The Miami Dolphins are in Year 1 of their rebuild. Moreover, the new front office, led by general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, has made major decisions, including cutting ties with Tyreek Hill, Bradley Chubb, and Tua Tagovailoa while also trading Jaylen Waddle.
Miami also had a plethora of draft picks this past 2026 NFL Draft to begin revamping the team and making it younger. Furthermore, the Dolphins have a new QB in Malik Willis as they hope he can stabalize for the foreseeable future.
One player who was on the Dolphins team last season was veteran tight end Darren Waller, who came out of retirement. During the May 14 edition of “All the Smoke,” Waller shared his thoughts on the Miami rebuild, noting that he believed that the team would have a fire sale.
“With the way they’re going, they’re kind of blowing everything up,” Waller said. “I thought for a second they were going to trade everybody. They got everybody, but they traded Waddle. I thought they were going to trade [De’Von] Achane for a minute, but I would definitely keep him. I’d build everything around him.”
The veteran tight end played 171 snaps, was targeted 34 times, and recorded 24 receptions, 283 receiving yards, and six touchdown receptions. Nonetheless, given his age, Waller isn’t part of the rebuild.
Darren Waller Sees Dolphins Taking Their Bumps Next Season
Despite not being part of the rebuild, Waller sees the picture that the new Dolphins front office is trying to put together. He states that Miami will have to endure a challenging upcoming season and hit on their picks to build something that can turn them into contenders.
“I feel like you gotta kind of take an NBA route,” Waller added. “We might be bad for a couple of years. But we can stock up on these picks. They are getting some extra picks and need some of those first-round guys to hit right away. You can build something, start luring some free agents in, but it is going to take some time.
“It is going to take a process, especially bringing new people in. The quarterback is gone, all your impact players are gone. You will have to take some lumps the first year, but build from there and hope those draft picks hit.”
Darren Waller Is Happy for De’Von Achane Getting Extension
As Waller mentioned, he would like to see the Dolphins build around Achane, and it seems Miami is doing that after rewarding the running back with a new contract. Achane reportedly signed a four-year contract extension worth $64 million to remain in South Florida.
During his interview with Yahoo Sports, Waller expressed his happiness at seeing Achane sign his mega contract extension.
“I’m super excited for that dude,” Waller told the outlet. “Man, he’s an alien. He’s so talented. He was doing everything last year with a calm, poised approach, and nothing really got to him. Just off the freakish talent he has, that man deserves every penny. I know his agent as well. Really cool for him. He deserves every penny, probably even more.”
Darren Waller Shares True Thoughts on Dolphins Rebuild