After a busy free agency period, where do the Dolphins’ remaining roster needs rank?
That the Dolphins could trade DeVante Parker to a divisional rival and not dramatically weaken the depth at wide receiver speaks to the work general manager Chris Grier and Co. have done to rebuild the team’s roster, specifically on offense, in the past month.
The Dolphins have used virtually every mechanism to upgrade the roster after a 9-8 finish in 2021. They were active in the opening days of free agency, ranking only behind the Jacksonville Jaguars in guaranteed money given out. They executed one of the biggest trades of the offseason, acquiring All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill. And they most recently restructured the contract of their best player, Xavien Howard, ensuring that the cornerback position remains a strength in 2022.
While the Dolphins have been one of the busiest teams in the NFL this offseason, they have retained flexibility to make additional moves. They sent out four picks between trading for Hill and trading away Parker, leaving them with four in next month’s draft. They will have to use those selections and about $20 million in cap space to fill out the roster needs between now and the start of the 2022 season in September.
Here is a ranking of the team’s remaining needs.
Right tackle
The Dolphins added two new starters in Terron Armstead, who coach Mike McDaniel said will start at left tackle, and Connor Williams, who McDaniel wouldn’t slot into a specific position but is most comfortable at left guard. There is still a major question remaining, however, at arguably the most important spot on the Dolphins’ offensive line, right tackle. This is quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s blindside, and the Dolphins would be best to ensure this spot has a viable starter after Jesse Davis, who has since been released, struggled throughout 2021.
Liam Eichenberg and Austin Jackson started most of the last season at left tackle and left guard, respectively, and are expected to compete for the starting right tackle position. Both went through growing pains in 2021, though, and can’t be penciled into any starting role. The Dolphins won’t make their first selection in the draft until late in the third round but again, given that it’s Tagovailoa’s blindside, right tackle is a position the Dolphins must find a clear answer for in the coming months.
Inside linebacker
The Dolphins showed how much they saw the need to upgrade the inside linebacker position by bringing back all three of the major contributors next to Jerome Baker. The team did re-sign Elandon Roberts, Duke Riley and Sam Eguavoen but all received modest one-year deals that don’t signal any is in the team’s long-term plans.
Modern-day NFL defenses are moving further away from base packages and using formations with more defensive backs so the Dolphins don’t necessarily need a three-down linebacker to play next to Baker. But Baker has been extremely effective as an edge player, and the team could use a linebacker that has the skill set to hold up against the run and pass whenever Baker moves outside.
Center
At the league owners meetings in Palm Beach, Grier placed his support behind Michael Deiter, who is entering his fourth season after starting eight games at center in 2021. Grier also said the team would add “competition” for Deiter, who Grier believes is still developing as a player.
Pro Football Focus graded Deiter as a below-average center in 2021, but Grier’s comments show he believes Deiter’s best play is still ahead of him, especially with a new coaching staff in place. At this point, center isn’t the liability that right tackle might be, but the Dolphins will need to add another player at the position, whether it’s a bona fide starter or more depth to compete with Deiter in training camp.
Punter
Punter is the sole position that doesn’t have a player on the roster, so it must be mentioned by default. The Dolphins have not re-signed Matt Palardy, and it appears the team will go in another direction in 2022. While much of the focus has been on upgrading the offense and keeping the defense together, the importance of special teams cannot be forgotten. Palardy was uneven in 2021, kicker Jason Sanders regressed and the team could not find a legitimate return specialist after trading Jakeem Grant. The Dolphins saw firsthand how field position can be flipped and momentum can be altered with a strong — or weak — punt and shouldn’t spare expenses to find a capable player.
Defensive line
The Dolphins avoided defensive line becoming a major need by signing Emmanuel Ogbah to a four-year deal worth $65 million. The team has a nice core along the defensive front with Ogbah, Christian Wilkins, Raekwon Davis and Zach Sieler. However, the defense struggled to generate pressure during the first half of the season and could use an additional player in its rotation who can move along the line.
This story was originally published April 5, 2022 at 10:54 AM.
