Miami Dolphins Trade Rumors Intensify as Early-Season Collapse Forces Tough Questions in South Beach
“Coach McDaniel told me the team is reviewing all options. I said, if there’s truly a place where I can help turn things around and win — then I’m open. But if not, I’m staying in Miami, the city that backed me, and I’ll do everything I can to earn it.”
That candid quote from a Dolphins starter captures the uneasy mood in Miami, where a once-promising season has quickly unraveled. Sitting at 1–5 to start the 2025 campaign, the Dolphins are facing mounting pressure both on and off the field — and the front office may soon have no choice but to consider major roster changes ahead of the
From Contender to Crisis
Just one year ago, the Dolphins were hailed as one of the NFL’s most explosive teams — a blend of speed, creativity, and swagger under
Injuries have played a role, but execution and leadership are also under scrutiny. As one AFC executive told
And those calls have reportedly already begun.
Star Names Circulating in Trade Talks
According to reports from CBS Sports and SI, several high-profile Dolphins players — including wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, and pass rushers Bradley Chubb
GM Chris Grier is said to be evaluating all scenarios, from soft roster resets to potential blockbuster trades, depending on how the next two weeks unfold. If the Dolphins continue to slide, moving one or two key veterans could free up cap space and stockpile draft capital for a rebuild around franchise quarterback
“It’s not about blowing it up,” one league source told CBS Sports. “It’s about being smart if the season keeps slipping away.”
A Locker Room Searching for Answers
Inside the locker room, players are trying to block out the noise — but the tension is real. The anonymous player’s quote reflects both frustration and commitment: a willingness to do whatever it takes to win, whether that means staying the course in Miami or accepting a fresh start elsewhere.
Veteran leaders have emphasized unity, while McDaniel has doubled down on accountability, telling reporters this week, “We’re not selling — we’re solving.” Still, with the trade deadline looming and playoff hopes fading fast, the Dolphins’ next few games could determine whether that message holds.
The Road Ahead
For now, Miami remains a team at a crossroads — too talented to quit, but too flawed to ignore its issues. If the slide continues, expect the trade market to heat up quickly, with contending teams circling for bargains.
Whether it’s Waddle, Chubb, or another name on the move, one thing’s certain: the clock is ticking in South Beach, and the Dolphins must decide whether to double down on their core — or cash in before it’s too late.
Either way, the message from inside the locker room is clear: “We’re not done fighting yet.”
Eagles’ Saquon Barkley Hit with NFL Punishment Over Helmet Use
Philadelphia Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley was charged one of the heftier fines for lowering his helmet during a run in Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The NFL announced Saturday that Barkley has been fined $46,371 for unnecessary roughness/use of the helmet for a run during the second quarter.
After catching a short pass from Jalen Hurts, Barkley lowered his head into safety Chamarri Connor’s shoulder pad, gaining extra yards before stepping out of bounds. The play resulted in a six-yard gain, and Barkley was not penalized.
Barkley finished the game with 22 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown and two catches for 6 yards. The Eagles (2-0) defeated the Chiefs (0-2) by a score of 20-17 in a Super Bowl 59 rematch.
Barkley Has a History of Lowering His Helmet
This marks the second consecutive season Barkley has been fined for the same offense. In Week 6 last year against the Browns, he was penalized $45,020 for lowering his head on a play that gained eight yards and drew no in-game penalty.
After shrugging off a tackle attempt by Cleveland’s Ogbo Okoronkwo, now with the Eagles, Barkley lowered his head when meeting Browns defensive tackle Maurice Hurst.
To help prevent neck and head injuries, the NFL has emphasized penalizing and fining ballcarriers who lower their helmets.
Barkley was not happy with the NFL’s decision last season, according to NJ Advance Media.
“Oh, that’s crazy,” he said when asked about the fine. “I’ve got to appeal that.”
Barkley said, as a runner, his options are limited in that situation.
“On that particular play, I spun out of a run and in front of me is a 300-pound defensive lineman,” Barkley said. “It wasn’t even me trying to run over him. It was more bracing myself and getting ready for contact. Do I get fined if he picks me up and slams me on my head and I do the same action? I don’t think so. I was just able to get low and keep moving forward.”
xqTravis Kelce Also Fined For Obscene Gesture
Star tight end for the Chiefs, Travis Kelce, was also fined for actions during Sunday’s game.
Kelce was fined $14,491 for an obscene gesture — a “huevos” tribute to “Major League” — following a 23-yard catch. He stiff-armed Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean and celebrated by gesturing to his pelvic area. He was not flagged on the play.
The catch was Kelce’s longest of the game, finishing with four receptions for 61 yards. However, a fourth-quarter drop turned into an interception for the Eagles, ending the Chiefs’ hopes for a late comeback.
The NFL has been cracking down on unsportsmanlike conduct this season. After Week 1, Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter was fined $57,222 — his weekly salary — for spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott before the opening play. New York Jets edge rusher Will McDonald was also fined $14,491 for a grenade celebration.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the league has issued $222,421 in unsportsmanlike conduct fines in just the first two weeks.
