Several Miami Dolphins players had a subpar 2025 season.
Defensive tackle Zach Sieler is among those looking for a bounce-back campaign.
With the Dolphins in the early stages of their rebuild under coach Jeff Hafley, Sieler said he hasn't thought about whether he'll be with the team beyond the 2026 season.
“I told them, y'all are here to take my job and that's my job not to let you,” he said during OTAs in May. “And there's no hard feelings. The only thing that happens there is if my home's not here, it's not here, but I really still feel like it's here.
“I love it here. My home is here. My wife and I love it down here. We want to make a name, and I want to retire a Dolphin, so I'll do whatever it takes to stay here. It's been exciting. The fan base here is incredible. Go play, go make a play. There's no ties to anybody. Go out there and win a job. I think when you breed that competition, you start with that from Day 1, you can really do something special here obviously.”
After registering back-to-back 10-sack seasons, Sieler experienced a dip in production in 2025. In 17 games, he finished with 5.5 sacks and 47 tackles during the Dolphins' 7-10 season.
Sieler signed a three-year, $67.5 million extension, including $44 million in guaranteed money, last August and is under contract with Miami through 2029. However, he has no guaranteed money remaining on his contract after the 2026 season. His cap hit also jumps to $20.8 million next year, meaning he'll likely need an exceptional season to solidify his place on the Dolphins' roster.
His guaranteed money disappears after this season
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During the short time Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan have been in Miami, they've already moved on from high-priced veterans like Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, and Bradley Chubb. With the Dolphins transitioning to a more aggressive defensive scheme under Hafley, Sieler should have more opportunities to generate pressure while continuing to make an impact against the run.
Of course, young players like Kenneth Grant and Jordan Phillips will also need to step up, allowing Sieler to face fewer double teams. After ranking among the NFL's top five defenses in 2024, Miami fell to 22nd last season. If the Dolphins are going to regain their previous form, Sieler will need to elevate his play. His future with the franchise could depend on it.
