MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The last time the Miami Dolphins were in full rebuild mode, it was supposed to be the beginning of something new.

In 2019, the Dolphins began the season 0-7, including a 59-10 loss in Week 1, a 43-0 loss in Week 2 and a 31-6 loss in Week 3.

Their 5-11 overall record earned the team a top-five pick.

The Dolphins drafted quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with the No. 5 overall pick in 2020, hoping he would become the franchise-changing answer they had been searching for since Dan Marino’s retirement.

Eventually, former Dolphins general manager Chris Grier built an elite supporting cast around Tagovailoa -- highlighted by dynamic wide receivers Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill.

Don’t forget about a defense that once featured playmakers like Christian Wilkins, Andrew Van Ginkel, Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb and Xavien Howard, among others.

Seven years have come and gone, and the Dolphins are still searching for their first playoff win since 2000 and their first AFC East title since Chad Pennington’s run in 2008.

Enter Jon-Eric Sullivan and Jeff Hafley - and with them comes yet another roster reset.

The Dolphins released Tagovailoa, Hill, and Chubb, traded safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the New York Jets - and most recently sent Waddle to the Denver Broncos for draft compensation.

There is, however, some positive news for the Dolphins as they head into next month’s draft.

The Dolphins will have two first-round picks (No. 11 and 30) for the first time since 2021, when they selected Waddle and Phillips.

In the first 100 picks of the 2026 draft, Miami is currently slated to have two first-round selections, one second-round pick and four third-round picks.

Earlier in the 2025 season, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that “long before the Dolphins benched Tua Tagovailoa and turned to rookie Quinn Ewers, they made a push” to acquire Joe Burrow, who was selected No. 1 overall in Tagovailoa’s draft class.

Schefter said that before the 2020 draft, the Dolphins “offered the Bengals four first-round picks in exchange for the No. 1 overall selection and the right to draft Joe Burrow.”

Sullivan and Hafley’s main focus will be surrounding quarterback Malik Willis with the right weapons.

With the release of Waddle and Hill, the Dolphins now have one of the thinnest wide receiver rooms in the league - featuring names like Tutu Atwell and Jalen Tolbert, acquired this month in free agency, Malik Washington, Tahj Washington, Terrance Marshall Jr., Theo Wease Jr., and AJ Henning.

Tagovailoa had to work with a group of largely unproven receivers during his first couple of seasons under center, whereas Willis is trying to revive his career after being drafted by the Titans and previously backing up Jordan Love in Green Bay.

Sullivan and Hafley weren’t with Miami for the ups and downs of the last regime, but their message remains clear and that message is they are going to build the roster their way.

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