After acquiring the Pro Bowl linebacker ahead of the trade deadline, the Miami Dolphins are signaling to the rest of the NFL that they aren’t messing around.
The Miami Dolphins are officially all in.
Before Tuesday’s trade deadline, Miami (5-3) acquired Pro Bowl linebacker Bradley Chubb from Denver and running back Jeff Wilson Jr. from San Francisco — two high-impact players who should be incorporated into the system immediately.
The Fins started the season 3-0 before Tua Tagovailoa sustained a concussion that sidelined him for three weeks. Miami went 0-3 in said games but still boasts an undefeated record when he plays a full game. Among starting quarterbacks, Tua averages the most yards per pass (9.0) with the highest QBR (78.7) and rating (112.7).
Adding one of the league’s best pass-rushers in Chubb on the defensive side of the ball and inserting a solid RB in Jeff Wilson should only bolster a team that already has an excess number of superstars, namely Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Boardroom takes a look at the trades, contracts, and why they fit in Miami.
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Bradley Chubb
The Dolphins traded RB Chase Edmonds, a 2023 first-round pick (via 49ers), and a fourth-round pick (2024) for Chubb and a fifth-round pick. It’s a huge acquisition for several reasons, starting with Miami’s mediocre defense which has recorded only 15 sacks this season (No. 21 in the NFL). The Dolphins have pressured opposing quarterbacks on just 22% of their dropbacks this season, the fourth-lowest rate in the NFL, per ESPN.
Chubb appears to be the answer to that. Consider the following:
- He’s recorded 5.5 sacks this season (T-6th in the NFL).
- He recorded 26 total in 49 career games with the Broncos.
- Chubb has the third-highest pass rush win rate, fighting blocks within 2.5 seconds 26.7% of the time.
In eight games with Denver, Chubb has racked up 26 tackles (four for loss), 5.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles.
Chubb’s Contract Situation
Chubb is an unrestricted free agent after this season, but the Dolphins are expected to work out a long-term deal with him, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Let’s take a look at his current contract.
- 2022 Base Salary: $7,064,444
- Initial Contract: 4 years, $27,271,241
- Average Salary: $6,817,810
- Market Value: 3 years, $79,936,266
As of today, the Dolphins have $13.2 million in cap space for the 2023 season.
Jeff Wilson Jr.
In a separate deal from Chubb, the Dolphins replaced Edmonds with Wilson Jr. in exchange for a fifth-round pick in 2025. Perhaps the most interesting bit in all of this is head coach Mike McDaniel assembling a two-man backfield with Raheem Mostert and Wilson Jr. — both of whom played for him when he was an offensive coordinator in San Francisco.
The Niners had no use for Wilson after trading for Christian McCaffrey, but Miami can use all the help in this area. They’re averaging the fifth-fewest rushing yards per game (88.1) with only five rushing touchdowns (third-fewest).
Wilson’s Stats in 2022:
- Touchdowns: 2
- Yards/Rush: 5.1
- Yards/Game (min. 10 attempts): 88.3
- Receptions: 10
Wilson’s Contract Situation
- Years: 1
- 2022 Salary: $1,085,000
- Guaranteed: $530,000
- UFA: 2023
Trajectory
Miami was already in a relatively good place and it should stay that way so long as Tua stays healthy. Given how many picks the Dolphins have traded, on top of losing their 2023 first-round pick, they aren’t thinking about rebuilding or the future. They want to win and they want to win now.
It’ll be difficult competing with the 6-1 Bills (who they beat in Week 3), but there’s a good chance they hit a stride and win five straight. Currently riding a two-game winning streak, Miami plays the Bears (3-5), Browns (3-5), and Texans (1-5-1) in the next three weeks. Additionally, it has the 13th-easiest schedule by opponent win percentage (.486) the rest of the way.
But at this rate, it shouldn’t matter who the Dolphins’ opponent is. When you’re all in the way Miami is, there’s no turning back.
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