The Rebuildables: What Now for the Jets, Dolphins, and Browns?

0:00Welcome to the Ringer NFL Show. I'm Sheil Kapadia. Today we present to you the Rebuildables. We have teams that are clearly looking ahead to next season and beyond. The Jets with the trades they made this week. The Dolphins firing GM Chris Greer. The Browns doing whatever the Browns are doing. So now what? That's the question. Now what for these teams? How do they break the cycle of losing and find a path to success to help figure that out? We have our old friend. And now with ESPN, Ben Solak, we got into it like we used to. I suggested a trade. He said, no way. We break it all down for those three teams when we come back.

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1:28The T-Mobile home run derby is right around the corner. It might be one of the best showcases of pure power in all sports. Baseball's biggest sluggers, along with some legendary announcers, Pujols, Rizzo, Bonds, Sabathia, Al Duncan. Yeah. Hunter Pence, Matt Faskersian, a whole bunch of people. And it's the one night where you don't swing to make contact. You swing to make history. I'm interested to see what Bonds says about this actually. Anyway, it is all live from Citizens Bank Park in Philly. Watch the T-Mobile Home Run Derby live on Netflix Monday, July 13th at 8 p.m. Eastern, 5 p.m. Pacific.

2:18All right. We are back here on the Rinker NFL show welcoming in our old friend. And so like, I have to say, it's nice to see you. The hair looks good. The shirt looks good. I feel like the last video I saw you on, you were wearing like pajamas. And I really, I was a bad friend because I should have texted to make sure you were okay. I had no, like, I didn't even think that it would appear like I was wearing a bathrobe at all. And I still am surprised that that was the case. I've had that flannel for forever. I guarantee you, if we look back at other social clips, I've worn that flannel in other social clips.

2:51So whatever the angle, the bedhead, whatever it was. Yeah, I'm now a guy who does bathrobe film analysis. Listen, I tell people you got to differentiate your product somehow. I thought that's just what you were doing. I thought it was a good content play for you. All right, let's do it. The rebuildables. That's what we're talking about. These teams whose seasons are over, who are looking ahead. What do they do now? Because their fan bases want to know, how are we going to get out of this? And we got to start with Mama Solex team. The New York Jets in the news, obviously traded Sauce Gardner, traded Quinn and Williams, now have five first round picks over the next two seasons.

3:26And they've got Dallas's second round pick this season. So four picks in the first two rounds this season and three first rounders in 2027. It's nice to have a lot of draft picks, Solak, but as Jets fans know, you can get the draft picks. It's what you do with the draft picks. So what's your idea for the Jets to get out of this and build this the right way where maybe a couple of years from now, we're saying, oh, that actually did pay off. Yeah. So I think that the, the, the first box to check is your quarterback box. They have fields on a two-year deal. And obviously like after the Broncos game, everybody was like, this field's contract is the worst thing to ever exist.

4:01How could they possibly do this? Yeah. So on and so forth. They have the second year of team control. And I think that the fact that they're accumulating 2027 picks as much as they're accumulating 2026 picks indicates to me that they don't want to have to push a quarterback move this off season if they don't want to. Now people are milk toast on the 20 or lukewarm on the 2026 quarterback class. I think it's better than people realize. We never actually know these things. Right. You see, have you seen all the, like, Oh, the 2027 draft is going to be like, you know, historic. So that's why the Jets get those picks.

4:30Like, dude, like, I don't mean like we can all be dead by 2027. As Kyle Shanahan would say, you know, like to me, like that's not so much the case. Um, so much as there's, there's accumulating capital. I was thinking a couple of things here. So like, and one of them is this, um, Tanner McKee, you know, cause I was trying to look at backups, you know, and say like, is there a backup, uh, there? I know you probably like Spencer Rattler, maybe a little bit more than I do, but if he, cause the one issue with fields and I agree with you, if you look at it overall, it hasn't been as horrible as it's felt some of these weeks.

