Why Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan has most of the heavy lifting ahead

The Miami Dolphins extended De'Von Achane, Aaron Brewer and Jordyn Brooks because they are young veterans among the best at their positions.

>The good news is Achane, Brewer and Brooks are good athletes, good teammates and their professional approaches fit into a new culture to be established by first-year coach Jeff Hafley.

>When the Dolphins are ready to contend division and conference championships, ideally in 2028 and 2029, they should be under contract at reasonable rates.

>The bad news is that Achane, Brewer and Brooks do not play quarterback, left tackle, cornerback, edge rusher or wide receiver. Why do I say that? I say that because those are the most important and most expensive positions on most NFL rosters.

>There is a long, long list of key transactions in GM Jon-Eric Sullivan's future.

>It's great Miami appears set at running back, center and middle linebacker, but... to be fair, that is running back, center and middle linebacker. Those are not typically premium NFL positions.

>This is not to say Sullivan's deals were not appropriate. They'll look even better when the salary cap rises, as it always does, and Miami is ― they hope ― contending in two or three seasons.

>Miami moved on from young veteran wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, in part, because they felt his near-future contract requirements would not necessarily align with the timing of their rebuild.

>Now, in an ideal situation, quarterback Malik Willis exceeds expectations on a contract that is very reasonable considering his physical attributes and upside.

>If Willis were not to show out this season, Miami would likely use their first-round pick on a quarterback next year.

Dolphins extended good players, but not at most important positionsIn an ideal situation, Chop Robinson and Kenneth Grant blossom in a new system and live up to their first-round statuses.

>But if not, Sullivan is going to be looking at bigger-money spends at edge rusher and/or defensive tackle if and when Miami enters into a playoff-contending window.

>You see where we're going here.

>In an ideal world, rookie cornerback Chris Johnson emerges as a Top 10 NFL cornerback. Either way, Sullivan might be looking at a bigger-money spend on another cornerback in the next few years.

>The rub here is the salary cap situation.

>The good news is Sullivan is smartly maneuvering to help the Dolphins escape salary cap hell.

>Owner Stephen Ross, never one to let money get in way of an attempt to win, is taking on a $179 million dead cap total this season.

>

>At the moment, the Dolphins are projected third in the NFL with an estimated $97.4 million in cap space in 2027, according to Spotrac.

>They do not need to and will not spend all that at once.

Dolphins escaped salary cap hell but must spend wiselyAt the moment the Dolphins are projected second in the NFL in cap space in 2028, according to Spotrac.

>It shows you how Sullivan and cap expert Brandon Shore have cleaned up Miami's books for the coming years.

>If Patrick Paul takes the next step, Miami could secure him as their left tackle of the future next offseason. Or, perhaps, right tackle, if rookie Kadyn Proctor forecasts to stay on the left side and slide to tackle.

>Miami does not need to make that decision now, as Proctor will play left guard in 2026.

>

You know what costs a lot? QB, LT, CB, Edge, WR Miami seems likely to spend in most or all of these areas when their playoff contention window opens But the RB, C, LB extensions do seem reasonable https://t.co/VJ7StsSqCA

— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) July 22, 2026 In an ideal world ― and, let's be honest, the world is not often ideal ― Chris Bell and Caleb Douglas become very good-to-elite NFL receivers. But who knows.

>One thing we know is the Dolphins' GM is the son of a legendary NFL receivers coach (Jerry Sullivan) and so he does know the position.

>Look, former Dolphins GM Chris Grier added talent, through free agency, the draft, and trade, in the wake of Miami's last intentional teardown.

>But he missed on too many picks.

>And many of the uber-talented players he added through trade, such as Tyreek Hill and Jalen Ramsey, predictably came with off-field headaches.

>Florida Panthers GM Bill Zito told me on the ice, after a second straight Stanley Cup victory, that what mattered most was adding players that "fit into the room, and that the room accepted them seamlessly."

>Sullivan has draft capital and he has cap space.

>What will matter most is how he spends that capital and money, especially at the most important positions in the game. Sullivan must spend it not only on skilled players, but players who fit into the Dolphins' locker room.

>It will be tricky. But the best organizational leaders get it right more often than Miami has for the last 20 years.

class="related-link">The plan: Dolphins have cap space and draft picks and a plan, so what's next?

class="related-link">Big deal: Miami Dolphins smartly reach contract extension with Jordyn Brooks

class="related-link">Training camp: Thirteen Dolphins draftees report; most important is CB Chris Johnson

>Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.

>This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Why Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan has most of the heavy lifting ahead