Dolphins Mailbag: Tua, Tyreek, and More

Tackling all sorts of free agency and draft-related Miami Dolphins topics

From Ben Reiss (@from BenReiss1):

Is the lack of a Tyreek Hill restructure or extension an indication the team may move on from him after this year?

Hey Ben, I think everything is on the table, from an extension happening soon to the Dolphins moving on after the season. What should be noted is that Hill has no more guaranteed money left on his deal after this year.

From Lloyd Heilbrunn (@LloydHeilbrunn):

I worry that the changes to the kickoff rules will make things even more difficult for teams with bad special teams such as the Dolphins. Your thoughts?

Hey Lloyd, your point has merit because we’d now be looking at more kickoff returns, but maybe it would be a wake-up call for the Dolphins and they’d bear down and get their kicking game/coverage in gear.

From The Thrill (@PhinPhil):

With all of the injuries to linemen's knees, why don't they all wear braces like some college teams, i.e. Michigan?

Hey Phil, the issue there involves slightly restricted mobility.

From Roger Dodger (@RogerDolfan):

Would Fins rather have an overpriced QB that makes any average WR look like a Pro Bowl WR or overpriced WR that makes an average QB look like a Pro Bowl QB?

Hey Roger, anytime would (or should) prefer the overpriced quarterback who makes all his receivers look better, though every team would prefer not having any overpriced players.

From Carl Bueckert (@BueckertCa94374):

Good morning Alain, what do you think of the DT from Texas Sweat? The monster NT, I think that he might be the next Vita Vea — a stud! He might be able to help free up ZS like Wilkins did.

Hey Carl, if Sweat becomes anywhere near the NFL player that Vea has been, sign me up. Not sure NFL scouts view him as having that kind of ceiling, though.

From Rico’s RoughNecks (@TheFin22):

At the moment, AFC East projected standings? I’m personally leaning Bills, Jets, Dolphins, Pats. NY’s and MIA’s offenses are built like glass until proven otherwise.

Oh man, that’s a tough one and there’s still a lot of offseason left, but since you asked, have to go Bills, Dolphins, Jets and Patriots.

From Bob Curvelo (@curvelo13):

Hi Alain, what's your thoughts on their WR3? OBJ or someone else who's younger and healthier and probably cheaper.

Hey Bob, I already have tweeted that I would prefer Tyler Boyd or Hunter Renfrow as the new No. 3 wide receiver, though obviously Beckham also would represent an upgrade. It's also a question of which one can be signed as a reasonable price.

From Rich Miller (@treettop70bg):

Last year I bought the Sunday ticket to watch all the Dolphins games. By the end of the season most games were shown on my local TV station anyway. How many prime-time games do you predict the Dolphins have this year? Is the product the Dolphins put on the field worth my money?

Hey Rich, only you can answer whether the Dolphins are worth the money you spend on them. I will say they have been an entertaining team the past couple of years and I would expect them to continue to be that way in 2024. As for number of prime-time games, best guess is either three or four.

From AntMan (@Jumpman389):

Top 3 fits for the draft taking into consideration, need, the current roster depth, scheme, value of pick and taking the player where they’re projected to be drafted, etc.

Top three fits for the draft would be center/guard Jackson Powers-Johnson, edge defender Laitanu Latu or defensive tackle Johnny Newton based on all the criteria you mentioned.

From Big Fax Man (@BigDolphinsFax):

Where are we shipping Tua to once we trade up for Penix?

Hey BFM, you don’t actually think this is happening, do you? If we want to play along, the teams still needing QBs who aren’t going to be taking one at the top of the 2024 draft would include Minnesota and Las Vegas.

From J Soto (@dolphin_4life):

Do you believe the Dolphins could draft a WR in the 1st 2 rounds of the draft?

Could they? Absolutely. Will they? Wouldn’t think so because they can get an equally good player at a bigger position of need in the first two rounds, whether at OL, IDL, EDGE or safety.

From Rob Hibbard (@robhibbard):

What moves are you making with the recent salary restructures? OBJ? Clowney? Boyd? Peat?

Hey Rob, the restructures were about adding flexibility and keeping the ability to pounce if the situation calls for it, but I don't know that they made a contract offer to OBJ simply because they did the restructures. It's all part of a bigger picture.

From Dolphins disappointed again, Celtics time (@Too_Many_Mics):

Should the Fins take Penix at 21? Those last few games killed the Tua thing for me. He didn't even give the Fins a chance to win any of them minus Dallas.

Let me start by answering that this will not happen, but I do think there’s merit to it if the evaluation of Penix justifies it (and from what I’ve seen of him, I like him a lot). There’s always value in quarterbacks and there’s nothing wrong with bringing him on board even while keeping Tua. Then if Tua balls out in 2024, he gets the long-term contract extension and Penix still has trade value. If not, then Penix becomes a ready-made alternative. But I have to repeat that I see no way this happens.