Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert: Struggles in Round 1 will be 'harped on this year'

As the elder statesman of Miami’s running backs room, Raheem Mostert knows the importance of the upcoming season.

Mostert has also been aware of the criticisms. The Dolphins are recognized as a dynamic team, yet they struggle to perform in the postseason. For Mostert, altering this narrative is the main goal for 2024.

“We’re an outstanding team, and it has to just click at the end of the year,” Mostert told NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero during an upcoming Tuesday appearance on The Insiders, which airs on NFL Network and streams NFL+ at 7 p.m. ET. “I was telling the reporters, man, I’d take an 0-8 start to make it deep into the playoffs, right, and trying to get to that championship round. One of our biggest Kryptonites has always been that first round. That’s gonna be harped on this year. People are gonna say all these different types of things, but we can’t make excuses.

We need to conclude this season powerfully, just as we began, and take care of business. It’s essential that everyone is on the same wavelength. We must act as a united front, right? That’s all that’s required. Nothing more, nothing less. Let’s just stay healthy, step out there and finish.

Miami has attempted to reload accordingly in the 2024 offseason, spending their top pick on Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson, who should replace Jaelan Phillips, who is still on the road back from a season-ending Achilles injury suffered late in 2023. They followed that pick by choosing offensive tackle Patrick Paul, providing some depth for a unit tasked with protecting Tua Tagovailoa and opening running lanes for their many running backs.

Speaking of backs, Tennessee product Jaylen Wright joined that group via a fourth-round pick, marking consecutive years in which Miami added a running back in the draft. Like last year, Mostert is focused on being a good teammate and a leader when working with Wright.

“All in all, I’m happy for him to be in the room,” Mostert said of Wright. “I treat every rookie, [like] with [De’Von Achane] last year, I’m always going to try to show them the ropes first and give them my little pointers and help them out as best as I can. Like you said, I’m going on the tail end of my career and I want to be able to make an impact somehow. That means just bringing along somebody and helping them out. …

We just came off the field and he was really harsh on himself. I reassured him, “Don’t stress. This is a marathon, not a sprint. We’re just in the OTAs, everything is fine, you’re going to do great. Remember, if you support me in providing for my family, I’ll do the same for you.” After I told him this, he was completely focused.

It’s obvious that for these Dolphins, it’s not about individual rivalry, particularly after experiencing the end of their season on Super Wild Card Weekend for two consecutive years. They have a more significant objective: to make a substantial progress and meet expectations.