2025-2026 NFL Thread

[eltoslightfoot]

With the Dolphin's GM now gone, and presumably their coach at the end of the season - how will the rebuilding process look for Miami? Hint not great

Looking at the cap numbers, and all things being equal, they're already over the cap by 11 million dollars for 2026, obviosuly that will change once the 2026 cap number becomes available.

Tua's contract is a huge anchor around the dolphin's neck. He has a fully guaranteed contract in 2026, I don't see any way of them moving on from him next season, and I don't see them trading for a better QB, given their cap balance for 2026. I believe Tyreek Hill is all but gone, either retiring, or being cut (or both). There's no way that the dolphins will keep him on the books with nearly a 52 million dollar cap hit



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I listen to MANY a Dolphins podcast, and, yes, this is a two year rebuild. They will break the NFL record for dead cap in 2026, but after that they are fine. It is what it is. At least Chris Grier is gone now. It’s fine. The Broncos had a HUGE dead cap number last year and did fine. It all depends on getting the pieces right at the margins (get the right QB if you draft high).

Also, Waddle’s contract will age fine. It is already good for how good he is, same with Sieler and Jordyn Brooks.

There is even a chance if Tua remains healthy (big if), that they can trade him and split the salary. The new team takes a chance on Tua and only has to pay him like $25 million. Not bad, and I wouldn’t even mind keeping him at that price, but that isn’t an option. I could see any of the Shanny teams doing it. Rams if Stanford retires, etc.,

So we will just see how it plays out.

 

[pachyderm]

I listen to MANY a Dolphins podcast, and, yes, this is a two year rebuild. They will break the NFL record for dead cap in 2026, but after that they are fine. It is what it is. At least Chris Grier is gone now. It’s fine. The Broncos had a HUGE dead cap number last year and did fine. It all depends on getting the pieces right at the margins (get the right QB if you draft high).

Also, Waddle’s contract will age fine. It is already good for how good he is, same with Sieler and Jordyn Brooks.

There is even a chance if Tua remains healthy (big if), that they can trade him and split the salary. The new team takes a chance on Tua and only has to pay him like $25 million. Not bad, and I wouldn’t even mind keeping him at that price, but that isn’t an option. I could see any of the Shanny teams doing it. Rams if Stanford retires, etc.,

So we will just see how it plays out.

Tua is the wildcard though.

 

[maflynn]

There is even a chance if Tua remains healthy (big if), that they can trade him and split the salary.

I don't think any team is willing to take a chance on tua. I'm unsure how the dead money/cap will work if the dolphins trade him in 2026. I think they eat the contract for next year and like you said, consider the rebuild to be 2 years and don't expect much next season

His downsides are too risky for a team to take a chance - the man is made of paper mache.

 

[C0ncreteBl0nde]

I want Bo Nix to do well so, even as a RAIDER fan, I was happy for them.

Oh, Bo is the Man! He's a Duck, after all so I, too, want him to do well. I just didn't think he had his best day yesterday. Was just watching the Monday morning NFL show and they were talking about the Bengals/Bears game. I didn't watch it, but it sounds like it was a wild one with a 58-yard TD to win the game. I quit following the Bengals when Joe Cool's toe injury put him out for the season. His TOE of all things...smh.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

I don't think any team is willing to take a chance on tua. I'm unsure how the dead money/cap will work if the dolphins trade him in 2026. I think they eat the contract for next year and like you said, consider the rebuild to be 2 years and don't expect much next season

His downsides are too risky for a team to take a chance - the man is made of paper mache.

Yeah it totally hinges on him staying healthy--which, to be fair, he has so far. We'll see. Worst case, the Fins keep him around next year as a backup/bridge and eat the $40 remaining the next offseason.

 

[pachyderm]

Yeah it totally hinges on him staying healthy--which, to be fair, he has so far. We'll see. Worst case, the Fins keep him around next year as a backup/bridge and eat the $40 remaining the next offseason.

Or alive...

 

[maflynn]

The NFC Least is definitely living up to its reputation.

 

[Macky-Mac]

Halfway thru the season;

For me the biggest surprise would be the turn around of NE at 7-2.

I'm glad to see cast-offs Mac Jones and Sam Darnold having good seasons....just wish they weren't in the NFC West with the Rams.

I wouldn't have expect the Texans to be struggling at 3-5.

The Panthers have a chance to improve mediocre instead of awful.

 

[maflynn]

For me the biggest surprise would be the turn around of NE at 7-2.

Same, I keep waiting for them to stumble.

For the redemption arcs, Yeah I'm happy for them and also Daniel Jones, though he didn't do so well sunday.

 

[maflynn]

Sauce Gardner to the Colts - wow, that surprised me. They gave him a new contract before the season and now they traded him for some draft picks

 

[Mousse]

I wouldn't have expect the Texans to be struggling at 3-5.

4 of the losses have been by 1 score. When the had a winning record, they won the close games. Just goes to show the thin line between a winning club and a losing club.

Sauce Gardner to the Colts - wow, that surprised me. They gave him a new contract before the season and now they traded him for some draft picks

Colts are going all in this year, mortgaging the future for a possible SB win this year. I don't know if this is a good deal or a bad one; time will tell. 2 1st round pick is a too hefty price for a CB if it's in the top 10, but it's a bargain 25th selection or so.