5:00I think he's 19th and drop back success rate, which if you looked at that before the season, you would have said, I would sign up for that. I think the issue is like sometimes with fields, you just get a hard time evaluating the rest to your roster and the coach with some, you know, some of the way, the way he plays, it's not like just operate the offense and the ball's always going to go where it's supposed to go. So would you look into a move like that kind of scour? Hey, let's look at some of these guys who might be available for not too much and then still do that quarterback plan where you're drafting another guy.

5:28Yeah. Like I think about where the Seahawks were when they had Gino and then they, when they got drew lock as part of the Russell Wilson trade. And it was kind of like, all right, in our post Russell Wilson life, we're going to give this, you're going to give Gino a shot. we're also going to give this other quarterback a shot. And if the chips don't fall in, I say eventually we're going to have to go draft the guy early. But you do the same thing where you say, all right, like, even if they end up drafting an early quarterback, you still want to be in the very much the Howie Roseman spirit of things, just taking shots at QB2 and QB3 and then seeing if you get lucky in one of those.

5:56You brought up McKee, Spencer Rattler, I think that is a very legitimate one. Like if they're the Anthony Richardson team and trade in April. Why was he not thrown into this trade so long? I think because they're doing more at the wide receiver spot. I also don't think the Colts want to trade him. I really don't. I think, I think that, yeah, because I think that Ballard is still very like, you know, like this, like, you know, I don't think they want to punt on their Anthony Richardson investment just yet. I think they want to wait until like an opportunity to get like a bigger return out of that.

6:24Uh, the Jets, like the Jets do desperately need receivers, right? Like, and Adonai Mitchell is not the paragon of consistency, but like, at least he's not Alan Lazard and Arian Smith who just like the Jets receiver player is so bad right now. I agree with you though. Like he would, I didn't think about it, but he would have been fun if it was like, a first, a mid-round pick and Richardson for sauce, that would have been really spicy for content. The ownership is the biggest issue with the team. I mean, when you have a 10-year stretch with Woody Johnson where you've won 30 % of your games over 10 years, worst in the end, it's going to be ownership.

6:55And he's a disaster and he has no self-awareness. Every time he opens his mouth, you're like, what is he doing here? And for that reason, there's no real reason to believe the Jets can do anything right as long as he owns the team. but at least you have some capital here and the cupboard's not bare. Like I look at it, you have two offensive tackles who it looks like they can play, two young offensive tackles on rookie contracts. You've got Garrett Wilson at one wide receiver spot. You might have a running back. We'll see what they do with Breeze Hall. You drafted Mason Taylor. So it's not like they don't have any players and I feel like they do have to make a commitment to building up the offense because the point of having draft picks is to draft players like Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams and you traded those guys.

7:36So now if you're just trying to draft like the next sauce Gardner and Quinton Williams, I don't like that plan because those guys are hard to find. And then where does it actually leave you? So I think they need to have some vision, which I don't know that they have to be like, we need to figure out this offense, have a quarterback plan. And when that quarterback gets in there, put them in position to succeed with the pieces around them. And I wonder if that's going to be the case or not. I mean, I'll be at the Aaron Glenn thing makes me a little like, I'm a little uneasy about what's happened there.

8:04Anytime there's a new coach and all of a sudden the best players are gone. And like even Quincy Williams today, it was announced. She's like, yeah, I got benched. I'm like, what's going on there with this team? Jeremy Fowler reported for us that Quincy Williams was initially like included in the Quinn and Williams trade. Like the Cowboys are going to trade for both of them. Oh, I didn't see that. And then that fell through. And that's why the Cowboys went and got Logan Wilson and Stegs. They still wanted to get a linebacker. So, okay, wait, you were thinking about trading the guy. You couldn't get value out of him.

8:31So now you're benching him. that clearly his value was at peak three days ago when they didn't think you were going to bench him. Now that he's benched, what are you going to get for him next year? So that like, that's sort of a move. The Brees Hall thing I waffle on because just because Brees Hall is tweeting doesn't mean they should move on from Brees Hall. Like if they transition tag Brees Hall next year or maybe even franchise tag him, like to me, that is not offensive. They have the money to do so. They clearly want to be a team that runs the football well, independent of if it feels the quarterback or not.

