After a 2023 season that saw the Dolphins compete with the Bills for the division title, the team experienced a slight decline in 2024. 2023 marked the first time since 2016 that the team managed double-digit wins and a playoff berth, so it seemed that their core of Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, and Jaylen Waddle was going to work.

The issue was centered around their defense’s inability to stop the run in the playoffs. In 2024, though, the script flipped.

After ranking third in points per game in 2023, they fell to 18th. Their 2023 figure of 27.9 points per game (also third) dropped to just above 20 per game, ranking 22nd in the league, and was only slightly higher than the Saints and Panthers.

This drop was mainly due to Tua’s injury and the lackluster play of Hill and Waddle. The lack of production was disappointing for fantasy owners, but ESPN’s Eric Karabell predicts Hill will return to top-three status at the position in 2025, which doesn’t seem ridiculous.

Tyreek Hill will be a major focal point once again in 2025, becoming a challenge again for the Patriots

The Dolphins’ offseason was uninspiring. The team saw star safety Jevon Holland depart to the Giants, while Raheem Mostert and Kendall Lamm both departed. Starting left tackle Terron Armstead also announced his retirement, a big blow to the offensive line.

However, the additions that were made are encouraging for Hill’s potential numbers in 2025. PFF’s second-highest graded guard, James Daniels, was added, and the team selected Jonah Savaiinaea in the second round.

Overall, the offensive line has a chance to be solid. 2024 second-round pick Patrick Paul will start at left tackle in Armstead’s absence. Aaron Brewer graded out to be a top ten center in his first year with Miami, and the aforementioned guards will fill the roles on either side of him.

Austin Jackson has been a solid right tackle throughout his career. Larry Borom started 27 games in four years in Chicago, so he should be a good swing tackle. If this unit can keep Tua clean and, more importantly, healthy, the team could be in a great spot offensively.

Notable additions in offensive skill positions are slim. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine will compete with Malik Washington for the WR3 role, and former Patriot Pharaoh Brown replaces Durham Smythe. Given the lack of additions, Hill will once again be WR1.

Defensively, the team had some big-time losses. Calais Campbell, Emmanuel Ogbah, Kendall Fuller, and Jordan Poyer all departed. Da’Shawn Hand and Anthony Walker also played more than 50% of snaps and moved elsewhere. Jalen Ramsey has been rumored to be the next star Miami plans to move on from. The defense now features the likes of Storm Duck and Kendall Sheffield as imminent contributors. Miami is going to have to SCORE in all caps if they want to win games.

72% of Hill’s receiving yards came with Tua under center, with Tua playing in 65% of games. Excluding his outlier game against the Browns, Hill had 32 receiving yards a game in Tua’s absence, but doubled that with Tua under center. Five catches a game with Tua means 11.3 points without a rushing attempt or touchdown, a solid baseline. While it may not be top-three level, a likely 15-20 points per game is certainly startable.

Hill’s potential ascension back into a star wide out will no doubt be a problem in New England. Last season, they held him to a reasonable 59 yards per game, which was slightly above his season average. In 2023, Hill gave them more issues, with a TD in each game and 76 yards receiving per outing. Keeping Hill contained in 2025 may become an especially difficult task, given the Dolphins’ offense is mostly devoid of other playmakers, and their defense is very suspect. The team will need to produce a big-time offense to win games, and that comes through Hill.

So what does this mean for the Patriots?

The Patriots added even more help to stop opposing wide receivers in 2025, with the addition of stud cornerback Carlton Davis to play opposite Christian Gonzalez. This gives them the versatility to allow Gonzalez to stay on one side of the field rather than travel if they choose to do so.

Furthermore, they retained safety Jaylinn Hawkins and selected DB Craig Woodson in the fourth round. Marcus Epps was also signed from the Raiders as a depth addition, while Jabrill Peppers and Kyle Dugger will be hoping to have healthy seasons, unlike ‘24. The Patriots have made some sound additions to the secondary, but that may not be enough if Hill returns to his best form in 2025.

The team will speed up Tua’s already rapid release with pressure in the front seven. A healthy duo of Milton Williams and Christian Barmore is lethal, offering a much better interior rush than Davon Godchaux. Despite playing the 25th most snaps at DT (680), he ranked 125th in pressures at the position (6).

It shouldn’t be a surprise that one of the league’s best receivers for nearly the last decade won’t stay down for long. Expect a major step up in production from Hill in 2025, and even though New England is more well-equipped to handle him now, they should be wary of his abilities.

Keeping Hill contained in 2025 may become an especially difficult task, given the Dolphins’ offense is mostly devoid of other playmakers, and their defense is very suspect. The team will need to produce a big-time offense to win games, and that comes through Hill.