Here’s a look at three positions that could use some upgrading: ‘Competition is what breeds excellence.’
Not every one of the Miami Dolphins’ position needs was filled in the 2024 NFL Draft, and general manager Chris Grier keeps reminding us that free agency isn’t over.
“We’re always looking to add to the roster and have the most competitive roster we can to make the team better,” Grier said Saturday night after adding two pass rushers, two slot receivers, a left tackle, a safety and a tailback with Miami’s seven draft picks. “As we’ve always talked, competition is what breeds excellence. For us, we’ll keep looking postdraft like we’ve done here in the past. We’ll keep looking and talking to people and see what happens.”
Now that the compensatory pick formula is no longer a factor when it comes to signing free agents, the Dolphins could become more aggressive because it won’t harm the two third-round picks Miami hopes to land for losing Christian Wilkins and Robert Hunt in free agency.
Miami also gains $18.5 million in cap space in a month because of Xavien Howard’s June 1 release, so don’t rule out the Dolphins becoming assertive when it comes to signing a veteran or two to fill voids as the team gets closer to the on-field work of OTAs.
Here’s a look at three positions that could potentially use some upgrading:
OFFENSIVE LINE
The Dolphins patched up last year’s injury-decimated offensive line by re-signing Isaiah Wynn, Kendall Lamm and Robert Jones and adding center Aaron Brewer and Jack Driscoll, who has experience playing right tackle and right guard. Miami drafted Houston’s Patrick Paul in the second round to serve as Terron Armstead’s understudy, but the odds of him competing for a starting guard role are slim because of his lanky frame and limited movement skills. That means Wynn and Liam Eichenberg should be viewed as the front-runners to start at both guard spots, and Eichenberg is likely penciled in as the backup center yet again.
Possible solution: Adding a backup interior player such as Dalton Risner or Lucas Patrick would be ideal, especially since injuries plagued the O-line last year, and for most of this decade. Risner, 28, signed a one-year deal for $4 million last September with the Minnesota Vikings, and started 11 of the 15 games in which he played. He has history with O-line coach Butch Barry from their season together in Denver. That could be a good thing, or a bad thing, depending on their relationship. Patrick allowed zero sacks and 23 pressures in 539 pass-blocking snaps last season (4.3 percent pressure rate) as the Chicago Bears’ starting center. He also has experience playing guard, which means there’s a good chance he will crack the
— he played left tackle in college and could replace Terron Armstead there down the line. But I’m not sure he’s ready to start as a rookie for a team that really had to get instantimpact players.
“I’m a huge fan of speedy running back Jaylen Wright (120), but Miami gave up its 2025 thirdrounder to get him. That’s not great value, especially for a team that doesn’t necessarily have a need at the position. I had Mohamed Kamara (158) at No. 67 overall in my rankings, so this is a fantastic pick. He had 13 sacks last season. GM Chris Grier tried to hit his void at wideout with Malik Washington (184) and Tahj Washington (241) on Day 3; Malik is the guy to watch, as he had 110 catches last season.
“I like a bunch of these players, but it’s a small class and giving up the 2025 third-rounder means it can’t make it to a Bplus.”
Respected analyst Warren Sharp said Miami extracted the second best value in the draft, after only Detroit. He gave Miami an A.
He said edge player Kamara provided the best value.
“The Dolphins filled needs and got great value at each draft slot,” Sharp said. “No one has an obvious path to an immediate starting job, but Chop Robinson will factor into the rotation of pass-rushers and Patrick Paul will undoubtedly be forced into action by a Terron Armstead injury at some point.”
NFL.com’s Chad Reuter gave Miami a B-:
“Miami needed another edge rusher, especially with Jaelan Phillips coming off an Achilles injury and Bradley Chubb coming off a torn ACL, but Robinson must show he can be a factor in the run game and convert pressures into sacks more regularly in the NFL. Left tackle Terron Armstead’s difficulty staying on the field made Paul a good pick in the second round. The team’s forfeiture of its third-round pick dragged down its grade.
“Trading a future thirdround pick for a fourth in the current draft is usually not wise, and Miami has a few backs in the stable already, but finding a potential star in Wright waiting around made it easier to swallow. It would not surprise me if the relentless Kamara is as productive as Robinson early in his career. Both pass-catchers with the surname Washington (not related) will flourish as tough-minded slot receivers in Mike McDaniel’s offense.”
Fox’s Henry McKenna gave Miami a B: “You had to laugh when the Dolphins took Jaylen Wright, the draft’s second-fastest running back. Last year, they took DeVon Achane, one of the fastest players in the NFL. But that didn’t stop them from bringing more speed into the offense in the fourth round.
