The Miami Dolphins should know as well as anyone in the NFL how important offensive line play is to success, and how the unit performs in the 2025 season may very well have a correlation to the play of the offense overall.
With that being the case, it’s worth noting that the team believes it upgraded at the guard spot this offseason by adding James Daniels and Jonah Savaiinaea.
“Seeing as how last year’s offensive line struggled mightily when it lost starting right tackle Austin Jackson at midseason, it is not a stretch to conclude that [De’Von] Achane could produce his first 1,000-yard rushing season in 2025 if he can stay healthy throughout the season,” wrote Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald.
“That’s one of Achane’s goals for the upcoming season, and if he manages to achieve it the Dolphins offense, which believe it upgraded the guard spots by signing James Daniels as a free agent and drafting Jonah Savaiinaea in the second round, could potentially become more balanced. Doing that could potentially help Miami replicate the kind of success the Dolphins had in 2023 when they were the No. 1-ranked offense in the NFL.”
There is obviously more to an offensive line than just the guard spots, but it’s encouraging that Miami feels the way it does following the additions of Daniels and Savaiinaea.
A poorly functioning offensive line can derail a season, and having stability in that area may be particularly important for the Dolphins, who have an injury-prone quarterback in Tua Tagovailoa.
The Dolphins need to keep Tagovailoa upright, and they also need to give him time to operate so he can remain one of the most accurate passers in the league.
Of course, in order for someone like Achane to achieve some of his lofty goals this season, he’s also going to need help from the line.
The Dolphins have a lot to prove this season after missing the playoffs and finishing below .500 in the 2024 campaign. If they want to show their doubters that they can’t be written off, they’re going to need to bounce back and probably make the postseason, with a playoff victory being a goal that is likely in the back of fans’ minds.
The squad’s schedule was recently revealed, and the action will start on Sept. 7 with a matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. The Dolphins should have some opportunities to rack up wins early on in the season (particularly through Week 8) before the schedule starts to get a bit tougher.
A fast start to the season against weaker competition would help, but the Dolphins are going to need to find a way to play winning football even against some of the top teams in the league as well. Time will tell what the season holds for Miami.
