Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley says he won't measure the team's success this season by wins and losses. In what is largely seen as a rebuilding season and with one of the youngest rosters in the NFL, Hafley explained that the goal is ultimately to build toward something special. "We, and I, want to win everything that we do. But success is not just defined by winning," Hafley said Friday after the Dolphins' preseason finale, a 17-12 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. "We are going to compete. I want to win everything that we do. I've said that over and over. But at the same time, we need to make sure that this foundation and the process is built the right way. ... There's no shortcuts because it's bigger than that right now."

The Dolphins hired Hafley and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan in January. They spent the next few months stripping the team of its most expensive contracts in an effort to get "younger and cheaper," Sullivan said. These moves included trading wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and releasing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, wide receiver Tyreek Hill and linebacker Bradley Chubb. In the process, Miami absorbed an NFL-record dead cap hit of roughly $180 million this season. Due to their salary cap situation, the Dolphins exclusively signed free agents to one-year contracts, with the exception of quarterback Malik Willis, who signed a three-year, $67 million contract on the opening day of free agency.

Miami selected a league-high 13 players in this year's draft, several of whom will challenge for starting positions early in their careers. First-round picks Kadyn Proctor and Chris Johnson are expected to be Week 1 starters at left guard and cornerback, respectively, while linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, tight end Will Kacmarek and wide receiver Caleb Douglas should all either start outright or play significant roles. Hafley and Sullivan have been clear since their arrival about the team's need to build its foundation, although both have avoided using the term "rebuild" because of the connotation it suggests -- that the team is not looking to be competitive.