Five takeaways from the Miami Dolphins at the NFL’s annual owners meetings
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell spoke to reporters at The Breakers resort in Palm Beach on Tuesday afternoon, putting a bow on the league’s annual owners meetings. There was insight from Goodell and other league personnel, as well as Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier.
Here are five takeaways from the owners meetings.
The Dolphins have the attention of their peers after an active free agency period
Championships aren’t won during the offseason, and Grier was quick to remind reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine that splurging in free agency has blown up in the organization’s face before. The past few weeks have felt different though, with a series of shrewd, under-the-radar signings and then a pair of blockbuster moves — signing left tackle Terron Armstead and trading for wide receiver Tyreek Hill — at premium positions.
Throughout the week, NFL coaches praised not only the team’s additions but their potential in McDaniel’s offensive scheme.
“It’s going to be scary,” said Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay, who coached alongside McDaniel in Washington. “... He’s going to do a great job putting players in position to succeed. They’re going to be explosive. It’s going to be a lot of fireworks. They’re going to be fun to watch.”
Said Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane: “It will be tough for our defense, for any defense. We know we have our hands full. You’re not sad to see [Hill] leave [Kansas City]. You’re also not excited to see him come to your division.”
McDaniel declined to feed into the attention in Palm Beach. He didn’t definitively answer questions about how good his offense would be in 2022, instead pointing to the long road ahead to install a new system, which begins with the start of the offseason workout program on April 4. But there is a buzz about what the Dolphins can be from coaches who know McDaniel best.
Time will tell if all the praise is warranted.
The Dolphins aren’t done making moves — at the right price
The Dolphins made good use of their league-leading $60 million in cap space, retaining their top free agents, acquiring Hill and Armstead and then signing players who fit in their scheme and have upside. The team also adjusted a pair of contracts and released two players to remain flexible with the cap. It seems like the team’s biggest moves are behind them, but Grier reiterated he’s always open to discussing potential deals and trades.
When asked about DeVante Parker, who could be the odd man out in a revamped wide receiver room, Grier said: “The expectation is he’ll be here but we always listen. I’ve always said here, and the guys that know me, we’ll always listen for all players on the roster.”
With holes and depth needing to be filled at positions such as center, tackle and punter, the Dolphins might not be making any more fireworks in the weeks leading up to the 2022 NFL Draft, but they also won’t rest on their laurels.
For the first time in years, the Dolphins won’t have prime draft capital — and that’s fine
When was the last time the Dolphins didn’t make their first pick in a draft until the third round? It should make for a good trivia question as fans wait through Thursday night’s first round and much of Day 2 on Friday for the Dolphins to be on the clock. As Grier noted, he was still in the organization the last time that was the case — in 2002, when the team selected center Seth McKinney out of Texas A&M.
For the past few years, and especially since Grier assumed full responsibilities as GM in 2019, the Dolphins have been in the business of acquiring draft capital and attempting to fill their roster with young talent. After landing a number of potential stars or major contributors, Grier felt comfortable relinquishing prized picks — five in the next two years — to get Hill in Miami.
The Dolphins are set to only have five picks in April’s draft — their first pick is No. 102 — but have used five first-round picks in the last two drafts, landing players such as Jaylen Waddle and Jaelan Phillips and others such as Jevon Holland outside of the first 32 picks. Players such as Tua Tagovailoa and Austin Jackson have yet to meet expectations as top picks, but there is still confidence they can become fixtures in the team’s core. When you look at the talent level under the age of 25 on cheap contracts for the next two, three years, giving up a few picks — and just one in the first round — to get a player such as Hill to potentially lift the team to another level was a simple decision.
The remaining offensive line spots to be sorted out may be filled by incumbents
McDaniel only committed to one spot along the offensive line, saying that Armstead would play left tackle, the spot he has manned throughout his nine-year career. While Connor Williams has played his best at left guard, McDaniel left that up in the air, electing to wait how Williams and others respond as the new playbook is installed.
McDaniel and Grier continue to express their belief in the team’s group of young linemen, who could ultimately fill the remaining three spots, assuming Williams ends at left guard. Grier praised the growth of Michael Deiter, who started only right games at center in 2021 because of an injury, and said the 2019 third-round pick is still in his “developmental window.” While Grier said Deiter would have competition, the lack of moves at center leaves Deiter as the current favorite to start the season at center.
The Dolphins know they have a starter in Robert Hunt, who will start at right guard or possibly move to right tackle. That leaves one more spot to be won by returning starters Jackson and Eichenberg. The Dolphins could — and likely will — add more linemen to go into training camp and additions through the draft can’t be ruled out. As expected though, the entire line wasn’t overhauled and the team’s recent draft picks will have every opportunity to compete to retain their starting spots in 2022.
The aftershocks of Brian Flores’ lawsuit are still reverberating around the league
At the owners’ meetings, the league announced an update to the Rooney Rule, requiring all 32 teams to have at least one minority offensive assistant on staff. The league also launched the Diversity Advisory Committee as it continues its efforts to make the coaching and leadership ranks more inclusive.
While former Dolphins coach Brian Flores’ name wasn’t mentioned in any of these announcements, it’s hard to think that the league would have taken these measures had it not been for his groundbreaking lawsuit accusing the league of racial discrimination in its hiring and firing process. The merit of Flores’ allegations has been debated endlessly since they became public in February but it’s already left an indelible mark on the league, forcing Goodell and Co. to be proactive in promoting diversity.
Meanwhile, Goodell said there was no timetable into Flores’ allegations that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross offered $100,000 per loss during the 2019 season. The findings of the investigation will be made public, however, if Ross is found culpable in any wrongdoing.
Ross was at the owners meetings but did not speak to reporters.
This story was originally published March 30, 2022 at 1:18 PM.
