The Miami Dolphins could be in a pivotal year for both head coach Mike McDaniel and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, despite the latter signing a 4 year, $212 million deal last offseason that runs through 2028.
But they are not the only ones with much to both lose or gain in this upcoming season.
Bleacher Report’s Damian Parson believes that edge rusher, Jaelan Phillips, is one of the six players entering a contract year that is most set to have a ‘make or break’ year.
“The 2025 season will be massive for Jaelan Phillips.” Parson wrote on Friday, “The past two years have been tumultuous for him and the Miami Dolphins. The 26-year-old suffered consecutive season-ending injuries—a torn Achilles in 2023 and a torn ACL in Week 4 last season.
Phillips’ game is predicated on his first-step quickness and explosiveness to threaten the outside arc. Two lower-body injuries can impact his explosiveness going forward.”
Jaelan Phillips’ Future Could Rest On One Major Factor
Parson believes that much of whether this year is in fact “make” rather than a disappointment will hinge on if Phillips manages to stay healthy – something he has seldom managed to accomplish during his short stint in the pros.
“When healthy, Phillips produces, having accounted for 23 sacks in 29 games played.” Parson continued, “There’s an old adage: “The best ability is availability.” He has never played a full 17 games in a season, and returning from two serious lower-body injuries is not easy. These injuries and missed games will complicate the contract situation.
Phillips is talented enough to be a consistent pressure creator and pass-rusher. Staying healthy will prove to the Dolphins and the other 31 clubs that he can be counted on for a full season.
Teams will pay to add a pass-rusher with his talent to their defensive front, but at the correct cost. Once fully cleared, he can ramp up his recovery as he gets closer to the regular season.”
Can Jaelan Phillips Overcome His Injury Problems In 2025?
The issue with injuries is that, much of the time, once they start to compile they tend to get worse, not better.
Having said that, Phillips is an excellent athlete, and one who is still just 26 years of age. And, according to ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques, both he and fellow injured edge rusher, Bradley Chubb, will be ready to start the season.
“All three players [Chubb, Phillips and 2024 first round pick, Chop Robinson] are expected to be available for the start of the regular season,” Louis Jacques wrote on Friday, “which should give Miami its best pass-rush rotation in recent memory. McDaniel said the pressure the Dolphins’ trio brings to practice daily also sharpens their quarterbacks and offensive linemen.”
The prospect of Chubb, Phillips and Robinson is certainly a dangerous one. But it could also mean that the former Miami product has to work extra hard to make himself stand out and prove himself to be worthy of a big money extension, particularly given Miami’s strenuous cap situation – they currently have just the 27th most space in the NFL.
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