minnesota in Week 5. Teammate Jacob Rodriguez may be getting most of the Defensive Rookie of the Year buzz, but Johnson has a legitimate case of his own.
How Bell Has Performed
Bell was widely viewed as a first-round talent who slid because of injury concerns. The expectation was that he’d miss much of the season while recovering from ACL surgery, yet he’s already appeared in all five games. The numbers (five catches for 92 yards) aren’t eye-popping, but given the injury and his limited time working with Malik Willis, the future still looks bright.
How Moore and Louis Have Performed
Unfortunately, both are currently on injured reserve. Moore suffered a severe ankle injury during the preseason, while Louis sustained an MCL sprain in Week 1 against the Raiders. Louis’ practice window has opened, and expectations are that both players will return later this season.
Early Verdict
Even if Waddle’s disappointing production is largely a byproduct of Denver’s dysfunctional offense, this trade looks like an early win for Miami. The Dolphins shed a major financial commitment and turned the return into several intriguing young players. Chris Johnson alone is making this deal look favorable, and if Bell, Louis and Moore become meaningful contributors, the trade could have a lasting impact on the franchise’s trajectory. Of course, Waddle hasn’t suddenly forgotten how to play wide receiver, and this isn’t necessarily a win-or-lose transaction. But from Miami’s perspective, it’s hard not to like the early returns.
August 2026: Quinn Ewers
The Deal
Dolphins traded QB Quinn Ewers for the Jaguars’ 2028 sixth-round pick.
The Financial Impact
Minimal. Ewers remains on his rookie contract and is not scheduled to become a free agent until 2029.
How Ewers Has Performed
Ewers currently serves as Trevor Lawrence’s backup in Jacksonville and, like most backup quarterbacks, hasn’t seen meaningful game action.
Early Verdict
If Ewers eventually develops into a legitimate NFL starter, Miami may look back on this one with some regret. For now, though, turning a seventh-round pick who didn’t appear to have a future on the roster into a future sixth-round pick qualifies as good business.
So, Was It Worth It?
If nothing else, these trades illustrate just how aggressive Miami has been in reshaping its roster. Established veterans, former stars, fan favorites, draft picks and future cap space have all been put on the table. Whether the Dolphins ultimately move Austin Jackson, Josh Uche, Zach Sieler or someone else before November 10, recent history suggests one thing: Nobody is untouchable if the front office believes the return helps accelerate the rebuild.
One broader takeaway is that these moves aren’t simply about moving older veterans for younger talent. Minkah is 29. Waddle and Phillips are 27. These are productive players in their prime, and Miami still chose to move them in exchange for 21- and 22-year-olds. Agree or disagree with any individual trade, I appreciate that the new regime in Miami isn’t interested in half-measures. Turning this team into a perennial playoff contender requires conviction – so far, Jon-Eric Sullivan looks like he understands the assignment.