NFL evaluators assess how the Miami Dolphins stack up, by position, on offense
For an outside view of the Dolphins roster, we spoke with two longtime NFL front office executives and former NFL scout Matt Williamson (who hosts the Locked on the NFL podcast) for some input.
How they assess Miami’s team, by position, with the executives requesting anonymity because the first is not authorized to speak publicly and the second (a former executive) does not wish to criticize players with whom he might interact in the future:
QUARTERBACK
Williamson: “I love Tua [Tagovailoa], absolutely phenomenal prospect. They were smart not to fall for a game of chicken and move up to No. 3 in the draft. I wouldn’t rush him but he will play sooner than later. You need to get your franchise quarterback out there once you’re 3-5, and Ryan Fitzpatrick is what he is. He usually falls off after a good year.”
Executive 1: “It’s a formidable group. But people should remember that Fitzpatrick never puts together two really good years. With Tua, he’s obviously talented. But besides the injuries, what would concern me a bit is the people he was throwing to at Alabama, the backs and the line he had; he’s not going to get that quality with the Dolphins compared to the competition. It’s going to take a while for Tua to step into that offense because of limitations with these rookie linemen. I’m still surprised Josh Rosen hasn’t done anything.”
Executive 2: “To me, there’s no question they’ll go with Fitzpatrick. He has years in Chan Gailey’s system and incumbents have such an advantage with no offseason program. There’s a lot to like about Tua, but it’s [justified] to ask if he can healthy. I would play Josh Rosen a lot in preseason to try to trade him.”
RUNNING BACK
Williamson: “Their running backs for the future are still in college, which is how I would have done it. If you are rebuilding, running back is the last piece of the puzzle I would be looking to fill. They got two stopgap guys who run hard with [Jordan] Howard and [Matt] Breida. They’re adequate there.”
Executive 1: “They’re below average there. They have nobody the quality of a Nick Chubb, an [Ezekiel] Elliott, a real bell cow.”
Executive 2: “That has a chance to be a good group. Howard is a good, physical runner and hopefully his hands improve. Breida is serviceable, a decent rotational guy.”
He said there’s no high-end third down back on the roster and that Kalen Ballage is far more physically gifted than the production would indicate and wants to see how he runs behind a better offensive line.
WIDE RECEIVER
Williamson: “I like them; DeVante Parker and Preston Williams are a very solid outside tandem with size. Preston Williams has first round traits. Parker played like a first-round receiver last season. I’m not sure who the dynamic slot guy is; there’s no one super shifty.”
Executive 1: “Average group at best. I want to see Parker do this for a second year. Preston Williams can be a legitimate No. 2. The rest are just guys.”
Executive 2: “It’s a solid group, a winning group. I worry about Albert Wilson and Jakeem Grant; can they stay healthy and productive for 16 games? Wilson has been breaking down. Preston Williams has the ability to be a long-term starter.”
TIGHT END
Williamson: “Mike Gesicki is improving, an enticing [talent] and they made the right choice not drafting a tight end; it was a bad tight end group. You have another year to see what Gesicki becomes before” 2021.
Executive 1: “Gesicki is essentially a big receiver. Not sure his blocking will ever be good enough, but they didn’t use him a lot to block. They can get by there.”
Executive 2: “Mike Gesicki got better; Durham Smythe is what he is, a contributing player. They should be OK there.”
But do they need an upgrade long-term? If Gesicki continues to improve, not necessarily, the second executive said. “It depends on what you’re doing offensively and whether you’re comfortable with [a glorified] receiver [like Gesicki]. It’s really how you define the position now.”
OFFENSIVE LINE
Williamson: “I like Austin Jackson and Robert Hunt. Jackson has a lot of upside. Hunt is a big, physical masher. I’m not sure I like Ereck Flowers for $10 million a year, but he’s an upgrade. Probably a wash at center with Ted Karras [replacing] Daniel Kilgore; maybe a slight improvement. They want to be extremely big and physical and bash you and they’re taking steps.”
Executive 1: “I would be worried about that group for this year. It’s going to take the kids [Jackson, Hunt] time to develop. Where are you going to get the development this year with no OTAs and minicamps?”
Executive 2: “OK group, not great. I’m not a big Ereck Flowers guy. Mental toughness is the question for me with him; maybe he’s benefited from experience and learned.
“Austin Jackson has a lot of tools, and for the next five years, I really like that pick. But to put him or Robert Hunt out there opening day without an offseason [on-field] program is a lot to ask for a rookie. It’s going to be tougher for offensive linemen with no offseason program; just the speed of the game is going to be a big adjustment.
“I’m a Jesse Davis fan. You can win with guys like that. He’s adequate if you keep him at tackle. Not ideal, but adequate. You have the luxury of time with Hunt; big, strong, powerful guy. Going from Kilgore to Karras is a wash at center.”
Coming Tuesday: How the evaluators size up the Dolphins on defense.
NEWS NOTES
If you missed it over the weekend, the Dolphins released running back De’Lance Turner, who had four carries for 6 yards last season. His departure leaves Howard, Breida, Ballage, Patrick Laird, Myles Gaskin, fullback Chandler Cox and running back/receiver Malcolm Perry as the backs under contract....
As Drew Rosenhaus noted on his WSVN-Fox 7 segment Sunday, NFL players are making $200 for each day they participate in voluntary Zoom sessions, like the ones the Dolphins have been having in recent weeks. As we noted two weeks ago, Dolphins players were given an app that allows the team to monitor their physical activity to determine whether they will get the workout bonus some of them are eligible to receive. Players aren’t permitted at team facilities because of the coronavirus pandemic....
As Albert Breer noted, three Dolphins offensive linemen — Michael Deiter, Jackson and Hunt — and several other NFL linemen are working on a high school field in Scottsdale, Arizona, this week in an offensive line camp arranged by their agent, former NFL offensive lineman Joe Panos.
This story was originally published May 18, 2020 at 2:41 PM.