Jets made the right move, IMO. One shutdown corner isn't going to fix the multitude of problems they have. They should deal those picks for some day 2 picks.

 

[maflynn]

One shutdown corner isn't going to fix the multitude of problems they have.

My take is, do they blow up the team and horde draft picks or try to just fill in some of the missing holes? With them trading Sauce now being traded, it makes it harder to fill in holes but its also probably almost too late to hold a fire sale. They only have a few hours before the trade deadline

 

[Mousse]

The Cowboys traded a 1st, 2nd and Miza Smith to the Jets for Quinnen Williams. This is a complete head scratcher as the Cowboys aren't playoff bounds and more than likely to pick high in the draft. Jerrah being Jerrah, I guess.😵‍💫 Jets got a steal. The new Jets GM is stockpiling draft picks for a quick rebuild.

 

[maflynn]

Jerrah being Jerrah,

My very thoughts, but does jerry really care about winning?

Jerry Jones: “When it gets slow, I stir that sh-t up”

“What you do is a little bit of my philosophy,” Jones told Smith. “Controversy. Controversy. I’m serious. I’m dead serious. Not serial killing. Not that. But controversy. The Dallas Cowboys probably have the kind of interest that we have in no small part because we stay out front and we stay controversial. When it gets slow, I stir that **** up. Fact. Fact. Fact

 

[Non-Euclidean]

What do you all think about the NFL allowing them to use their own balls now and not out of the box balls. Vic Fangio said that these records should have an asterick because of the change.

The new record is a 68 yard field goal, I believe the kicker had kicked the ball from his own 42 yard line (not sure about this). Seems crazy, and personally I don't like it. When you can kick a field goal from your own side of the field something's wrong.

I find it more legitimate a FG record than one made in Denver.

 

[Non-Euclidean]

I don't think any team is willing to take a chance on tua. I'm unsure how the dead money/cap will work if the dolphins trade him in 2026. I think they eat the contract for next year and like you said, consider the rebuild to be 2 years and don't expect much next season

His downsides are too risky for a team to take a chance - the man is made of paper mache.

Any other team would have to be morons to split salary when you know he will get cut.

 

[txa1265]

I find it more legitimate a FG record than one made in Denver.

I still hold a grudge over the 'F*** PV=nRT physics' fiasco ... especially since in the aftermath there was no ramp in data gathering (nor before), so it was so blatantly a targeted petty punishment. haha - time to let it go!

 

[pachyderm]

I still hold a grudge over the 'F*** PV=nRT physics' fiasco ... especially since in the aftermath there was no ramp in data gathering (nor before), so it was so blatantly a targeted petty punishment. haha - time to let it go!

Hate to be "that guy" but huh?

 

[txa1265]

Hate to be "that guy" but huh?

What got labeled 'deflate-gate', but came down to the fundamental lack of intelligence in the general population (not knowing air pressure varies as a function of temperature is EMBARASSING when most Americans have these things called 'cars') ... and the NFL's desire to punish the Patriots because they kept winning in the era of parity.

It went like this:
- Colts - we lost by 400 points, Patriots MUST have cheated!
- NFL - hey yeah, these three readings are different - MUST be cheating
- Smart people - what were your controls around this?
- NFL - sorry, can't hear you, too busy gathering angry mob supplies
- NFL - we're going to punish you BAD!
- Smart people - OK, show us all of the data you've collected that demonstrates that this was an outlier?
- NFL - oh, and we're imposing punishments outside of our own rules ... for REASONS
- Patriots ... hey judge, for real?
- Judge (counting $$) - huh?

Cue Revenge Tour and another Super Bowl and Goodell having to hand the trophy to the Patriots.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

Any other team would have to be morons to split salary when you know he will get cut.

Maybe, you might be right, but the Fins also might just keep him next year. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

 

[maflynn]

Looks like the Jets are the big winners from yesterday's trade deadline
Trading Sauce for two first round picks (2026 and 2027)
Williams for a 2026 2nd round and a 2027 first round.

Both the colts and cowboys over paid by a large margin. On one hand, I don't think Gardner is worth 2 first round picks, but on the other hand, with the cowboys largely out of the hunt for the playoffs, they wasted valuable draft picks that may not win them any more games during the season, never mind the post season

 

[Non-Euclidean]

Maybe, you might be right, but the Fins also might just keep him next year. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.

I would be shocked if he still has the locker room. The stuff he was saying after losses 2+ weeks ago and before was totally tone deaf. He was the biggest problem and nothing he said (that I heard in clips) acknowledged that.

 

[pachyderm]

I would be shocked if he still has the locker room. The stuff he was saying after losses 2+ weeks ago and before was totally tone deaf. He was the biggest problem and nothing he said (that I heard in clips) acknowledged that.

it's crazy how quickly it has all changed in MIA.

He was the "wonder coach" last season and going into this one...

 

[eltoslightfoot]

I would be shocked if he still has the locker room. The stuff he was saying after losses 2+ weeks ago and before was totally tone deaf. He was the biggest problem and nothing he said (that I heard in clips) acknowledged that.

He flat out apologized for it? I don’t think that is an issue, but there are other issues…We will have to see…

 

[Non-Euclidean]

He flat out apologized for it? I don’t think that is an issue, but there are other issues…We will have to see…

I need to elaborate, I think. I was referring to Tua.