The Miami Dolphins are one of several teams that could end up being sellers soon.
The team has gotten off to an 0-2 start, and in a division with the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots, it may not be long before the Dolphins feel their playoff hopes evaporate. If that happens, the team likely has several playmakers who would be of interest to contending teams.
One such player is edge-rusher Jaelan Phillips. Phillips is a former first-round pick who had a nice rookie season, but has never duplicated his numbers from that year. The Miami product is playing out his rookie contract in 2025 and will be a free agent after the season.
As a result, several teams who want to supplement their pass-rush may be willing to take a flier on the veteran. Tim Crean of Pro Football Network recently identified the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers as realistic trade partners and offered the following analysis on Phillips:
(Tyreek) Hill may not be the only Dolphins trade candidate if things start to get away from the AFC East squad. Pass rusher Jaelan Phillips is playing out his fifth-year option on his rookie deal and will command a serious contract this offseason. If the Dolphins start to tank, a full rebuild could be in order, and re-signing Phillips won’t make sense.
The former Miami Hurricanes star had 22.0 sacks in his first three seasons, but injuries have taken their toll, and he had just one last year. Now healthy again, Phillips could help bolster a contender’s pass rush.
As Crean mentioned, the Dolphins seem unlikely to give Phillips the contract he will want as the team could be headed for another rebuild. While Phillips' production has dipped in recent years, a contender may think they can fix him.
The Buccaneers make more sense now after the report that fellow pass-rusher Calijah Kancey will miss the rest of the 2025 season. Without Kancey, the team has a hole on the edge and Phillips would increase the depth at the very least.
As for the Cowboys, the team traded away star edge-rusher Micah Parsons before the 2025 season began and as a result, have a massive need there. The Cowboys have only generated three sacks as a team through two weeks.
As far as compensation goes, Phillips likely wouldn't command a huge haul. Considering his struggles and injury issues in recent years and his contract status, a mid-to-late-round pick should be enough to land him.