Miami entered the year with a hope for a disruptive pass rush, counting on a healthy Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips to team with Chop Robinson and a training-camp addition in Matt Judon. That five-alarm fantasy never materialized, and at the trade deadline the Dolphins sent Phillips to the Eagles in exchange for a third-round pick.
Phillips’ looming free agency was a key factor in the move. Rather than risk a compensatory pick, the Dolphins redirected his contract situation by trading him. Pro Football Focus pegged Phillips as the No. 14 available free agent and projected a one-year, $15 million deal.
In 2025, Phillips delivered three sacks in nine games for Miami, with one notable miscue that underscored his lingering inconsistency. In a late-season game against the Chargers, he had Herbert in his grasp but failed to bring him down, setting up a game-winning sequence for Los Angeles before Phillips was traded three games later.
Jaelan Phillips’ Dolphins career has been a mix of flashes and injuries. He finished with 26 sacks for the franchise, but injuries limited him in 2023 and 2024, including a torn Achilles in 2023 and a torn ACL in 2024 after colliding with fellow Dolphins player Jordan Poyer. While not labeled a bust, his time in Miami was repeatedly hampered by health setbacks.
Overall, the 2025 season marked a reset for the Dolphins, with leadership changes and a draft-capital move at the trade deadline signaling a shift toward rebuilding. The team’s front office and on-field personnel decisions reflected a broader effort to course-correct after a challenging year.
