I’d like to see Miami Dolphins third-year running back De’Von Achane in his ideal role for this offense in 2025.
But what’s the ideal role for the speedy and diminutive Achane, an accomplished cutback runner and a can’t-be-ignored threat as a slot receiver?
We’ll allow Achane to tell us. What we know for certain is that his talents must be maximized.
The multi-talented Achane, at 5 foot 9, 188 pounds, is the future of the Dolphins offense.
On that note, the Dolphins might want to get a contract extension with Achane completed after this season.
The Dolphins can’t make the same mistake with Achane as they made with other prized draftees, such as defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and guard Robert Hunt, meaning allowing him to get to his final season of their rookie deals without an extension and then losing him.
Look at it this way: Tempestuous wide receiver Tyreek Hill costs $51 million on the salary cap in 2026. Most likely, he won’t be around by then. The Dolphins would save $36.3 million by cutting him before June 1, 2026, and would gladly absorb the $15.5 million dead money cap hit, which they could spread over a few years.
That would leave Achane to move the chains in 2026 along with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.
But make no mistake, in that scenario the multi-talented Achane would be The Man.
Achane is easily the best draftee of the coach Mike McDaniel era.
Last season he totaled 1,499 yards from scrimmage — 907 rushing and 592 receiving — and 12 touchdowns.
Achane increased his games played by six (11 in 2023, 17 in 2024), increased his carries by 100 (103 to 203) and increased his receptions by 51 (27 to 78).
Achane had a simple goal for 2024.
“Staying healthy was the main goal,” said Achane, who spoke to the media Wednesday during a Zoom conference call.
Achane sustained a concussion early last season but didn’t miss a game after playing a rookie season shortened by knee injuries due to hip-drop tackles against the New York Giants and Las Vegas and sustaining a preseason shoulder injury against Houston.
He endured last season by applying knowledge attained in his rookie season.
“You learn how to stay healthy for 17 weeks,” he said.
For Achane’s health and the offense’s health, his ideal role in 2025 is something that doesn’t require him to frequently run between the tackles in power running situations.
You’d like to think that job belongs to either hulking veteran Alexander Mattison or hard-running rookie draftee Ollie Gordon II.
Achane’s ideal role, in his description, is being used similar to how he was used in 2024.
By the way, he said that entails rushing for more than 1,000 yards and having 500 yards receiving. And playing smarter. He’s watched film of his receptions from last season.
“I feel like I left a lot of plays (on the field), and I feel like I could have done more,” he said.
He knows how he’ll make changes, especially in the run game. Achane said he’s seen his faults from last year in the run game.
“Me trying to make a big play, instead of just doing the right thing,” he said.
He has a goal for 2026.
“Always (try) to get the ball to the line of scrimmage, even on a bad play,” he said.
Achane is learning. Fast.
He’ll be better in 2025 than he was in 2024 or 2023.
If, as expected, Achane eclipses 1,000 yards from scrimmage this year — he had 1,499 last year and 997 as a rookie — his price will skyrocket.
The Dolphins need to decide whether to extend Achane a year early, meaning after the 2025 season, so they can get him on the (relative) cheap.
By the way, when you discuss Dolphins draftees that got away in addition to Wilkins and Hunt to a lesser extent, you could throw in edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel.
The Dolphins rolled the dice and lost on all three. They waited a year too long in the case of Wilkins and Hunt and got priced out of the market (yes, both wound up being overpaid). With Van Ginkel, the Dolphins missed on predicting his ceiling. He went to the Pro Bowl this year (same as Hunt). The Dolphins should have seen Van Ginkel’s potential.
It’s impossible to miss Achane’s potential.
It’d be rare for me to extend a running back that I drafted, signed and used fairly extensively. Running backs don’t last long in the NFL and often their best years are behind them when they sign their second contract.
Achane is different, and with measured use this season, he could be around for the long haul.
If the Dolphins use Achane correctly this season, and extend his contract at the right time, he could keep his title as the best draftee of the McDaniel era for another three or four years.
Originally Published: May 14, 2025 at 3:22 PM EDT