8:58Like that's always going to be Aaron Glenn's sort of thing. And so like, it doesn't worry me too much. But yeah, like if you're at the point where Quinton was basically just like, yeah, I'm so sick and tired of losing, please trade me. You're benching Quincy, but you didn't trade him. And one of the guys you kept is like, dear God, I wish I was gone. Jermaine Johnson, you see Jermaine Johnson's tweet? He was like, I'm sad to see my brothers go, but we're going to rally. Like very clearly in response to Brees Hall being pissed. Like you got to rally this room, man. This is worrisome stuff. Next team here, the Miami Dolphins.

9:27They fired Chris Greer. He was there for 10 years. I never thought we'd live to do a podcast where they actually fired Chris Greer. Hey, hey, hey, mutually parted ways with Chris Greer. Oh, yeah, sorry. Please, the mutually parted ways. Yeah, if you're respectful. Mutually parted ways. I assume Mike McDaniel is gone after the season, but I wouldn't say I'm like 100 % that he's going to be gone after the season. This is a tough one because they've got the Tua contract. They don't have a lot of talent. So like, what is your plan for rebuilding the Miami Dolphins? Yeah, so there's a Mike McDaniel path.

10:00There's a not Mike McDaniel path, right? Because I agree with you that I'm not 100 % sold that they fire Mike McDaniel at the end of this year. If they don't, it's really important to pair Mike with a personnel guy who's got a much stronger hand on the wheel than Mike did because McDaniel really, like, you know, the gamer term is min-max. I don't know if you know what that means, but he very much, like, went over the cliff with this roster where they went so far in on like the speed identity and, you know, the spacing, the RPO identity that just, they have absolutely no counter punch. They have no second pitch, right?

10:35The moment you stop them at what they're good at, they cannot become physical. They cannot, you know, they have no like post up ball winners at wide receiver. Like they're all in on just this one offensive identity that is centered around Tua. So you'd like for Mike to get a personnel guy that's like, no, actually we're going to get like a guard, like a large one. And then we're going to get a second one, right? They finally got like one big guard this year in the Arizona rookie, Jonah Savanaya. if they keep Mike, to me, they're a great Kyler team assuming that Kyler gets dealt or somehow moved coming offseason I wrote down the same thing so I wrote down is there a Tua for Kyler change of scenery I don't want this quarterback you don't want that what does that look like?

11:16The Dolphins, I would imagine if they're trading Tua, let's say in this trade, to the Cardinals and the Cardinals trade Kyler Murray to the Dolphins the Dolphins are included what in that trade? A decent, like a large amount of, like not Stafford Goff level of return, but like a decent amount because you're also trading the contract, right? Like Kyler's, I don't have the exact numbers and it's complex and I'm sure they would do cap machinations to change it. But the Tua contract is a very tough pill to swallow for the Dolphins sending and then also for the team that's still acquiring it. Like it's a big, big, big dead cap hit for Miami.

11:54and so you probably have to include something or you have to find a way to make the money work and the Cardinals take on more money and you have to send them a pick and response like that's a tough sell to me like the Kyler acquisition I think of like as different from the two acquisition I wouldn't be surprised if they're like Kyler QB1 Tua QB2 it's just so hard to move on from Tua in 2026 no it's got to be both because the Cardinals are going to need a quarterback they're sticking with Jacoby percent and I feel like I'm not taking both those contracts are you crazy I don't want Tua and Kyler on my books.

12:25I think this can work. A Tua for Kyler. And let's think about what the Dolphins throw. And I don't think it's a first. I think it's maybe a second. Yeah, second was the first thought that came to my mind. Yeah, second and something else. My instinct said like Tua and a second. But even then, if I'm the Cardinals, I have to pretend that Tua is a guy I can build around. It's many of the same problems as Kyler, just like 10 times worse. And also, I'm not actually saving that much money in the exchange, like, I don't know if a two is enough. But also, he has guarantees through 2026. So, it's not as long-term for the Cardinals as you might think.