“Wright followed a good get in the first round in Chop Robinson, an edge rusher who’ll help the team manage snaps for Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb, who both ended last year with major injuries. They also managed to snap up a tackle in Patrick Paul, who will develop behind Armstead. It was a great draft, one that matched value with need.”
CBS’ Chris Trapasso gave the Dolphins a B-: “I like many of the prospects the Dolphins picked, but their plan was somewhat confusing. Robinson was my EDGE1. Sensible. Paul is the opposite of a scheme fit for what McDaniel asks of his blockers. Wright is a rocket when given space, which is fun, but now the running back room is super crowded.
“I’m all about adding more weapons at receiver today, but two slot types? Although Malik Washington was a second-round talent on my board, which is why I gave that a perfect grade.”
Pro Football Focus gave Miami a B-.
A few of their comments:
“Robinson could be considered a bit of a reach, but his potential is undeniable. He has dimensions of power and speed in his pass-rush arsenal. He also earned a 93.9 pass-rush grade over the past two seasons, which ranks second among FBS edge defenders — behind the Colts’ Laiatu Latu…
“Paul has terrific length and movement skills. He led all FBS tackles in 2023 with a 91.5 PFF passblocking grade… Wright’s career-best 91.0 PFF grade in 2023 paced all backs in the SEC after racking up over 7.4 yards per carry, the secondhighest rate among Power-Five backs.
“Kamara is explosive — he recorded a 4.57-second 40 and a 10-foot-3 broad jump — but has a limited frame at 6-foot-2 and 249 pounds. Over the last three years, he ranks in the 94th percentile of qualifying edge rushers in pass-rush grade on true pass sets…
“Malik Washington is the second-highest-graded receiver in 2023, behind only Malik Nabers. Tahj Washington is small but was really productive at the college level…. McMorris wasn’t ranked on the PFF big board or the consensus board this year.”
MORE PLAYERS ADDED
In addition to 10 rookie free agent additions, the Dolphins signed at least two other undrafted rookies over the weekend: safety Jordan Colbert
(who spent three years at Columbia and then two at Rhode Island) and Wisconsin tight end Hayden Rucci, who started 10 games last season and had 17 catches for 200 yards in 35 college games.
That gives Miami at least 12 players who have standard contracts — with varying amounts of guaranteed money — that count toward the 90player roster limit. It’s possible, if not likely, that there might be more that simply haven’t leaked. Miami hasn’t announced its post-draft signings.
The Dolphins began Sunday with a handful of spots below that maximum of 90 players that teams can carry during the offseason.
Players invited to try out for the team during a rookie mini-camp don’t count toward that 90 number.
Among those who accepted invitations to audition during the Dolphins’ rookie minicamp in a couple of weeks: seldomused UF backup quarterback Michael Leon, Virginia Tech 290-pound defensive tackle Mario Kendricks (who has 17 tackles for loss and 7 sacks in five years for the Hokies) and linebacker Geoff Cantin-Arku, who had a combined 19.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, one interception and four forced fumbles in three years at Syracuse and then two at Memphis.
Per NFL reporter Aaron Wilson, the Dolphins are giving $247,500 in guaranteed money to offensive line prospect Bayron Matos, whose college football experience was limited to defensive and special teams snaps for USF in games against BYU and Howard.
USF moved him to the offensive line, but he never played in any games on that side of the ball.
Matos, a former college basketball player at New Mexico and a native of the Dominican Republic, is one of 16 players who was (Home team in ALL CAPS)
NATIONAL LEAGUE Team Line Team MIAMI OFF Colorado
N.Y. METS -130 Chicago Cubs L.A. Dodgers OFF ARIZONA Cincinnati OFF SAN DIEGO
AMERICAN LEAGUE
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N.Y. Yankees -118 BALTIMORE Minnesota -166 CHI. W.S. TORONTO -130 Kansas City HOUSTON -154 Cleveland
INTERLEAGUE
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Line Team
-118 DETROIT OFF MILWAUKEE
Line OFF +110 OFF OFF
Line +100 +140 +110 +130
Line +100 OFF selected for the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program, designed to give opportunities to foreign players.
He trained at IMG Academy in Bradenton.
Barry Jackson: 305-376-3491, @flasportsbuzz
Philadelphia Pittsburgh San Francisco TEXAS Atlanta
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NEW YORK Indiana CLEVELAND -130 L.A. ANGELS -142 OAKLAND -130 BOSTON
OFF Washington -126 SEATTLE
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(204) (216) (200½)
Philadelphia MILWAUKEE Orlando
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CAROLINA -255 NY Islanders BOSTON -170 Toronto Colorado -115 WINNIPEG VANCOUVER -118 Nashville
For the latest odds, go to https://www.scoresandstats.com +110 +120 +110
OFF +108
+205 +140 -104 -102