The Miami Dolphins, sitting at a brutal 0-5 entering Week 7, are absolutely expected to be sellers at this year’s trade deadline. We’re talking veteran players on expiring contracts, all available for trade, and you’d expect a feeding frenzy for some of those guys. But hold up, because one of the most obvious trade candidates, an in-demand edge rusher named Chop Robinson, might not even hit the market. This is a head-scratcher that changes the whole dynamic.
Why Miami Is Holding Tight To A Hot Commodity
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport, despite what looks like massive interest from teams around the league, the Dolphins might not see Robinson as a trade chip at all. Their general manager, Jon-Eric Sullivan, will pick up the phone, sure, but the word is they view Robinson as “part of their future, rather than a trade chip.” Can you believe that? An 0-5 team, and they’re digging in on a first-round pick instead of cashing him in for future assets.
It makes a little sense when you look at their situation. The Dolphins are trying to stack up young talent, but they’re doing it with an NFL-record dead salary cap issue hanging over their heads. Moving Robinson, who was a 2024 first-round pick and is only 23 years old, would be like giving away gold. He’s under contract through 2027, with a fifth-year option for 2028, and they could even franchise tag him for the 2029 season. That’s at least two-and-a-half years of control, plus the tag possibility. While other teams would absolutely pay a steep price and Miami could land a strong draft pick haul, the Dolphins are apparently set on keeping him for the long haul.
What This Means For Miami’s Grind
If Robinson was like some of their other veterans, set to hit the open market after the 2026 season, he’d be gone in a heartbeat. But with that kind of team control, the Dolphins don’t have to make a snap decision. They could still move him next offseason or even at next year’s trade deadline if things change. But for this November’s 2026 NFL trade deadline, it seems more likely than not that Chop Robinson is sticking around in Miami, despite plenty of interested teams ready to make a huge offer. It’s a bold play, betting on a future that feels pretty far off right now for a team struggling this badly. How will this commitment to young talent pay off for a franchise trying to dig itself out of this hole? We’ll all be watching to see if this gamble on Robinson’s future pays off in the long run.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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