Miami’s “Trust the Process” Moment: How the Dolphins Blew It Up and What Comes Next

The Miami Dolphins didn’t just shuffle the deck this offseason — they flipped the table, set the cards on fire, and walked away with a clean slate. The release of franchise quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on March 9, 2026 — along with the NFL-record $99.2 million dead cap hit it triggered — was the ultimate mic drop by new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley. These two aren’t here to tweak; they’re here to tear down and rebuild.

With the 2026 NFL Draft just days away, the Dolphins are staring down the first big test of their high-stakes gamble. Let’s unpack what’s happened, what’s next, and whether this audacious reset can actually work.

The Full Scope of Miami’s Roster Purge

Tua’s release grabbed the headlines, but it was just one piece of a much larger demolition project. Here’s the full list of what the Dolphins dismantled this offseason:

This isn’t a retool. It’s not even a rebuild. It’s a full teardown. And it’s happening under new leadership, with Sullivan replacing Chris Grier as GM and Hafley stepping in for Mike McDaniel as head coach.

The $99.2 Million Dead Cap: What It Actually Means

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the $99.2 million dead cap hit from releasing Tua. Yes, it’s the largest in NFL history, surpassing the $85 million the Broncos ate when they cut Russell Wilson in 2024. But while the number is eye-popping, the financial mechanics are a little less terrifying than they first appear.

Because Miami designated Tua’s release as post-June 1, the dead money is split across two seasons:

• 2026 cap hit: $67.4 million
• 2027 cap hit: $31.8 million
• Total dead money: $99.2 million

This NFL accounting trick softens the immediate blow, but let’s not pretend it’s painless. The Dolphins still lose $11 million in cap space for 2026 as a direct result of the move. In other words, this rebuild isn’t happening under ideal financial conditions — it’s being executed with constraints, not cap space to burn.

Tua’s release ends a six-season tenure that started with the No. 5 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. After signing a four-year, $212.4 million extension in 2024, he played just one season under the new deal before the team decided to move on.

The “Trust the Process” Comparison: Is It Fair?

National analysts have been quick to slap the “Trust the Process” label on Miami’s rebuild, drawing comparisons to the Philadelphia 76ers’ infamous strategy of deliberate losing to stockpile future assets. But does the analogy hold up?

Where it works:

• Both franchises embraced short-term pain for long-term gain.
• Both made painful decisions to accumulate future resources.
• Both operated under new leadership tasked with starting over.

Where it doesn’t:

• The 76ers intentionally tanked for multiple seasons to maximize draft lottery odds. Miami’s rebuild is happening after the damage was done — not as part of a premeditated plan.
• Miami’s draft picks are mid-lottery (Nos. 11 and 30), not top-five. This is a rebuild, but it’s not the kind of rebuild that lands you a generational talent like Joel Embiid.
• The NFL’s rookie contract structure doesn’t offer the same franchise-altering potential as the NBA’s lottery system.

So, maybe the better comparison isn’t the Process, but a condensed version of it — a one-off, high-risk reset rather than a multi-year tank.

The 2026 Draft: A Franchise-Record Opportunity

With 11 picks overall — including a franchise-record seven in the top 100 — Miami has more draft capital this year than at any point in recent history.

Here’s the full draft board:

With Tyreek Hill released and Jaylen Waddle traded, wide receiver is Miami’s most glaring need heading into the draft. Edge rusher and cornerback are also high priorities, according to ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques.

Sullivan has emphasized his focus on “infusing competition across the roster and establishing a strong foundation.” Translation: Miami is targeting young, affordable talent on rookie contracts over splashy free-agent signings.

Still, don’t rule out the possibility of trading down from No. 11 or No. 30. If the right offer comes along — particularly one that includes a future first-round pick — Miami could pivot to stockpile even more assets.

What Happens Next?

Three questions will define whether this rebuild becomes a masterstroke or a cautionary tale:

1. Who plays quarterback in 2026?
   With Tua gone, Miami has no clear starter. The Falcons are reportedly interested in signing him, but that doesn’t solve Miami’s problem. Will Sullivan draft a QB at No. 11 or No. 30? Or will the Dolphins roll the dice on a veteran free agent?
2. Will Miami use its draft picks or trade them?
   The Dolphins have plenty of ammunition, but Sullivan might decide to flip some of those picks for future assets. If the board doesn’t break their way, expect Miami to explore trade-down scenarios.
3. Can the culture survive the transition?
   The Dolphins didn’t just lose players — they lost an identity. Tua’s leadership, Tyreek’s explosiveness, Waddle’s reliability, McDaniel’s offensive creativity. Hafley and Sullivan are building something entirely new, and the 2026 draft will be the first glimpse of what that looks like.

Bottom Line

This offseason has been one for the history books. Between the record-setting dead cap hit, the franchise’s unprecedented draft capital, and the sweeping leadership changes, the Dolphins are betting big on a total reset.

Whether the “Trust the Process” comparison fits or not, Miami has made their intentions clear: short-term pain for long-term gain.

The 2026 NFL Draft, kicking off April 23 in Pittsburgh, is where that gamble starts to show results — or starts to unravel.

Stay tuned. This is going to be one wild ride.