Miami Dolphins FAQ: Why Mike McDaniel is staying and more - ESPN

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — For the first time in a quarter century, Chris Grier is no longer a member of the Miami Dolphins.

Team owner Stephen Ross announced the decision Friday to mutually part ways with the longtime general manager midway through his 10th season in the role — roughly 12 hours after the Dolphins' 28-6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens at Hard Rock Stadium dropped their record to 2-7.

Just two years ago, at the very same stadium, the Dolphins looked like the NFL's next power when they hung 70 points on the Denver Broncos. But a series of injuries, asset mismanagement and embarrassing on-field results followed.

Four days out from the NFL trade deadline, Miami is at a critical juncture in what could be another rebuild in South Florida. Will the team hang on to its core players in hopes that the roster is just a few tweaks away from returning to its 2023 form? Or will interim general manager Champ Kelly, who joined the team in March and has no previous attachment to most of the roster, start accumulating draft capital and clearing salary cap space?

Also, what does this mean for coach Mike McDaniel, who has answered questions about his job security for the better part of the past month-and-a-half? And is the end near for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa?

ESPN NFL Nation Dolphins reporter Marcel Louis-Jacques, senior NFL insiders Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler, and senior NFL draft analyst Matt Miller weigh in on what lies ahead for this Miami team:

For a couple reasons, the first of which being Ross's realization that the Dolphins' most prevalent issue was their roster construction, not their coaching. Grier oversaw two massive projects starting in 2019, which saw the Dolphins strip their roster down and stockpile draft