13:03Like, they could just, you know, take him for a year and then figure out what they want to do after that. So, you're paying him a lot of money. But they're clearly, I mean, the news today that Kyler Murray's on injured reserve. I don't know. How do you read that? Is this soft benching? Is this full benching? Has he played his last game for the Cardinals? Is this just like, this is going to be a chip that's traded in the offseason? I need your take on the introduction of the term soft benching into the NFL lexicon in 2025. You're right. I'm disgusted by myself that I even said it. I can't believe you said it.

13:30Yeah, I'm stunned that you're allowing it. All right, we don't edit much here, but if I were going to edit something, yeah, not soft benching. It was a benching. You know how you know it is? Because if you listen to the broadcast with Aikman and Bach, and then you're listening to like the end, like clearly the Cardinals are telling people that, no, like we would not go back to Kyler Murray here. We like how it's going with Jacoby Brissett. and it just hasn't worked. I mean, they've tried it and it hasn't worked. This is year three with Gannon. So yeah, I think he is the big quarterback chip to be moved in the offseason.

14:01And I think we're onto something. Has this been, has anyone suggested this elsewhere? Can we claim credit when this happens? I haven't seen it suggested, but from a skill set perspective, Kyler can do a lot of what McDaniel wants him to do. He also will not be able to do some of the Tua stuff because Kyler will hold on to a football and choose to scramble instead. So it'll honestly probably be chalk regardless. but Kyler was definitely benched. Kyler definitely is still like one of the 24 best quarterbacks in football. He needs a skill set. It's very, excuse me, a scheme that's very scared catered to his skill set.

14:31I don't know where he's going to find that short of like Clifting spray short of, you know, some of the college style offenses. And so it's hard to find him a landing spot, but McDaniel feels like one of the guys with like the super fast release time and the RPO, the pop gun accuracy, like that does feel like something that can kind of fit him. So if McDaniel stays to me, they're really good Kyler team. if you move on from McDaniel firstly I'm so worried they're going to swing back too far the other way right they had Brian Flores just like hard nosed defensive guy who hated his quarterback and like no one likes playing for him and then they went to Mike McDaniel who was like man isn't football fun and they have like no culture and like no leadership and like they're a ton of so they're going to go and just you know promote Vic Fangio to head coach they're not going to do that obviously but like a back sort of character and swing the other direction so who knows but the thing is like offensively, this is the sort of roster that's really, really, really in need of a teardown and a rebuild, right?

15:25Like, okay, you chose to keep Jalen Waddle. Great. Jalen Waddle is a very good wide receiver too who needs to be paired with a guy who can actually be like a three-level threat who can win with physicality. You have to invest there. Devon Aishan, right? Like, pound for pound, such a tough player, an impressive tackle breaker for his size, but there are going to be offenses that will not work with a running back that small. They will need to be by committee. And so the tricky thing is, is figuring out what sort of offensive philosophy you want to have under the new head coach. And then how do those current skill position players fit into that philosophy, right?

15:55The offensive line, the lightest offensive line in football and needs to be an offensive line with like pulling and screens and zones. You cannot, you know, go hire Dan Campbell, right? You have to be available, but go hire Dan Campbell and plug him in. They would have to retool the entire offensive line because you can't be what that coach wants to be with the way that offense is built. And so the Dolphins are a clear, like not Jets level teardown, but it's going to take a year reload. get rid of the Tyree contract, get rid of the Tua contract to reimagine this offense and go from there. Steven Ross, if you move on from Mike McDaniel, listen to me, you need to find a coach and GM, lock them in the room, have them sign their contracts at the exact same time and tell them, if I fire one of you, I'm firing both of you.

16:36If it succeeds for one of you, it succeeds for both of you because just their setup has been a disaster for a long time there where that has not been the case. So there will be collaboration, point to one guy. You have the final say. If you're not on the same page, this person makes the final decision. They will have the responsibility for better or worse. Does everyone agree with that? Okay, you may now sign your contracts. I think that has to be what they do. Find a GM and a coach, attach them at the hip, and then like you, because it's not going to be easy. This is not just to, oh, make one move and you're contending in the freaking AFC.

