Dolphins re-sign veteran offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg. He will try to win starting job
Guard Liam Eichenberg is re-signing with the Dolphins on a one-year deal, extending his career with the team past his expired four year rookie contract.
Eichenberg started 14 games at right guard last season and has 52 starts during four years with the Dolphins.
PFF ranked Eichenberg 69th among 77 qualifying guards last season: 51st as a run blocker and 67th as a pass blocker.
But contrary to what the PFF grades suggest, Eichenberg’s run blocking was the bigger issue, especially during the second half of the season when the Dolphins’ interior running game was consistently stuffed.
PFF said Eichenberg permitted only two sacks, but his 29 pressures were 21st most allowed among NFL guards.
The Dolphins signed Pittsburgh’s James Daniels, one of the top interior linemen available in free agency, to be one of their starting guards. Daniels, who is expected to be cleared for football in May or June after last season’s Week 4 Achilles injury, played only right guard (Eichenberg’s spot) for three years with the Steelers after playing only left guard and center in four years with the Bears.
Eichenberg has played 702 career snaps at left guard (mostly in 2022) and 1182 at right guard (mostly last season). He also played 964 snaps at left tackle (nearly all as a rookie in 2021) and 164 at right tackle (all as a rookie). He also played 653 snaps as a center in 2023.
Several interior offensive linemen are projected to go in Miami’s draft range at 13, including Texas guard/tackle Kelvin Banks and Alabama guard Tyler Booker. Eichenberg figures to compete with additional players added for the one open starting guard spot and serve as the team’s backup center.
Eichenberg allowed 9, 2, 5 and 2 sacks in his four seasons at Miami, initially playing tackle before moving to guard.
Among Dolphins free agent guards, Robert Jones signed with Dallas and Isaiah Wynn remains an unsigned free agent.
