The Miami Dolphins needed some defensive help if they are going to make a playoff push, and they got a lot of it on Tuesday by acquiring linebacker Bradley Chubb from the Denver Broncos.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter has the details. Schefter also reports that the Dolphins are working on a new long-term contract extension for Chubb.
The first-round pick going from Miami to Denver originally belonged to the San Francisco 49ers. Miami acquired that pick when the 49ers traded up to get Trey Lance in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Let’s break down what this means for both teams.
For Miami, it is an absolutely massive addition to a defense that has been one of the worst in the league across the board this season. As of Tuesday the Dolphins sit 23rd in the league in terms of yards against per game and only 22nd in points against. They were also in desperate need of somebody who can help make splash plays on defense given they are also near the bottom of the league in takeaways (28th) and sacks (23rd).
The 26-year-old Chubb already has 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles this season. He would lead the Dolphins in both categories. They have only forced five fumbles as a team (nobody has more than one) while only Jaelan Phillips (three) has recorded more than two sacks.
The Dolphins currently hold one of the wild-card spots in the AFC playoff race with a pretty nice cushion but definitely needed a defensive upgrade to hold on to it.
Miami has one of the league’s most explosive offenses and now adds a big-time playmaker to its defense. The Dolphins also continue to benefit from the aforementioned trade with San Francisco for the No. 3 overall pick last year. The Dolphins used another pick received in that trade (the No. 29 overall pick in 2022) to acquire wide receiver Tyreek Hill before this season.
As for the Broncos, it is pretty much a sign that the 2022 season has been a complete failure.
They started the year with the playoffs being the goal after acquiring Russell Wilson from Seattle but are just 3-5, have one of the league’s worst offenses and are on the outside of the AFC playoff picture. Now they are trading one of their best defensive players for future picks. Nothing has gone as expected.
The Chubb trade does at least give them back a first-round pick for the 2023 draft after sending their own pick (along four other draft picks and three players) to Seattle as part of the Wilson trade.
