Dolphins have long to-do list this year

The Miami Dolphins made it to the playoffs this season, ending an eight-year drought, but Miami has plenty of work to do to keep moving in the right direction.

Past Dolphins teams, including the 2008 squad, overachieved to make the playoffs, then came back down to earth the very next season. It is on head coach Adam Gase, executive vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum and general manager Chris Grier to ensure that doesn’t happen this time around, and the best way to do so is to make good offseason moves.

Here’s a look at what should be on the Dolphns’ to-do list this offseason:

Fortify the defensive line. The Dolphins allowed 142 rushing yards and registered only two sacks per game this past season. While the unit did benefit from two Pro Bowl talents in Ndamukong Suh and Cameron Wake, their line mates fell short of meeting expectations when it came to setting the edge and owning the line of scrimmage.

Add playmaking linebackers to pair with Kiko Alonso.

Alonso had a productive season (121 tackles, two interceptions and four fumble recoveries) that indicates that Miami should continue to build its defense around the 26-year-old, who will be a restricted free agent this offseason. But moving Alonso to the weak side and finding someone more physical to play inside linebacker would be ideal. Neville Hewitt

showed growth as a starting outside linebacker, but the Dolphins should still find him some competition.

Re-sign Jarvis Landry to a multiyear extension.

The Dolphins have talked a good game about rewarding players who set the bar high, but this offseason they’ll be forced to back up that talk with action. Landry, who is coming off his second consecutive season with at least 1,000 receiving yards, could skip Miami’s offseason program until he receives a substantial raise. He’ll likely be looking for a new deal that clears $60 million and pays him more than $12 million a season.

Trim some bloated contracts from the salary cap.

The Dolphins should have roughly $40 million in cap space based on the team’s cap carryover from past years, the 38 players under contract and the increases expected in 2017. And that’s before releasing or restructuring a couple of bloated contacts, such as those of Mario Williams (scheduled for $8.5 million next season), Earl Mitchell ($4 million) and Koa Misi ($4.2 million).

Make a decision on who will play left tackle.

Branden Albert’s future on the Dolphins is in jeopardy because he has broken down the past couple of seasons and is slated to earn $8.9 million in 2017. The Dolphins already have his replacement in Laremy Tunsil, who will eventually be moved from left gaurd to left tackle. The Dolphins must decide if it is wiser to pay Albert big money for one more season and keep grooming Tunsil at left guard, or move Tunsil to tackle and go shopping for a new guard.

Get Miami’s quarterbacks to take the next step forward in Adam Gase’s offense.

Quarterbacks usually take the biggest jump in their second season in an offense, so it is possible that Ryan Tannehill could take a Matt Ryan-esque step forward in 2017 if his knee is healthy. However, the Dolphins need to be prepared to move forward with Matt Moore just in case Tannehill suffers a setback.

Get back a healthy Mike Pouncey and Reshad Jones.

Pouncey says the hip injuries that have spoiled two of his past three seasons do not represent a degenerative issue and won’t threaten his career. He’ll need to prove that by staying on the field for all 16 games in 2017. Jones’ tackling and playmaking prowess was clearly missed in the 11 games he didn’t play because of his shoulder injury, which should be fully healed by the spring.

Find an all-purpose tight end.

Jordan Cameron wasn’t a playmaker in the three games he played before suffering a seasonending concussion. Dion Sims and MarQueis Gray were respectable, combining for 40 receptions that produced 430 yards and four touchdowns, but the Dolphins need more impact from this position. It would help if that player excelled as a blocker too and was a factor in both run and pass plays.

Make respectable offers to Miami’s own free agents before the market inflates their prices.

Nobody ever wants to bid against himself, but waiting until the start of free agency in March could get Miami priced out of the bidding for receiver Kenny Stills and defensive end Andre Branch, who are both expected to be unrestricted free agents. The rest of Miami’s free agent class comprises either restricted free agents or players deserving of only meager deals.

Add a reliable return specialist.

The Dolphins drafted Jakeem Grant in the sixth round last year hoping he’d become a dynamic return specialist. While the former Texas Tech standout flashed ability a couple of times (including a 74-yard punt return for a touchdown), he fumbled or mishandled five kickoffs or punts this season. Kenyan Drake had a higher kickoff return average than Grant, and Landry had a better punt return average than Grant.

Omar Kelly