The Miami Dolphins are entering a rebuild year, and their early 2026 season power rankings indicate a rough start.
The Miami Dolphins have a brand-new head coach in Jeff Hafley, along with a new general manager in Jon-Eric Sullivan. The team has needed a full reset, and that is what happened since the 2025 season concluded.
With a full reset, the team also has some major money issues to figure out, along with releasing Tua Tagovailoa for a dead cap hit, and more. That said, the Dolphins have been hit with a near-bottom spot on the early 2026 power rankings.
Full resets happen for many teams, and its how those teams respond. Sullivan will have a tough job to do regarding the current cap situation, just to start.
Currently, the Dolphins are negative 16 million on the 2026 cap outlook, per overthecap.com. While that number can easily be altered with releases, contract restructures, and more, there is the Tagovailoa situation looming.
Following Tagovailoa's monster extension in 2024, the Dolphins are now on the hook for $99.2 million in dead cap, should they release him.
With a multitude of issues that need to be fixed, Miami could be facing a 2026 season where they need to thin more than Tagovailoa's contract to prepare for a much better 2027 season.
That said, the Dolphins are currently ranked No. 29 in the early 2026 season power rankings.
ESPN compiled the new rankings, with longtime Dolphins reporter Marcel Louis-Jacques explaining the team's spot.
"The Dolphins hired a new general manager and head coach this offseason, as team owner Stephen Ross avoided the half-measures he has taken in years past. Under Jon-Eric Sullivan and Jeff Hafley, Miami wants to establish a new culture -- an act that often requires a shuffling of both players and personnel. With a difficult schedule, thin roster and limited starting quarterback options, the Dolphins are likely facing at least a yearlong rebuild in 2026," Louis-Jacques wrote.
Many of the issues listed were touched on by Louis-Jacques, including the fact that the team will likely look vastly different by the time the 2026 season begins.
The Dolphins do have core players to keep, such as running back De'Von Achane, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, and linebacker Jordyn Brooks, among others. The rest of the roster will be up for evaluation in terms of trades and cap casualties.
Throw in the other major contract for wide receiver Tyreek Hill, and the Dolphins will likely not have a lot of cap space to work with. This will likely lead to a less-than-stellar season that will be built upon with the hope that 2027 can become a huge bounce-back year.
This is speculation, as there have been teams that have performed very poorly one season and turned things around, such as the 2025 New England Patriots. However, the Dolphins' contract and cap issues point to a tough season ahead.