Campbell Gone! So, What’s the 2025 Plan… Really?

Campbell might have been the best Phins player in 2025

The Miami Dolphins failed to reel back Calais Campbell for the 2025 season leaving more concern on their defensive line and the direction of the team this year. Amazing that the loss of a 39-year-old player could feel so bad, but Campbell was the engine in leadership and production for the defense last season, despite his advanced years. Obviously, this isn’t a hit on any long-term plans for the Dolphins, but it certainly is a hit on any short-term plans (whatever they are).

With Campbell heading to the Arizona Cardinals, the Phins now find themselves severely short on talent and bodies in the defensive interior. Campbell’s loss makes the need to shoot both straight and often in the 2025 Draft even more critical to avoid being soft in the trenches.

Campbell brought elite leadership & toughness

I get if Campbell simply chose another team, but what I can’t get is the fact that this team only offered him $2 million to return. Considering the Phins paid Liam Eichenberg $2.2 million, this was all but a slap in the face and wasn’t even a token effort to bring him back.

Why? How does this make the 2025 team better?

Miami making zero legitimate play for Campbell isn’t wise if they have legitimate aims for success this season. Maybe they have other plans?

Can you say the tank or the ‘downlow’ rebuild is on?

Campbell is everything you want from a player on and off the field and even in his late 30’s was one of the best in the league at his position last season. The Cardinals were the team that drafted him and that was surely enticement for him to sign there as well as offering $7 million said they wanted him. On the flip side, the Dolphins offering a paltry $2 million made it clearly Miami wasn’t even trying to be in the running.

Maybe we never had a shot at Campbell’s services? The low ball off though clear optics we weren’t really firing and likely greasing the skids for his decision to go to the Cards. Again, if Miami is really trying to win this season and get back to the postseason, this doesn’t make a bit of sense.

The draft will help offset Campbell’s departure, but…

We can find interior defenders in the draft, but you can bet with the best pay per head that teams rarely find defensive linemen who come in Year 1 and play at the level Campbell played last season. It took Christian Wilkens until his 3^rd season to play at a high level, which is the general trajectory for defensive linemen that succeed in the NFL. Yes, there are player who have a strong impact their rookie season on the defensive interior, but they are few and far between.

This reality makes finding two defensive linemen of quality in this draft even more challenging and we need two of them if we want defensive success. And if we select these players outside of the 1st Round it compounds the difficulty, especially for a team that consistently struggles to find talent in the draft.

Remember the Dolphins desperately need cornerback, safety, and offensive line help as well. That’s a load of starters needed to fill this roster out right through a single draft. I know we have a ton of picks, but losing Campbell makes getting this roster right through the draft a tall order…

… If we are trying to get back to the postseason. Of course, maybe that’s not the case.

The 2025 Draft just became even more critical if we have real expectations for this season, so let’s hope there’s a master plan in play. Go Phins!!!