The Miami Dolphins are widely considered to have one of the most talented collections of skill-position players the NFL has to offer. However, they’ve also built a reputation as a playoff pretender over the past two seasons, a label they’re aiming to shed in 2024.
Here are the franchise’s most valuable people for 2024.
5. Running back Raheem Mostert
Miami emerged as the most efficient rushing offense in the league last season, ranking first among teams in yards per carry (5.1), thanks in large part to Mostert.
While there’s a belief that running backs begin to decline after turning 27, Mostert proved he’s an outlier, breaking out in his age-31 season for Miami. In 15 games, the former undrafted free agent rushed for a career-high 1,012 yards while averaging 4.8 yards per attempt. Additionally, Mostert scored 21 total touchdowns (18 rushing and three receiving), tied for the most in the NFL with 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year.
For his efforts, the Dolphins restructured Mostert’s contract earlier this offseason, keeping him in Miami through the 2025 season. Even though 2023 third-round pick De’Von Achane and fourth-round rookie Jaylen Wright are expected to split carries with him, Mostert figures to be Miami’s lead back in 2024. It’s unrealistic to expect Mostert to replicate his 2023 output, but limiting his workload could help ensure Miami repeats as one of the NFL’s top rushing attacks this season.
4. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey
Arguably the NFL’s top cornerback over the past eight seasons, the three-time first-team All-Pro selection is still considered one of the best players at his position entering 2024.
Despite tearing his meniscus in training camp last July, Ramsey, who the Rams traded to Miami in March 2023, managed to return to the field by Week 8. In 10 regular-season games for the Dolphins, Ramsey had three interceptions and five pass breakups while allowing just 260 yards in coverage, which helped him earn his seventh Pro Bowl nod.
Although Ramsey impressed during his debut season in Miami, he’s hoping to make much more of an impact in 2024 under new DC Anthony Weaver. After primarily playing on the boundary in 2023, Ramsey aims to showcase his versatility this season and be used in different roles across the defensive backfield. Due to injuries and free-agent departures, Miami’s defense will likely take a step back this season, but perhaps giving Ramsey more freedom can offset some of those losses.
3. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa
Tagovailoa, the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, has steadily improved throughout his first four seasons in the league. Injuries and a tumultuous relationship with former head coach Brian Flores contributed to Tagovailoa being considered a potential bust early in his career. However, the hiring of HC Mike McDaniel and the addition of WR Tyreek Hill has helped Tagovailoa develop into one of the NFL’s better signal-callers over the past two seasons.
In 2023, Tagovailoa enjoyed his most productive — and healthiest — season as a pro, completing 69.3% of his passes for a league-leading 4,624 yards, 29 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. In turn, Miami rewarded
Tagovailoa with a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension earlier this offseason, making him the fourth-highest-paid quarterback in the NFL annually.
While he’s being paid like an elite quarterback, Tagovailoa will still have to prove he’s worthy of his price tag this season by playing well against tougher competition, particularly late in the season. After all, Miami posted a 1-6 record against teams with winning records last year, with its high-powered offense averaging just 16.1 points per game in those contests.
2. Head coach Mike McDaniel
The quirky, wise-cracking McDaniel has yet to win a playoff game since being hired as Dolphins head coach in 2022, but he’s undoubtedly one of the brightest offensive minds in football.
McDaniel, who previously served as San Francisco’s offensive coordinator, brought his own version of the Shanahan offensive scheme to Miami, and the results haven’t disappointed. After inheriting an offense that ranked 22nd in scoring, McDaniel has helped the Dolphins finish 11th (23.4) and second (29.2) in points per game, respectively, over the last two seasons.
Even so, despite leading the team to two playoff berths and changing Miami’s culture for the better, McDaniel will have to silence critics this season if he intends to stay off the hot seat. The Dolphins have experienced late-season collapses in each of their two seasons under McDaniel.
Miami hasn’t fared well away from Hard Rock Stadium, especially when the weather turns cold, though McDaniel and his team will have the opportunity to change the narrative in 2024. The Dolphins will be on the road for four of their final six games this season, including trips to Green Bay, Cleveland and the Jets, all of which could feature chilly conditions.
1. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill
The first wide receiver to be voted as the No. 1 player in the NFL Top 100 list’s 14-year history, Hill is unquestionably the most valuable Miami Dolphin. Although the Kansas City Chiefs have won two Super Bowl titles since trading Hill to Miami in 2022, the eight-time Pro Bowler has flourished with the Dolphins.
Hill has set career highs in receiving yards during each of the past two seasons, amassing 1,710 in 2022 and 1,799 last year. Not only are Hill’s 3,509 receiving yards the most in the NFL since 2022, but he also ranks second among wideouts in receptions (238) and third in touchdowns (20) during that span.
While he isn’t necessarily giving up on the 2,000-yard receiving goal he set for himself prior to last season, Hill has team-oriented goals in mind for 2024.
“I want us to win a playoff game,” Hill told reporters last month. “I would love that. We’re going to start with that, then moving forward, like continuing to build on that. You know, we’re going to move up to the Super Bowl. So it’s like one step at a time.”
The 30-year-old has already solidified himself as one of the most electrifying wide receivers of his generation. Nonetheless, if he can bring a Super Bowl to Miami, he’ll surely be remembered as one of the greatest wideouts of all time.
