5 teams looking at WR Landry
The 2018 NFL scouting combine is over and the Miami Dolphins, while somewhat improved with the addition of defensive end Robert Quinn, are still in danger of suffering a serious personnel loss in wide receiver Jarvis Landry. But there are reportedly multiple trade possibilities.
Among other things we learned during the combine and immediately afterward are although quarterback Ryan Tannehill is progressing well from his left knee injury, Miami is still rumored to be seriously considering drafting a quarterback in the first round with the 11th pick.
Here’s a look at where things stand with the Dolphins after the combine and heading into free agency: Landry attracting interest Landry has at least five teams interested in trading with Miami to acquire his services, including Baltimore and Chicago, according to an ESPN report.
The Dolphins placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Landry on Feb. 20, the first day teams were allowed. That allows Landry’s representatives, with the Dolphins’ permission, to negotiate trades.
Landry must sign the tender before any trade can be executed, and a source said he intends to do just that. No trade can be official until March 14, the start of the new league year.
Landry, who posted a teaser for an upcoming documentary on his social media Saturday morning saying that he’s considering not playing the 2018 season for the Dolphins under the franchise tag, reportedly told the Dolphins Saturday night that he intends to sign the tag as early as this week.
After Landry signs the tender, the sides would have until July 16 to work out a multi-year deal.
The Dolphins are believed to have offered Landry $13.5 million a year and Landry is believed to want at least $1 million more.
But because there seems to be no middle ground in the negotiations, both sides appear ready to work out a trade to send Landry elsewhere.
Dolphins looking at QB with No. 11 pick?
There’s a report from Sports Illustrated’s MMQB (Monday Morning Quarterback) that says the Dolphins are considering selecting a quarterback with the No. 11 pick in the first round of next month’s draft to compete with Tannehill.
Dolphins take step toward improving pass rush
Miami acquired Quinn from the Los Angeles Rams in a trade that can’t become official until March 14. The teams basically swapped sixth-round picks in the this year’s draft and Miami sent the Rams a fourth-round pick in exchange for Quinn.
Miami needs help with depth at defensive end. Andre Branch (4.5 sacks) and last year’s first-round pick Charles Harris (2.0 sacks) are coming off disappointing seasons.
Tannehill progressing
Tannehill is progressing well from a left knee injury that sidelined him for much of the the past two seasons.
“Well, as far as what the trainers and doctors have told me, everything has progressed extremely well,” coach Adam Gase said at the NFL scouting combine. “He’s always going to be ahead of where he’s supposed to be. He’s a physical freak and we’ll just kind of play this one as the week goes on, throughout the offseason.”
Gase liked 2017 draft class
Gase spoke well of the 2017 draft class, which was led by defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, a fifth-round pick, and cornerback Cordrea Tankersley, the thirdround pick, and linebacker Chase Allen, an undrafted rookie. Defensive tackle Vincent Taylor, a sixthround pick, also made a contribution.
“I thought they did a good job,” Gase said at the combine. “It felt like we had a lot of guys play. I thought [the same about] our college free agents. We had so many guys either make it at the beginning or ended up being on the roster toward the end of the year.
“And our draft picks, the ones that ended up staying healthy, we only lost a couple of guys, but it felt like that group did a really good job. They were a good example of how we want to do it going forward.”
The 2017 draft class, as rookies, will largely be known for what they didn’t show, however.
Harris, the first-round pick, ended with only two sacks although his play improved late in the season. Linebacker Raekwon McMillan, the second-round pick, sustained a season-ending knee injury in the preseason opener. Guard Isaac Asiata, the fifthround pick, spent most of the year on the inactive gameday roster, and wide receiver Isaiah Ford, the seventh-round pick from Virginia Tech, sustained a season-ending knee injury in offseason workouts.
2014 draft class could be gone soon
The entire 2014 draft class could be gone by the time the Dolphins open training camp, or at least the most significant contributors.
It depends on what happens with right tackle Ja’Wuan James, the first-round pick in 2014, Landry, the second-round pick in 2014, safety Walt Aikens, the fourth-round pick, and defensive end Terrence Fede, the seventhround pick.
James is under contract for $9.3 million on his fifth-year option but could be a target for a restructure or release. Landry has the franchise tag, but is seeking a trade. Aikens and Fede, core special teams players, are unrestricted free agents.
Miami opened the 2017 season without guard Billy Turner, the third-round pick in 2014, tight end Arthur Lynch, a fifth-round pick, linebacker Jordan Tripp, a fifthround pick, and wide receiver Matt Hazel, a sixth-round pick.
Gase not concerned with players’ stances on social issues
Gase, who has had numerous players — wide receiver Kenny Stills, safety Michael Thomas, tight end Julius Thomas, and running back Arian Foster, primarily — kneel during the national anthem the past two seasons, said he isn’t concerned with players’ stances on social issues.
“No, my biggest thing I’m looking for is, everything’s football related to me,” he said. “We support our guys when they do anything outside our building to try to help our community. In Kenny’s case, he’s really branched out to not only South Florida, outside of there. We’re very supportive of trying to help as many people as our players can try to reach. I feel like our guys do a really good job of that.”
It’s unclear whether players’ stances on social issues will be an issue in free agency or trades. That didn’t seem to be the case after last season when kneeling during the anthem became common.
Gase would like to draft a QB every year
Some teams voice the theory you should draft a quarterback every year. Gase subscribes to that theory.
“I’d love to draft a quarterback every year,” he said. “It doesn’t always work out that way. We’ll see how the board falls for us. That first year, we felt like Brandon [Doughty] was a guy that there was a lot of us that were very interested to see what we could do with him, and he had a lot of success in college. We’re still working through things to try to help him get better and we’ll see how this year goes. It’s hard to predict.”
Drake shows maturity/ improvement
Gase seemed to think running back Kenyan Drake, who will likely be the primary workhorse in a two-back system in 2018, showed nice off-the-field improvement last year.
“Kenyan has done a better job of taking care of his body, getting himself ready for games,” Gase said. “A couple of those games where he had 20-plus carries, he’s walking in and acting like he didn’t play a game the night before. I think youth plays a part in that a little bit. He’s put together well.”
Loggains understands Gase
Dowell Loggains, Miami’s new offensive coordinator, was hired partly because of his relationship with Gase. The two worked together in Chicago in 2015 when Gase was offensive coordinator and Loggains was quarterbacks coach.
“I think Dowell can really jump ahead,” Gase said. “He seems to have a good knack for knowing what I’m thinking before saying anything. So that’s always something that is a good thing to have when you’re a head coach and you have a lot of things you have to accomplish.”
“He’s ... going to be ahead of where he’s supposed to be. He’s a physical freak.” Adam Gase, Dolphins coach on quarterback Ryan Tannehill