Kelly: Dolphins Still Plan to Address O-Line, But It Clearly Wasn't an Offseason Priority
No matter how tasty a meal was the first time around, very few people crave eating leftovers.
We might tolerate eating the same meal one more go-around, but few have the palate to enjoy leftovers on back-to-back days, especially if the meal was unspectacular.
It appears that the Miami Dolphins plan to give their fan base leftovers from the disappointing 2022 offensive line based on what the team has done and said during the first wave of free agency, adding only Dan Feeney, a veteran interior lineman, who signed a one-year deal worth $3.5 million.
Feeney has been told he’ll be allowed to compete for a starting position, but that potentially addresses just one of four glaring problems — Terron Armstead’s health, the starting left guard and right tackle spot, and overall depth — from the offensive line from last year.
In fairness to the Dolphins, the offseason isn’t over.
There’s still the aged and likely minimum salary crop of free agents, the NFL draft next month — where the Dolphins are in possession of four picks, two on the second day — and the post-draft wave of free agents, players purged to make room for inexpensive rookies.
“That will be addressed,” head coach Mike McDaniel said at this week’s NFL owners meetings in Arizona. “Obviously, last season (proved) depth can, and will, be tested, but you’re trying to (build the line) within the framework of what’s the best (approach), (addressing) all your needs of your team. What can you manage as a coaching staff, and what (do) you need to outsource with additions of players that can’t be coach-driven?”
That’s the $14.2 million question.
That would be the salary Miami commits to paying Austin Jackson in 2024 if he had proven he’s a reliable, starting-caliber offensive lineman with upside.
It would be irresponsible of the Dolphins to pick up that fifth-year option based on what they’ve seen from Jackson in the 30 starts he’s made at left tackle, left guard and right tackle the past three seasons.
At this point he’s running out of lifelines and opportunities to prove he was worth the 18th pick in the 2020 NFL draft. So why is Miami continuing its investment in Jackson?
And Liam Eichenberg, the former Notre Dame standout the Dolphins selected with the 42nd pick in the 2021 draft, hasn’t done much better.
Eichenberg struggled at right tackle, left tackle, and left guard (last season) during the 26 starts he’s made in his first two seasons.
The hope is that a new offensive line coach (Butch Barry), another season's worth of experience, and improved health will help Jackson, who played in only two games last season because of injuries, and Eichenberg become the players they have the potential to be.
Problem is, that’s a huge gamble to take considering the offensive line was a major wart on the league's sixth-ranked offense last year, and the odds of their struggles agitating Tua Tagovailoa’s durability issues are high.
Still, the Dolphins decision-makers made a conscious decision to sit out the more expensive wave of free agents, the potential upgrades, and are playing the waiting game.
PLENTY OF FREE AGENTS STILL AVAILABLE
Not even Brandon Shell, who performed admirably as the starting right tackle for 11 games last season, was re-signed. He’s still available, and the door hasn’t been closed on a possible return, which in my opinion would be ideal.
Talents like Donovan Smith (30), Jermaine Eluemunor (28), Isaiah Wynn (27), Taylor Lewan (32), George Fant (31), Dalton Risner (28) and Ja'Wuan James (31) are still unsigned. But at this moment the Dolphins seemingly are putting their faith in the players they’ve drafted and want to continue developing.
“There’s an opportunity cost for everything,” McDaniel said. “You’re always going to want to upgrade every position. In the particular circumstance with the offensive line, do I think in order to upgrade the position for us with the talent that we have, do you want to spend $12-20 million dollars to do that? Is that the best way to spend your money?”
That would be like eating out, which the Dolphins decided against doing during the first wave of free agency because the franchise has leftovers in the fridge.
According to McDaniel, the team’s priority is to help the young players — Jackson, Eichenberg, even Robert Jones — become better.
Let us just hope these leftover offensive linemen don’t end up making us sick.
