Dolphins position review: Big decisions to be made on top defensive linemen
.JPG "Miami Dolphins defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah (91) reacts after Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass (2) missed a field goal during second quarter of an NFL football game at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, September 19, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida.")
Arguably no Dolphins position group played better during their 8-1 finish than the team’s defensive line. And with that comes decisions to make on the future of two key players. In the sixth of a series of position reviews, the Miami Herald will examine the team’s defensive line situation. Next up is inside linebacker.
2021 IN REVIEW
Like the entirety of the Dolphins defense in the first half of the season, the defensive line got off to a slow start. Raekwon Davis injured his knee on the first drive of the season, which sidelined him for the next three games. Emmanuel Ogbah, the team’s top pass rusher in 2020, had 2.5 sacks in the first eight weeks. As the defense got back to its 2020 ways in the second half of the season, so did its front. Davis’ return improved the run defense, Ogbah had 6.5 sacks in the final nine games and Christian Wilkins and Zach Sieler were consistent presences throughout the year against the run and pass.
Depth chart
Emmanuel Ogbah
▪ Skinny: Ogbah matched his career high of nine sacks in 2021, and his 12 pass deflections ranked first among defensive linemen. His versatility is a perfect match for this defense, but the Dolphins will have to give Ogbah a sizable pay increase to keep him in Miami.
▪ Contract: Ogbah, 28, is headed for unrestricted free agency.
Christian Wilkins
▪ Skinny: Wilkins had his best season to date, recording a career-high 89 tackles and 4.5 sacks. The No. 13 overall pick in the 2019 Draft, Wilkins has emerged as one of the team’s best players and a leader. Pro Football Focus graded Wilkins as the sixth-best interior lineman in 2021.
▪ Contract: Wilkins, 26, is entering the fourth year of a five-year rookie contract, with a team option for the fifth season. He has a cap hit of $4,912,440.
Raekwon Davis
▪ Skinny: Davis missed three games earlier in the season because of a knee injury but his return to the lineup improved a run defense that ranked 14th in the league. He recorded 28 tackles and 0.5 sacks.
▪ Contract: Davis, 24, is entering the third year of a four-year rookie contract. He has a cap hit of $1,542,412.
Zach Sieler
▪ Skinny: Sieler played just 46 percent of the defensive snaps but made the most of his limited opportunities, being graded out by Pro Football Focus as the third-best interior lineman in 2021, only behind Aaron Donald and Cam Heyward. One of general manager Chris Grier’s best waiver-wire finds, Sieler recorded a career-high 62 tackles, along with two sacks.
▪ Contract: Sieler, 26, is entering the second year of a three-year extension he signed in 2020. He has a cap hit of $2,575,000.
Adam Butler
▪ Skinny: Butler was a part of the line’s rotation, playing 53 percent of the defensive snaps. He recorded 17 tackles, five quarterback hits and two sacks.
▪ Contract: Butler, 27, is entering the final year of a two-year contract. He has a cap hit of $4,150,000. The Dolphins can get that money back in its entirety if they release or trade Butler.
John Jenkins
▪ Skinny: Jenkins appeared in seven games, recording 16 tackles.
▪ Contract: Jenkins, 32, is headed for unrestricted free agency.
Offseason questions
1. Does Ogbah return to Miami?
Playing the last two seasons on a deal worth $15 million total, Ogbah has been one of best bargain signings in recent years. Ogbah is one of only seven players who have recorded 18 sacks and 45 quarterback hits the past two seasons; Aaron Donald, T.J. Watt, Myles Garrett, Joey Bosa, Matt Judon and Trey Hendrickson are the others. At 28, this moment marks probably Ogbah’s last chance to cash out in free agency.
The franchise tag for a defensive end in 2022 would pay Ogbah the average of the top five salaries at his position, a fully guaranteed, one-year deal worth approximately $20.2 million. The transition tag, the average of the top 10 salaries at his position, would be worth approximately $16.6 million, which the Dolphins might find more tenable.
Even better would be a long-term deal that brings Ogbah’s cap hit even lower but gives him more guaranteed money during the next few seasons. Pro Football Focus projects Ogbah will receive a three-year deal worth $46.5 million with $30 million guaranteed. He and tight end Mike Gesicki are the Dolphins’ top candidates to receive the franchise tag, which can only be used on one player per year.
2. Will the Dolphins pick up Wilkins’ fifth-year option?
Wilkins has gotten better in each of his three seasons, and now it’s time for the Dolphins to decide whether his body of work has earned him a fifth year on his rookie deal. The team will have until May 3 to exercise the fifth-year option, which would pay Wilkins approximately $10 million in 2023. It would also give both sides more time to work on a long-term extension, which Wilkins is now eligible for.
3. Can Davis follow Wilkins in making a Year 3 jump?
Davis is one of the more unglamorous names on the Dolphins defense and while he graded out poorly by Pro Football Focus — the lowest-rated interior defensive linemen in 2021, according to the metrics site — he’s a run-stuffing defensive tackle who often takes on double-teams to free up his teammates. The Dolphins gave up an average of 141 rushing yards in the three full games Davis missed. The 13 games after he returned from injury, the defense allowed an average of 101 yards. As a second-round pick in the 2020 Draft, the next step for Davis is to be become more disruptive as a run defender and potentially provide something as a pass rusher.
POTENTIAL ADDITIONS
If the Dolphins place the franchise tag on Ogbah or come to an agreement on a long-term deal, they will be in the market for reserve lineman to round out the rotation. If they lose Ogbah, they will be searching for an edge rusher who can provide eight to 10 sacks and defend the run well.
The Dolphins could re-sign Jenkins to a veteran minimum deal or go outside to bring in a player such as the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Jihad Ward, a versatile lineman who could provide good production on an inexpensive deal.
Bigger names the Dolphins could pursue to replace Ogbah include the Arizona Cardinals’ Chandler Jones and Cleveland Browns’ Jadeveon Clowney.
The defensive line might not be at the top of the Dolphins’ needs but the draft is full of talented pass rushers. Many of them could be available with the No. 29 overall pick; names to watch include Houston’s Logan Hall and Purdue’s George Karlaftis.
DOLPHINS POSITION REVIEWS
TE: Will Miami be able to keep its free agent tight ends?
OL: Will Miami splurge on offensive line in free agency?
WR: What wide receiver will complement Jaylen Waddle in 2022?
RB: Will Miami finally use a high draft pick on a running back?
QB: Dolphins appear all-in on Tagovailoa but who joins QB room?
