Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Pretty well in position
FA additions have Dolphins poised for draft
The Dolphins entered the offseason knowing they needed to plug holes at linebacker, tight end, running back and backup quarterback. The bigger issue came when they created other needs by releasing defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and center Mike Pouncey and trading wide receiver Jarvis Landry to Cleveland.
At one point it seemed too much talent to replace in a single offseason.
As it turned out, Miami’s brain trust of Mike Tannenbaum, executive vice president football operations, general manager Chris Grier and coach Adam Gase has filled a number of those holes. And their plan wasn’t necessarily replacing the lost talent with one-for-one replacements. It’s a team/fit concept.
The question is: Did the Dolphins do enough through free agency and trades that they’re in good position heading into the draft, which starts Thursday?
Unfortunately we won’t get a glimpse into that answer until players put pads on during training camp in August. You know the deal. It’s impossible to judge offensive and defensive linemen until there’s conof
tact.
For now, however, it seems the Dolphins did OK.
The thing to keep in mind is it wasn’t possible, or desirable, for the Dolphins to fill all of their holes during free agency.
Now, it must be noted Miami signed three key players who are older than 30, each with 10 or more years of experience –— running back Frank Gore, a 34-year-old and 14-year veteran; guard Josh Sitton, a 31-year-old and 11-year veteran; and wide receiver Danny Amendola, a 32-year-old and 10-year veteran.
That raises red flags in the NFL.
And holes still exist on Miami’s roster — linebacker, defensive tackle and tight end are atop the list.
But those holes are expected to be addressed in the draft, and it seems a good year for linebackers and tight ends.
“I think there is depth at both of those positions,” Grier said last week.
The big-ticket offseason acquisition was defensive end Robert Quinn, picked up in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams. Quinn has three double-digit sack seasons and would boost the pass rush alongside defensive ends Cameron Wake, Andre Branch and Charles Harris.
Miami also re-signed defensive end William Hayes, the run-stopper who was an unrestricted free agent after playing 2017 with the Dolphins.
Miami won’t need help at defensive end in the draft.
On the offensive line, the Dolphins made up for the losses of Pouncey and right guard Jermon Bushrod (free agent) with the acquisitions of center Daniel Kilgore (San Francisco) and Sitton (Chicago), a fourtime Pro Bowl selection. Both figure to be starters, Sitton likely at left guard.
Miami could seek backup offensive line help in the draft.
At slot receiver the Dolphins filled Landry’s absence with two players – Amendola (New England) and Albert Wilson (Kansas City). Both have big-play potential in different ways. Amendola, who signed a two-year, $12 million deal, is a sure-handed player who earned his reputation as a third-down receiver and postseason performer. Wilson has speed and moves.
Miami doesn’t seem likely to draft a wide receiver.
Gore, acquired as a free agent signee from Indianapolis, will share duties with starter Kenyan Drake, making up for the midseason hole created when Miami traded running back Jay Ajayi to Philadelphia.
Miami might select a running back late in the draft, but the Dolphins set their two-back system with Gore’s addition.
The starting quarterback, of course, will be Ryan Tannehill, who missed the last 20 games, including the playoffs in early 2017, with a left knee injury sustained late in the 2016 season.
But that doesn’t mean Miami won’t look for a quarterback in the draft, even after signing veteran Brock Osweiler (Denver) and re-signing David Fales. The Dolphins have repeatedly said Tannehill will be the starter in 2018, but they might want to look ahead.
There’s one other thing, an intangible, the Dolphins like about what they’ve added this offseason — veteran leadership.
“You always want to add good people in your locker room,” Grier said. “I think with us, what do we have, 35 players under 26 or something on the roster? Danny is a good player. Josh Sitton is a good player.
“They’ve been in Super Bowls and just to have those guys around such young guys as they’re coming into their own in the league, I think it’s a great benefit.”