What roster moves could the Dolphins make next after the first wave of free agency?
As the 2023 NFL Draft approaches in the coming weeks, the first wave of free agency has passed and the run of transactions have started to simmer.
That hasn’t stopped the Dolphins, though, who on Monday signed tight end Durham Smythe to a contract extension through the 2025 season.
There are about two weeks until Miami’s offseason workout program starts, another four until the Draft and multiple months before training camp opens, which gives the Dolphins a lot of time to continue reshaping their roster.
Here is a look at the positions the Dolphins could continue to address in the coming weeks and months.
Right tackle
▪ Skinny: The Dolphins have yet to add clear competition for Austin Jackson, who was limited to only two games in 2022 because of ankle injuries. Miami re-signed Kendall Lamm and Geron Christian but both project as reserves. Robert Hunt can play right tackle but the Dolphins like his potential at right guard and have not entertained a long-term switch.
▪ Free agency: In the first two weeks of free agency, the Dolphins opted not to dole out big dollars to some of the top offensive tackles available. At the NFL’s annual owners meetings last week, head coach Mike McDaniel said decision-makers are “taking our time with the market and seeing how that plays out, and there’s some stuff we have in thoughts of the draft. But of course, that will be addressed.”
Brandon Shell, who started 11 games last season, remains unsigned, while Cameron Fleming — who recently visited the Jacksonville Jaguars — and Billy Turner are other veteran options on the right side.
▪ Draft: On a conference call last week, ESPN draft analysts Matt Miller and Jordan Reid named BYU’s Blake Freeland and Syracuse’s Matthew Bergeron as possible options for the Dolphins with the No. 51 overall pick. Reid said Freeland could have versatility at tackle and guard, while Miller lauded Bergeron’s run blocking.
Tight end
▪ Skinny: The Dolphins lost three tight ends this offseason — Mike Gesicki, Hunter Long and Cethan Carter — but signed Eric Saubert and extended Smythe. Tanner Conner is the only other tight end under contract for the 2023 season.
▪ Free agency: Saubert has mainly been an in-line blocker in his NFL career but has skills as a pass-catcher that could be showcased in McDaniel’s scheme. Drew Sample and Tyler Kroft have played in similar offenses and could execute blocking responsibilities while also providing upside in the receiving game.
▪ Draft: Miller and Reid listed Oregon State’s Luke Musgrave, Iowa’s Sam LaPorta and South Dakota State’s Tucker Kraft as potential targets at No. 51. Musgrave, who dealt with injuries in college, was noted to be a “fantastic all-around player,” while LaPorta was called a “bully over the middle.”
Defensive line
▪ Skinny: The Dolphins have a strong core that includes Christian Wilkins, Zach Sieler, Emmanuel Ogbah and Raekwon Davis. The return of Ogbah, who missed a majority of the season with a triceps injury, should decrease the workload of Wilkins and Sieler. But Miami still needs depth, particularly behind Davis after the departure of John Jenkins, who signed with the Las Vegas Raiders.
▪ Free agency: Akiem Hicks and A’Shawn Robinson are veteran defensive linemen who have played in defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s scheme or a variation of it. And Fangio, who spent time as a consultant for the Eagles last season, may have knowledge on Linval Joseph and Ndamukong Suh, who signed with Philadelphia in the middle of the year as rotational interior defenders.
▪ Draft: The Dolphins have scheduled a visit with Bowling Green defensive lineman Karl Books, a Day 2 prospect who recorded 16.5 sacks over the last two seasons. Alabama’s Byron Young is a Day 2-3 prospect who projects as an early-down run defender in the NFL.
This story was originally published April 5, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
