The 2017 season was the Miami Dolphins' 48th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 52nd overall, their second under general manager Chris Grier and their second under head coach Adam Gase. The team came off from a 10-6 record and a playoff appearance for the first time since 2008. They were seen as potential playoff contenders and looked to make consecutive playoff seasons for the first time since the 2000 and 2001 seasons. However, the team was affected by the loss of starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who tore his ACL during practice and was ruled out for the season. The team turned to former Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, who came out of retirement to become Tannehill's replacement and team's starter. After Tannehill got injured, coach Adam Gase called former Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning about possibly coming out of retirement and taking Tannehill's place. However Manning later declined the idea of coming out of retirement. Gase was the QB coach and offensive coordinator of Peyton's Broncos between the 2012 and 2014 seasons. Additionally, the Dolphins were also one of the teams Peyton considered signing with following his release by the Colts in 2012. Later during the season, the team traded starting running back Jay Ajayi to the eventual champion Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a 2018 fourth round draft pick on October 31.
The team's Week 1 game against the Buccaneers was rescheduled to November 19 due to Hurricane Irma. Week 11 was originally the two teams' bye week. Week 1 would become the bye week for both teams and they would not play until Week 2. This was first time since the Arizona Cardinals in 2001 in which a team had a bye week in Week 1.
The Dolphins struggled during the season and failed to improve on the previous season's record after losing to the Patriots on Week 12 and were eliminated from the postseason after losing to the Chiefs in Week 16. They finished with a reverse record from the previous year, going 6–10. This was the Dolphins's fourteenth season missing the playoffs since the league's realignment in 2002.
Roster changes
Trades Position Dolphins Receive Jaguars Receive SourceTEJulius Thomas2017 7th Round Draft Pick Position Dolphins Receive Rams Receive SourceDEWilliam Hayes & 2017 7th Round Draft Pick2017 6th Round Draft Pick
Free agents
Signings Position Player Age 2016 Team Contract OLB Lawrence Timmons 30 Pittsburgh Steelers 2 years, $12 million G Ted Larsen 29 Chicago Bears 3 years, $5.6 million FS Nate Allen 29 Oakland Raiders 1 year, $3.4 million TE Anthony Fasano 32 Tennessee Titans 1 year, $2.75 million FS T. J. McDonald 26 Los Angeles Rams 1 year, $1.3 million QB David Fales 26 Chicago Bears 1 year, $690K QB Jay Cutler 34 Chicago Bears 1 year, $10 million
Unrestricted
Position Player 2017 Team Notes TE Jordan Cameron Retired DE Andre Branch Miami Dolphins G Jermon Bushrod Miami Dolphins LS John Denney Miami Dolphins LB Spencer Paysinger New York Jets QB T. J. Yates Buffalo Bills LB Donald Butler None CB Chimdi Chekwa None S Bacarri Rambo Buffalo Bills LB Jelani Jenkins Oakland Raiders TE Dion Sims Chicago Bears S Reshad Jones Miami Dolphins
Restricted
Position Player 2017 team Notes C Anthony Steen Miami Dolphins LB Mike Hull Miami Dolphins TE Thomas Duarte Miami Dolphins CB Lafayette Pitts Miami Dolphins
Exclusive rights
Position Player 2017 team Notes LB Kiko Alonso Miami Dolphins S Michael Thomas Miami Dolphins TE Dominique Jones None DE Nick Williams None RB Damien Williams Miami Dolphins
Departures Position Player Age 2017 Team DT Earl Mitchell 29 San Francisco 49ers DE Dion Jordan 27 Seattle Seahawks OLB Jelani Jenkins 25 Oakland Raiders TE Dion Sims 26 Chicago Bears QB T. J. Yates 28 Buffalo Bills DE Mario Williams 32 Retired LB Spencer Paysinger 28 New York Jets LB Donald Butler 28 Retired S Bacarri Rambo 26 Buffalo Bills TE Dominique Jones 29 Retired TE Jordan Cameron 28 Retired FS Isa Abdul-Quddus 28 Retired CB Byron Maxwell 29 Seattle Seahawks
Draft
2017 Miami Dolphins Draft Round Selection Player Position College 1 22 Charles Harris DE Missouri 2 54 Raekwon McMillan OLB Ohio State 3 97 Cordrea Tankersley CB Clemson 5 164 Isaac Asiata G Utah 5 178 Davon Godchaux DT LSU 6 194 Vincent Taylor DT Oklahoma State 7 237 Isaiah Ford WR Virginia Tech Notes The team traded their third- and fourth-round selections as well as their sixth-round selection in 2016 (186th) to Minnesota in exchange for Minnesota's third-round selection in 2016 (86th). If Miami receives a fourth-round compensatory selection, that pick will go to Minnesota. If they do not receive a compensatory selection, Minnesota will receive Miami's original fourth-round selection. The Dolphins were awarded three compensatory picks by the NFL, one in the third round (97th) and two in the fifth (178th and 184th).
