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Bills poised to turn Dolphins’ biggest offseason gambles against them

Jacob Harrison
Jacob Harrison

BuffaLowDown

Oct 22, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Miami Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb (2) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images / Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Through the early stages of the 2026 NFL offseason, the Buffalo Bills have managed to keep a relatively low profile. While general manager Brandon Beane isn’t putting on an offseason to remember, he’s held on to the key players he’s able to, like center Connor McGovern, and made moves at key positions of need.

As for the departing free agents, there’s little to regret. Sure, it would have been nice to preserve continuity on the offensive line by bringing back left guard David Edwards, but it’s better to replace a guard than a center, and Buffalo has some depth waiting in the wings to take a shot at taking the starting role.

The same can not be said for their AFC East rivals. Bleacher Report recently pointed out some cap casualty cuts from around the league that teams are bound to regret, and the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins both made the list. Whether or not the Patriots will regret parting ways with Stefon Diggs in favor of ex-Packers FA signing Romeo Doubs remains to be seen.

But the Bills have a direct path to making sure the Dolphins regret everything about their offseason decisions so far.

New Bills EDGE Bradley Chubb stands to make Dolphins regret costly cap decision

Listed as the cap casualty to regret for Miami was Bradley Chubb, the newest member of the Buffalo Bills’ defense this offseason. Miami made a wave of cuts after bringing in new head coach Jeff Hafley and new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, but Chubb is bound to sting more for Miami than the likes of Tyreek Hill or quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

Chubb isn’t the only piece of the pass rush puzzle to have left Miami since the start of the 2025 season. The Dolphins also traded away Jaelan Phillips at the trade deadline to Philadelphia, leaving the team with Chop Robinson, who enters his sophomore season in 2026, to rely on to create pressure in the backfield.

Last season, the Dolphins actually had a slightly stronger pass rush than the Bills, at least with respect to the final statistics of the 2025 campaign. But their leading sack artist is now wearing the Bills’ colors, which means he’ll be hunting new Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis twice per season. And if Willis is wearing his old No. 2 as he did in Green Bay, then that’s even more (slightly less serious) incentive for the former Dolphin to terrorize the young quarterback.

The Dolphins did sign Josh Uche in free agency to pair with Robinson, but he has only recorded more than three sacks in a single season once, that coming in 2022 when he had 11.5 for the Patriots. So, the Dolphins could entertain drafting a pass rusher early in the draft to help out the rotation more.

Still, should their pass rush take a step back as it seems destined to do, it’s only going to sting that much more if Chubb stays healthy and productive for the Bills.

Jacob Harrison

Jacob Harrison

Jacob Harrison is the site editor for BuffaLowDown and a contributor at Still Curtain. In the past, he has covered the Alabama Crimson Tide, the NFL Draft and many other teams across college and professional football for several publications, including FanSided, Sports Illustrated, and Tide 100.9, where he hosted a live radio show in Tuscaloosa. Today, Jacob lives in Michigan, where he spends his time covering the Bills and Steelers, and offering play-by-play radio coverage for high school football in SW Michigan. Outside of football, Jacob is a passionate heavy metal music listener and an RPG gamer, though nothing tops his role as a father to three hilarious and beautiful children.