Zach Sieler has been a stalwart on the defensive line for the Miami Dolphins, sharing the frontline with Christian Wilkins for over four seasons. With Wilkins now heading to the Las Vegas Raiders after landing a massive $110 million contract, the responsibility of anchoring the Dolphins’ defense falls squarely on Sieler’s shoulders as the team looks ahead to the 2024 season.
Reflecting on Wilkins’ move, Sieler expressed mixed emotions. “It’s a bittersweet situation,” he admitted on Tuesday. “Playing alongside him was fantastic, but seeing him secure such a significant deal and take his talents to another team is genuinely exciting.”
To compensate for the loss of Wilkins, Miami has brought in a slew of veteran talent, albeit on more economical terms. Teair Tart, Neville Gallimore, Benito Jones, Jonathan Harris, and Daviyon Nixon have all been signed to one-year contracts under $2 million each, raising questions about whether the Dolphins have invested enough to fill the void effectively.
Sieler, however, remains unfazed by these concerns. “Our defensive line, our entire defense, in fact, isn’t dependent on one or two individuals,” he asserted.
“It’s about the collective effort, the rotation. Integrating and learning from the new guys has been an exciting process.”
Notably, last season the Dolphins’ defense achieved a franchise record and ranked third in the NFL with 56 sacks, an effort significantly contributed to by Sieler and Bradley Chubb, who tallied 10 and 11 sacks, respectively. Moving forward, the onus will be on Sieler to replicate this high level of performance, potentially with one of the new signings as his latest tandem partner.
When probed about the possibility of forming a new dynamic duo among the newcomers, Sieler was optimistic, though coy, merely noting with a chuckle, “I think there’s a few, yes.”
As the Dolphins aim to build on last season’s successes, all eyes will be on Sieler and how he adapts to his heightened role within the team’s defensive strategy.