Dolphins GM Chris Grier, Mike McDaniel share thoughts on trade deadline moves

Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel confirmed Wednesday what many thought to be true after the franchise’s personnel moves Tuesday — the day of the NFL’s trade deadline: They’re “all in.”

The trades for Pro Bowl edge rusher Bradley Chubb and running back Jeff Wilson Jr. are not only strong acquisitions, but they bring a new energy to Miami halfway through the season.

“You have a team that’s just having a season that they’re very much in the mix of everything, that’s winning football games more than they’re losing, and then you add a quality NFL player or players,” McDaniel said of Miami’s current scenario, also drawing on his experience with the 2019 49ers. “And if they’re the right type of people, if they’re the right type of personality, it can really breathe some added life, not new life, but really added life into the monotony of a season.”

Breaking down the transactions

In acquiring Chubb, the Dolphins also received a 2025 fifth-round pick, while the Denver Broncos walked away with running back Chase Edmonds, Miami’s 2023 first-round pick (which it got from the San Francisco 49ers in 2021), a 2024 fourth-round pick.

“Team defense, and what another edge rusher, especially of his quality, can add to the defense, it can make our team that much better,” McDaniel said of Chubb. “It can make people at the position that he plays, the defensive front [better]. It can help corners and safeties. It’s all collective. So that’s what I’m most excited for.”

He added trading Edmonds was just a means of satisfying a different kind of roster need, not a result of performance issues. The running back signed a two-year, $12 million deal in March, but saw his playing time dwindle as Raheem Mostert’s increased.

Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said he began casual conversations with Denver about acquiring Chubb a couple weeks ago. Those conversations became less casual and more frequent during the past few days after the Broncos got back from London, where they played the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Chubb recorded 12.5 sacks his rookie year in 2018 and made the Pro Bowl in 2020. The 2019 to 2021 seasons were marred by injuries, including an ACL tear in 2019. When asked about the Dolphins’ confidence in his ability to stay on the field and contribute, Grier said they did a lot of research on Chubb and other pass rushers with histories of ACL injuries, and they’re not too concerned.

His 5.5 sacks through eight games ranks 14th in the NFL and leads Miami’s defense by 2.5. The Dolphins are averaging about 1.9 sacks per game this season. Adding Chubb could provide much needed help in a division with quarterbacks such as Josh Allen and possible AFC playoff matchups against Lamar Jackson or Patrick Mahomes.

Grier said Chubb excited Miami’s coaching staff and locker room, adding that defensive coaches reacted to the news with hugs for him and McDaniel.

Chubb is in the final year of his rookie contract after he was drafted fifth overall in 2018. Grier said he expects to have an extension worked out with the 26-year-old shortly.

Miami also acquired running back Wilson from the 49ers in exchange for a 2023 fifth-round pick Tuesday.

Wilson has rushed for 468 yards and two touchdowns this season. His production waned after the 49ers landed All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey two weeks ago. Through five seasons in San Francisco, Wilson has rushed for 1,733 yards (averaging 4.4 per carry) and 17 touchdowns. He has also caught 45 passes for 387 yards and four touchdowns. He led the team in rushing yards with 600 (averaging 4.8 yards per carry) and seven touchdowns in 2020.

“Probably a little bit of influence on that one,” Grier said, laughing, when asked how McDaniel impacted the decision to acquire Wilson, whom McDaniel spent four seasons with as the 49ers run game coordinator. Wilson also played there with Mostert and under assistants Jon Embree (current Dolphins assistant head coach and tight ends coach) and Wes Welker (Miami’s wide receivers coach).

“[Wilson’s] a tough kid. He’s physical. We talked about him in the offseason as well. …He’s got toughness. He’s familiar with the system. So very excited to get him here.”

Implications of trades made, plus moves that weren’t

Despite injuries to cornerback Byron Jones and safety Brandon Jones, who has been ruled out for the season, Miami didn’t trade for players at either position. Grier said corners, pass rushers and offensive linemen are the main three positions NFL teams generally pine for around the trade deadline, limiting the Dolphins’ opportunities. He added that he and the coaching staff are confident in the group of players they have stepping in at those positions, but will continue to monitor opportunities to pick up additional help.

When asked for an update on Byron, who’s still recovering from an offseason surgery on his lower leg, Grier said he’s “still working his way back.”

After Tuesday, Miami is one of five teams in the NFL with no first-round pick next year. This reads as a sign that the franchise is confident in quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and not concerned with picking up another signal-caller in 2023. While Grier didn’t fully commit to that idea, McDaniel said he has been sure of Tagovailoa since coming to South Florida.

“From the get-go, I’ve fully seen Tua as our quarterback for this team and this franchise,” McDaniel said. “I think he’s an unbelievable talent. I guess in a roundabout way, that implication, I think that’s fair.”