The Miami Dolphins have experienced a great deal of turnover in recent years. Just from 2016, Miami has fallen off from a 10-6 playoff run to one of the least talented teams in the NFL. That was, of course, an executive decision. Moving on from so many pieces of the existing roster was done with the “bandaid” method in mind — if Miami was going to successfully overhaul their roster, they needed to cast out the pieces who weren’t going to be a part of the future quickly, in order to maximize their assets.
But not every play shed off that 2016 roster departed as a part of the great roster purge of 2019.
Here are the five former Miami Dolphins from opening day of 2016 thankful to be playing elsewhere across the league.
OL Billy Turner, Green Bay Packers
Turner was abruptly cut by Adam Gase and company in October of 2016 after a brutal showing. In a classic case of Dolphins irony, Turner has actually played quite well in life after Miami. He went on to start 11 games for the Denver Broncos in 2018 and has served as a starter in every single game for the Green Bay Packers after signing a 4-year, $28M contract with Green Bay this spring in free agency.
The Packers are 8-3.
WR Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns
Ah, yes. Landry has spoken at length about how it hurt to be dealt elsewhere in the league after thinking he’d spend his entire career in Miami. How’s that working out for the Dolphins? Landry gouged Miami this past week in his first game against his former team for 10 receptions, 148 yards and 2 touchdowns. Landry is on pace for 86 receptions for 1,226 yards and 7 touchdowns this season, his second with the Browns.
Cleveland is 5-6, 1 game out of the wildcard.
QB Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans
The Dolphins’ most polarizing player in recent memory. In hindsight, it seems as though both factions were right: Ryan Tannehill can be really good if you surround him with the right supporting cast — but he wasn’t “the guy” to lead Miami back to relevancy. Tannehill was traded to Tennessee for a 4th round pick this spring and has promptly gone 4-1 as the starter in Tennessee. He’s Pro Football Focus’ 5th highest scored quarterback since taking over.
Best quarterbacks since Week 7 via PFF. It's the Ryan Tannehill effect (#5 QB since he took over as full time starter).
After Week 6 Tennessee was the 29th best offense per DVOA
Going into Sunday they were the 19th best pic.twitter.com/zyXSKoK0So— Shaun Newkirk (@Shauncore) November 26, 2019
The Titans are 6-5 with two games left to play against the division leading Houston Texans.
OT Laremy Tunsil, Houston Texans
Tunsil was reportedly quite upset with the deal that sent him to Houston, but this will likely turn into a win for all sides when it is all said and done. Miami can get creative with the assets they were given for Tunsil and avoids paying out a big money contract that would be something they’d have to work around for years to come.
Tunsil? He gets to block for one of the best young quarterbacks in football in Deshaun Watson and compete for championships.
Houston is 7-4.
DL Jordan Phillips, Buffalo Bills
This one hurts. Phillips was cut by Miami because Adam Gase was butting heads with him. Phillips has promptly headed north to Buffalo and is playing very good football for the Bills. And the Dolphins always seem to get his best effort.
The Bills are 8-3.
S Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Steelers
You already know Fitzpatrick is pumped to be playing in Pittsburgh, considering how he strong-armed his way out of South Florida this season. Fitzpatrick, renowned for his versatility, suddenly took exception to being played in a slew of roles when the Dolphins were getting blown out — and here we are. Players who can’t buy in to Brian Flores’ culture are probably better off elsewhere anyway, but the gift of hindsight may not look back on this decision favorably if Fitzpatrick continues to roll up the turnovers for the Steelers.
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