Dolphins' Trade Deadline Preview, Future NFL Draft Picks, Salary Cap With GM Grier Out

The Miami Dolphins provided some extra spice ahead of the NFL trade deadline when they announced Friday they're letting go of general manager Chris Grier.

The move comes on the heels of a 28-6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, a result that dropped Miami to 2-7 on the season.

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With an expensive roster and little hope of making the playoffs, many have wondered whether the Dolphins would try a mini-reset or trigger a full-scale rebuild ahead of the Nov. 4 deadline.

Based on multiple reports, teams around the league could circle back and see if interim general manager Champ Kelly is receptive to any deals. Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and linebackers Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips are among the notable players in South Florida who have drawn interest:

A big reason why the Dolphins could shift their priorities is that they're butting up against the salary cap.

Per Spotrac, Miami has $4 million in space right now and is projected to be just $997,766 under the cap in 2026. Even if one argues the roster isn't as bad as its record indicates, some improvements clearly need to be made.

Kelly or whoever is hired as the general manager will have their hands tied unless they shed some serious cash. Midseason trades could provide temporary relief now and larger dividends next spring.

The next GM can at least count on having draft capital to add cost-controlled talent. Kelly doesn't need to scramble and recoup picks Grier traded away.

The Dolphins control all of their selections absent their sixth-rounder, which is going to the New York Giants. They're making up for that by getting the Houston Texans' third-round pick thanks to a swap during the 2025 draft.

And one silver lining to having such a terrible record is that Miami is on pace to have a top-five pick.

Phillips and fellow linebacker Matthew Judon are heading to free agency. Cashing in on whatever trade value they have makes sense.

Waddle, Chubb and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, on the other hand, are all under contract for 2026. Kelly should be open to hearing offers, and a package might be too good to pass up.

Absent that, waiting until the offseason to dramatically reshape the roster is the better call. The full-time replacement for Grier will want to execute their own long-term plan, and having more time to negotiate should help maximize any return for Waddle, Chubb or Fitzpatrick.