3 spots down, 2 to go in solidifying O-line
INDIANAPOLIS — Last offseason, the Miami Dolphins went from possibly needing to solidify four of the offensive line’s five spots to dropping that number down to two.
The free-agent signings of left tackle Terron Armstead, who had a Pro Bowl season in his first in Miami, and center Connor Williams, who was solid in playing every offensive snap in a transition from guard, gave the Dolphins reliable starters at three positions, including right guard Robert Hunt. Still, two remain in 2023. Figuring out the left guard and right tackle spots are critical components toward making the Dolphins’ offense whole entering its second season under coach Mike McDaniel.
“For us, it’s continuing to add depth at that position,” general manager Chris Grier said Wednesday at the NFL scouting combine. “The competition creates progress. The guys made tremendous strides last year.”
At left guard and right tackle, it could be as simple as giving two young players taken with high draft picks another chance to earn their way in the NFL: Liam Eichenberg (a second-round pick in the 2021 draft) and Austin Jackson (a first-round choice in 2020).
Injuries derailed the 2022 season for each. Eichenberg, struggling much of the first half, was just picking things up before an Oct. 30 knee injury sidelined him until the final two regular-season games. He also missed the playoff loss.
Jackson landed on injured reserve for ankle ailments in each of the two games he played last season, significantly impacting the Dolphins’ ability to evaluate his pivotal third NFL season following uneven play in his first two.
“With Austin, he just needs to stay healthy so we can get a full evaluation of him,” Grier said.
Robert Jones, a 2021 undrafted rookie, was a serviceable secondyear guard filling in when Eichenberg was hurt. He’ll be back in
2023, and he’s some of the competition Grier mentioned. Veteran Brandon Shell also filled in well at right tackle late in the year, and Miami will decide whether to bring him back as a free agent. Fellow tackle Greg Little also has his contract up. Michael Deiter, a former starter on the Dolphins offensive line, didn’t play a single offensive snap in 2022, but that’s largely because Williams never missed a play and the team didn’t want two centers together on the line.
In looking for potential outside options to compete with Eichenberg or Jackson, it doesn’t seem like the Dolphins plan to move Robert Hunt back to right tackle, where he excelled as a rookie. They appreciate his positional flexibility but feel he has the most upside at guard.
“That’s the great thing about Rob. He can play both,” Grier said. “I think, where he is at guard, he has the potential to be a special player at guard.”
So, with Hunt likely to stay at right guard, both tackles and guards are options either in free agency this month or in the late April draft.
Some interior offensive line free agents include Denver’s Dalton Risner, San Francisco’s Tom Compton, Tennessee’s Nate Davis and the New York Giants’ Jon Feliciano, who is a UM alum. Tackles include the pricey Mike McGlinchey, who played under McDaniel with the 49ers, Denver’s Cameron Fleming and Arizona’s Kelvin Beachum.
A dream draft scenario when it comes to the line could be for Florida guard O’Cyrus Torrence to fall in the range of the Dolphins’ first 2023 selection in the middle of the second round, but Miami could also draft one of a number of guard or tackle prospects if not going linebacker, cornerback, running back or tight end there.
The Dolphins linemen will again be led by a new offensive line coach, as Matt Applebaum was replaced by Butch Barry.
McDaniel said Tuesday that move was made because, under Applebaum, offensive coordinator Frank Smith had to spend too much time with the linemen, affecting McDaniel in handling some coordinator duties as a head coach.