Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Plenty of options at running back
Offense needs game-changer to revive anemic ground game
The Miami Dolphins are embarking on the second phase of a full-scale rebuild and have nearly $100 million to spend and 14 draft picks to upgrade the roster.
The South Florida Sun Sentinel will break down a different position each day until the start of free agency on March 18, examining which route — free agency, the NFL draft or both — would be the best avenue to improve last year’s 5-11 team. Today, we look at the running back position in the second of a 10-part series.
Dolphins perspective: Miami’s 37-year-old quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was the team’s leading rusher in 2019, gaining 243 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. The Dolphins need a dynamic, game-changing running back to bolster their offense — just as much as they need a new quarterback. Miami ended last season with rookies Patrick Laird and Myles Gaskin carrying the load after Kenyan Drake was traded to Arizona and Kalen Ballage was sidelined with a foot injury. Mark Walton was released earlier in the season following an October arrest. The Dolphins hope a revamped ground game under new offensive coordinator Chan Gailey can unlock a sustainable rushing attack after being the worst in the NFL in 2019.
Free agency: Derrick Henry, who might stay with the Tennessee Titans, and Melvin Gordon, who could command too much money in free agency, highlight the group of free-agent running backs available this offseason. While the Dolphins could spend plenty on a top-tier free agent, they prefer to be prudent and sensible with their offseason spending. Other players like Jordan Howard, Matt Brieda, Carlos Hyde and LeSean McCoy could be in Miami’s price range, while a reunion with Drake and another former Dolphin, Lamar Miller, is unlikely. Austin Ekeler’s four-year, $24.5 million deal he agreed to with the Los Angeles Chargers earlier this month could set the market value.
Draft Watch: Miami, which has three firstround picks and two second-round picks, did its homework on some of the top running backs, including Georgia’s De’Andre Swift, Ohio State’s J.K Dobbins, Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor, Florida State’s Cam Akers and Utah’s Zack Moss. The Dolphins could use one of their first-round picks on a running back, but addressing needs at offensive and defensive tackle may be a bigger priority. Drafting one of the aforementioned running backs in the second round is possible as several of those players may still be on the board. If Miami chooses to use a later-round pick, Florida’s Lamical Perine and Boston College’s A.J. Dillon could be viable options.
Teams in need: The Dolphins aren’t the only team who could use help in the backfield and take a running back in the first round. The Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs could boost their offense even more by taking a running back early. Several other teams could also benefit from the talented group of available running backs in free agency and the draft. The Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams and New York Jets could also be interested suitors at the position.
Ideal Strategy: Look for Dolphins general manager Chris Grier and coach Brian Flores to add a running back in both free agency and the draft. An ideal situation could see the Dolphins take a top running back like Swift, Dobbins or Taylor to pair with a free agent like Howard, Brieda or McCoy — unless they can get Gordon at the right price. The Dolphins must solidify their running game to help whichever young quarterback they draft.