Saturday Dolphins Mailbag: Byron Jones, Offseason Musts, Carr, and More
Part 1 of the latest offseason SI Fan Nation All Dolphins mailbag:
From Flipper13 (@Flipper13):
What are the three most imperative moves the Fins need to make this offseason?
Man, starting with a heavy one here because it’s so all-encompassing. I’d say, in no particular order, finding a solid and durable backup quarterback, getting a playmaking off-the-ball linebacker, and then landing a two-way tight end.
From NY – Fins Up (@azomack34):
Should teammates pushing the ball carrier for short yardage or close to the goal line be disallowed? This seems like rugby to me. Also - back in the day, could you carry out the REM tune “It’s the End of the World as We Know it (And I Feel fine)” doing karaoke? Fast lyrics!
Howdy, I’m with you with the teammates pushing the ball carrier in the back. I don’t like it at all and I think it should be made illegal. I don’t really see where it’s a football play. On the R.E.M. question, that’s great, it start with an earthquake. Had it as my ringtone for a bit and I can somewhat sing along, but certainly not karaoke-style — and, believe me, nobody wants to hear me sing.
From Dixon Tam (@DixonTam):
What are the chances the #Dolphins restructure Byron Jones's contract & bring him back on a one-year prove-it deal? There has to be a story behind why he didn't play this year beyond the injury. Is he on good terms w/ team or is he Will Fuller 2.0?
Hey Dixon, the big difference between Byron Jones and Will Fuller is that there have been no indications of Jones not wanting to keep playing (as there were with Fuller), though he does have a lot of outside interests. I have a hard time seeing Jones back with the Dolphins in 2023 unless he’s willing to take a pay cut because he's got a very high cap number, particularly for someone who missed the entire season.
From Finkle is Einhorn (@finkle_is):
Hi Alain. Not sure if they are related, but it was curious that Matt Applebaum was fired pretty much the moment Fangio agreed to be DC (for the 2nd time). Could there be some sort of package deal with Mike Munchak, a very experienced OL coach?
Hey there, don’t know about a package deal, per se, but it certainly would make sense for the Dolphins to give Munchak a call and the timing of the two moves certainly would be enough to make anybody think it’s not a coincidence.
From FC (@fcapriles):
Possible OL candidates?
From TexasPhinMan (@TexasPhinMan):
Where does McDaniel go at OL coach?
Hey there, haven’t done a ton of digging into it just yet, but Mike Munchak kind of screams like a good option at this point, as I examined earlier Friday.
From Cubanater (@JohnSan61696128):
Do we/should we trade Byron Jones?
Hey there, Byron Jones has a base salary of $13.5 million for 2023, per overthecap.com. That’s awfully steep for a 30-year-old cornerback coming off an injury that caused him to miss an entire season. Translation: I have a hard time seeing a team trading for Jones, who the Dolphins very well might end up releasing.
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From Crash Jensen (@Sngly):
What do you think should be the main priority for Miami’s offense in the offseason? Does Miami’s current defensive personnel match Fangio’s scheme? How likely is it that Byron Jones is on the team next year, especially considering his salary and the Dolphins’ cap constraints? What other defenders do you think are likely gone?
Hey Crash, rapid-fire answers for multiple questions: The main priority on offense should be a dual-threat tight end. Miami does have a lot of players to make the Vic Fangio scheme work, but they need a playmaking off-the-ball linebacker. My expectation is that Byron Jones will be released, and I think Jerome Baker could be another cap casualty.
From Prince-Bishop Militantly Aardvark #FPBE (@MilitantlyA):
Will the Dolphins renew their interest in Clyde Christensen now he's been dumped by the Bucs?
Hey there, according to the story from longtime Bucs writer Rick Stroud, Christensen wasn’t “dumped” by the Bucs, but rather he retired. So, no, there’s no reason to think he’s coming to the Dolphins.
From ORLANDO ALONSO (@OAlonso59):
Alain, thank you for all your very objective articles. Now that Vic Fangio is in charge as the Dolphins DC, how do Jerome Baker, Elandon Roberts and AVG fit his scheme?
Hey Orlando, at its best, the sceme featured high-impact off-the-ball linebackers, like Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman with the 49ers and Roquan Smith with the Bears. Now, it’s a lot to ask to have somebody play at that level, but it’s also fair to suggest the Dolphins need an upgrade at that position. As for AVG, yeah, he can play that scheme, but he’s a free agent and just might look elsewhere for a bigger role on somebody’s defense.
From steve , (@jujusimba7777):
Hi Alain, backup QB, if you were the Dolphins, how much would you pay for a guy, same as we paid Teddy, knowing realistically he may well need to start 2/3 games at least? Would you like guys like Mayfield, Heinicke, Darnold, Minshew rather than an old vet like Flacco, Dalton?
At $6.5 million, Teddy Bridgewater was the second-highest-paid backup QB in the NFL last year behind only Jimmy Garoppolo and this should be around the same amount the Dolphins commit to that role in 2023. As for options, I think Mayfield, Minshew and Flacco would be my three choices from your list.
From Jj (@jjjara1317):
Hi Alain, is Derek Carr a good fit for the Phins?
Hey there, Derek Carr would be a good fit for the Dolphins from a scheme standpoint and he’s certainly a quality QB, but ask yourself why he would want to come to Miami when the team already has publicly committed to Tua as its starter for 2023. Carr will be looking for a starting role somewhere — or at least a legitimate chance to start.
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