Undrafted free agents
Position Player CollegeS Maurice Smith GeorgiaDE Joby Saint Fleur Northwestern Oklahoma StateLB Praise Martin-Oguike TempleWR Malcolm Lewis Miami (FL)RB De'Veon Smith Michigan WR Drew Morgan Arkansas LB Chase Allen Southern Illinois WR Francis Owusu StanfordCB Larry Hope AkronT Eric Smith Virginia DE Cameron Malveaux Houston WR Damore'ea Stringfellow Ole MissP Matt Haack Arizona State
Staff
Final roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Atlanta Falcons W 23–20 1–0 Hard Rock Stadium Recap 2 Baltimore Ravens L 7–31 1–1 Hard Rock Stadium Recap 3 at Philadelphia Eagles L 31–38 1–2 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 4 at Minnesota Vikings W 30–9 2–2 U.S. Bank Stadium Recap
Regular season
Schedule On December 13, 2016, the NFL announced that the Dolphins would play host to the New Orleans Saints as one of the NFL London Games at Wembley Stadium. The game occurred during Week 4 (Sunday, October 1), and was televised in the United States.
The remainder of the Dolphins' schedule was finalized and announced on April 20.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1Bye 2September 17 at Los Angeles Chargers W 19–17 1–0 StubHub Center Recap 3 September 24 at New York Jets L 6–20 1–1 MetLife Stadium Recap 4 October 1 New Orleans Saints L 0–20 1–2 Wembley Stadium Recap 5 October 8 Tennessee Titans W 16–10 2–2 Hard Rock Stadium Recap 6 October 15 at Atlanta Falcons W 20–17 3–2 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap 7 October 22 New York Jets W 31–28 4–2 Hard Rock Stadium Recap 8 at Baltimore Ravens L 0–40 4–3 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 9 November 5 Oakland Raiders L 24–27 4–4 Hard Rock Stadium Recap 10 at Carolina Panthers L 21–45 4–5 Bank of America Stadium Recap 11 November 19 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 20–30 4–6 Hard Rock Stadium Recap 12 November 26 at New England Patriots L 17–35 4–7 Gillette Stadium Recap 13 December 3 Denver Broncos W 35–9 5–7 Hard Rock Stadium Recap 14 New England Patriots W 27–20 6–7 Hard Rock Stadium Recap 15 December 17 at Buffalo Bills L 16–24 6–8 New Era Field Recap 16 December 24 at Kansas City Chiefs L 13–29 6–9 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 17 December 31 Buffalo Bills L 16–22 6–10 Hard Rock Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 2: at Los Angeles Chargers
After their week 1 game was postponed due to Hurricane Irma, the Dolphins traveled out to LA to face the new Los Angeles Chargers, where they won 19–17 to start the season at 1–0. It was also the Dolphins' first road win over the Chargers since 2005.
Week 3: at New York Jets
Week 4: vs. New Orleans Saints NFL London Games
Week 5: vs. Tennessee Titans
Due to the delayed game of week one, this ended up being the first home game for the Dolphins in the regular season.
Week 6: at Atlanta Falcons This was the Dolphins' first win in Atlanta since 1980, during the Don Shula era.
Week 7: vs. New York Jets
Week 8: at Baltimore Ravens
Week 9: vs. Oakland Raiders
Week 10: at Carolina Panthers
Week 11: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In a game that was originally going to be played in week 1, but got moved due to Hurricane Irma, the Buccaneers won 30–20 thanks to three Jay Cutler interceptions
Week 12: at New England Patriots
Week 13: vs. Denver Broncos
Week 14: vs. New England Patriots
Week 15: at Buffalo Bills
Week 16: at Kansas City Chiefs
Week 17: vs. Buffalo Bills
This game marked the end of Jay Cutler's, Jarvis Landry's, Ndamukong Suh's, and Mike Pouncey's tenure in Miami. Landry was ejected from the game after instigating a fight following a fourth-quarter touchdown reception.
Standings
Division
Conference
Notes
References
External links