Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Staff writer Omar Kelly takes a look at the new additions to the Dolphins roster.
Out with the old, in with the new is every NFL team’s mindset during the offseason.
That’s the time when team executives and coaches examine their roster, identify weaknesses, and use the team’s financial resources and draft picks to fill those voids.
The Miami Dolphins spent most of their resources this offseason on re-signing and extending the contracts of their own players. But the 2017 team will feature newcomers like Lawrence Timmons, Julius Thomas, Charles Harris and Ted Larsen, who management believes will help last year’s playoff team take another step forward.
Here’s a look at those newcomers and how they compare to the 2016 players they are likely replacing based on their position and expected role: Branden Albert better than Laremy Tunsil: When healthy Albert was a Pro Bowl talent for the Dolphins who effectively protected quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s blindside, and opened up running lanes. But Albert, who Miami traded to Jacksonville for a 2018 seventh-round pick, missed 13 games the past three seasons because of injuries and illnesses. Tunsil, the Dolphins’ 2016 firstround pick, will be returning to the position he played in college after having a productive season at guard as a 14-game starter his rookie year. The one sack Tunsil allowed last season came while he was filling in for Albert at left tackle. Laremy Tunsil better than Ted Larsen: The Dolphins signed Larsen, an eight-year veteran, to a three-year deal worth $5.6 million with the hopes that his versatility will help him become a valuable cog in the offensive line. The journeyman has started 65 of the 102 NFL games he’s played for Tampa Bay, Arizona and Chicago as either a guard or a center. Jordan Cameron not as good as Julius Thomas: Cameron, who missed all but three games last season because of a concussion, retired from the NFL after two disappointing seasons with the Dolphins. It shouldn’t be hard to replace the 43 receptions and four touchdowns Cameron contributed the past two seasons. Thomas, a six-year veteran who has caught 185 passes and scored 33 touchdowns throughout his
career, might top that in one season. Dion Sims better than Anthony Fasano: Sims, who contributed 26 receptions for 256 yards and four touchdowns last year, blossomed into a reliable starter during his four seasons in Miami. That helped the Dolphins’ 2013 fourth-round pick land a three-year, $18 million deal with Chicago, where he’ll serve as the team’s starter. Fasano replaces Sims as Miami’s in-line tight end, where the 12-year veteran, who has 287 catches and 35 touchdowns throughout his career, will serve as a blocking specialist. Jelani Jenkins not as good as
Lawrence Timmons: Jenkins, a 2013 fourth-round pick, had one productive season as a starter for the Dolphins. He only contributed 29 tackles last year because of a number of injuries that limited him to nine games. Timmons, a 10-year veteran the Dolphins signed to a two-year, $12 million deal this offseason, will likely replace Jenkins as one of Miami’s two every-down linebackers. At this point it is unclear if Timmons or Kiko Alonso will serve as the team’s starting inside linebacker. Mario Williams not as good as Charles Harris: Williams, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, was a complete bust in Miami, which explains why the Dolphins cut the
11-year veteran after one season. Williams had only 13 tackles and 1.5 sacks in the 13 games he played last year. That level of production shouldn’t be hard to trump for Harris, the Dolphins’ 2017 firstround pick. The former Missouri standout is a tweener (6-2, 253 pounds) who struggled to set the edge in college and will need time to develop. But he should immediately be able to help the team as a pass-rushing specialist. Earl Mitchell better than