17:12No, this is going to take some patience, some creativity, and I think that's what they do if they move on from Mike McDaniel. If they keep Mike McDaniel, we already solved it for you guys. Yeah, a little weird trade there. Kyler Murray probably won't work, but you know what? It'll be fun. It'll buy you a couple more years. All right, let's take a break. We come back. We got one more team to get to. The Ringer NFL Show is brought to you by FanDuel. Thursday Night Football continues to deliver and FanDuel's keeping the energy up with their$2 million Thursday Night Football jackpot. Place an anytime touchdown, score, bet, using your profit boost.

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19:46Taking ZepBound with a sulfonylurea or insulin may cause low blood sugar. Side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting, which can cause dehydration and worsen kidney problems. Talk to your doctor. Call 1-800-545-5979 or visit zepbounds.lily.com. All right, we are back on the Ringer NFL show. Last team we wanted to talk about in the rebuildables, the Cleveland Browns. I'm going to start this one. So like they have to trade Miles Garrett and I believe they are going to trade Miles Garrett in the offseason. It's their only way to get... It's their only way to get... You said it like it was a thing that is a thing.

20:25I absolutely think they're going to trade Miles Garrett in the offseason if you read between the lines. He is going to turn... He is 31 years old next season. They have no chance to win next season. So now you're talking about his age 32 season when if a hundred different things go right, maybe you have a chance to win. I don't think that's going to happen either. You saw the draft capital traded for guys like Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams and Micah Parsons. You can trade Myles Garrett and I have a trade for you. And it's a player. Your contract wise, you're more right than I thought you'd be.

20:56Yeah, okay. His 2026 option bonus, which guarantees is in the 15th league day of 2026. They would have 15 days between the opening of league year to trade him in March. It's more possible than I believe. Okay, here's the trade. Ready? I'm calling my shot. Miles Garrett to your Philadelphia Eagles for two firsts and Tanner McKee. Who says no to that? The Browns should say no to that in a heartbeat. Two firsts? Why? Two firsts and Tanner McKee for a 31-year-old? He's Miles Garrett, Shields. Okay, what else you want in there? A third? What are you saying yes to? Three firsts. and Tanner McKee or you don't want Tanner McKee.

21:34They need a quarterback. I love Tanner McKee. This is actually very funny because if you started with me on the Browns, I would have said it's obvious. Start Shador. I was going to do like a Shador bit. Like they have a quarterback. He's on the depth check. I mean, I agree they need a quarterback. As the leader of ridiculous Tanner McKee hype tweets, we can't say they need a quarterback. So obviously trade Miles Garrett as part of the Tanner McKee package. It's Tanner McKee. It's in addition to two first round picks. Right, but the moment you play Tanner McKee for four games and it turns out he taps out at Davis Mills, you just traded Miles Garrett.

22:10That's disrespectful. You're not trading for it. You just need another dart throw. Tanner McKee is not your long-term answer. Okay, go get another dart throw. Don't trade Miles Garrett for a dart throw. Who else do you have that you're going to get first-round picks for? Just sit there and be bad again and then draft first-round picks early. Yes. Absurd. Do you realize their entire offensive line is not under contract for next season? Yes, I do, which is hilarious and terrible. Who on this team do you like on offense? They literally have zero players on offense. They have Quinshawn Judkins. This is Harold Fannin Jr.

22:44Harold Fannin Jr. They have two players, a running back and a tight end. They have nobody else. You need to get draft capital. Miles Garrett doesn't want to be there. He's going to be, I mean, come on. We've seen this. Dwan Jones is under contract for another year, isn't he? All right. Yeah. That's your left tackle, Sheil. Blame wherever I read it. Someone wrote it. I don't know. Maybe it was just the players who were playing. I don't know. They have a bunch of offensive lines who are not under contract. At least their whole interior is not under contract. D 'Jones, who is injured, until 2026, baby.