Davon Godchaux: Mitchell, who signed a four-year, $16 million deal with San Francisco after Miami released him this offseason, wasn’t much of a factor in his three seasons with the Dolphins. The seven-year veteran only contributed 18 tackles in the nine games he played in 2016. Godchaux, the former LSU standout the Dolphins selected in the fifth round of this year’s draft, has a quick first step and violent hands, which allows him to become disruptive on passing downs. He had 62 tackles and 6.5 sacks last season before declaring for the draft as a junior. Jason Jones not as good as William Hayes: The Dolphins acquired Hayes from the Los Angeles Rams hoping that his versatility and edge-setting prowess helps their defensive front improve. The nine-year veteran had 43 tackles and five sacks last season in the 14 games he started for the Rams. Jones had 36 tackles and 3.5 sacks in the 14 games he played for the Dolphins before being waived before Miami’s playoff loss to Pittsburgh. The eight-year veteran remains unsigned. Isa Abdul-Quddus not as good as Nate Allen: AbdulQuddus, who had a respectable season as a starter for the Dolphins, suffered a possibly careerending neck injury last season and was waived in March. Allen, who has started 76 games in seven seasons, will compete with Michael Thomas and T.J. McDonald to determine who starts next to Reshad Jones. The 29-year-old has 368 tackles, 13 interceptions and four sacks in his previous stops in Philadelphia and Oakland. Baccari Rambo not as good as T.J. McDonald: Rambo had 42 tackles and one interception in the nine games he played for the Dolphins, which included five starts at free safety. The Dolphins decided against re-signing the four-year veteran and signed McDonald, the former Rams starting strong safety instead. McDonald, who started 53 games the past four seasons, must serve an eight game suspension for violating the NFL Policy and Program for Substances of Abuse. He’ll be available for the second half of the season. Spencer Paysinger not as good as Raekwon McMillan: Paysinger, who had 83 tackles in his two seasons with the Dolphins, was Miami’s top reserve and a special teams ace. McMillan is a tough, instinctive inside linebacker who reads and reacts quickly, which indicates that he’ll excel in the NFL. The former Ohio State standout who the Dolphins selected in the second round of this year’s draft will probably struggle to unseat Timmons for the starting inside linebacker spot, but could push Koa Misi and Neville Hewitt for the strong side linebacker role. Billy Turner not as good as Isaac Asiata: Turner, a 2014 third-round pick, started 14 of the 20 games he played for the Dolphins before being released last October. He was quickly picked up by Denver and played in three games for the Broncos. Asiata, a powerful, road-grading offensive lineman who excels at opening up running lanes, was Miami’s first of two fifth-round selections in this year’s draft. His physical play should allow him to challenge
Larsen and Jermon Bushrod for the starting guard spots. Dallas Thomas better than
Avery Young: Thomas, who the Dolphins selected in the third round of the 2013 draft, consistently struggled in his 23 starts for Miami before being released last October. He’s attempting to make Philadelphia’s 53-man roster this season. Young, a three-year starter at Auburn, will be competing in training camp to become one of the eight or nine linemen on Miami’s 53-man roster. He spent last season with New Orleans, which kept him on the non-football injury list after he suffered a knee injury at his Pro Day last year. Dion Jordan not as good as Vincent Taylor: Jordan, a 2013 first-round pick whose career with Miami was limited to 26 games in four years because of drug-related suspensions and the knee issues he battled last season, was waived in March and signed with Seattle. Taylor is regarded as a player who is quick out of his stance, which allowed him to be an effective run stopper and borderline disruptive pass rusher in college. His seven sacks led all Big 12 interior defensive linemen last season, and he blocked five kicks during his three seasons at Oklahoma State. Ifo Ekpre-Olomu not as good as Cordrea Tankersley: EkpreOlomu, a former Oregon standout, has never fully recovered from his 2014 knee injury. He spent last season on Miami’s injured reserve list before being waived in February. Tankersley, a first-team All-American and first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection in college, is regarded as a good man-to-man defender. Tankersley, who pulled down nine interceptions in two years at Clemson, is expected to compete for one of the two boundary spots at cornerback. T.J. Yates better than David Fales: The Dolphins signed Yates late in 2016 to serve as Matt Moore’s backup after Tannehill injured his knee, but didn’t make an effort to re-sign him this offseason. Yates ended up signing with Buffalo. Miami signed Fales, a 2014 sixth-round pick, to compete with Brandon Doughty for the third-team quarterback job. His familiarity with head coach Adam Gase’s offense, which he learned during their one season together in Chicago, could make him a realistic challenger Doughty, Miami’s 2016 seventh-round pick.