Ranking the 10 Most Important Dolphins Newcomers
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Out with the old, in with the new.
The Miami Dolphins hope to turn up the volume on the team's recent success and to achieve that, the alterations made to the roster and coaching staff need to be enhancements.
In most cases they clearly are, but there are some instances where it is debatable whether or not the newcomer added is a clear-cut upgrade.
Take a look at the top 10 newcomers to last year’s 9-8 Dolphins team, which lost against the Buffalo Bills (34-31) in the first round of the playoffs, and determine how good of an offseason the Dolphins have had.
RELATED: DID THE DOLPHINS UPGRADE (OR DOWNGRADE) THEIR ROSTER AT EACH POSITION THIS OFFSEASON?
1. Cornerback Jalen Ramsey
At what point does an elite cornerback show some talent erosion? And how does it manifest itself? Was it the six touchdowns Ramsey allowed last season covering each opponent’s best receiver? We’ll soon learn if the Rams unloaded the six-time Pro Bowl selection on Miami in the offseason trade that cost the Dolphins a 2023 third-round pick, tight end Hunter Long and a restructured contract. The hope is that pairing Ramsey with fellow elite cornerback Xavien Howard will provide the Dolphins the best cornerback tandem in the NFL. It should at least be an upgrade over what Miami used last season (aged veterans, waiver wire claims, practice squad talent and undrafted rookies) as a result of having the secondary decimated by injuries.
2. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio
The Dolphins ranked 18th in total defense, 27th in pass defense and tied for 24th on third-down conversions. It’s Fangio’s job to improve those rankings. It’s a good thing Fangio’s track record proves he has a history of doing so. But don’t expect an overnight transformation considering not all of Miami’s defenders are perfect fits for his zone-based 3-4 scheme. The Dolphins have spent the past three seasons utilizing a man-based, blitz-heavy 3-4 approach, and there could be some challenges with the transition. But Fangio is experienced enough to make it work, or find alternatives that do. Fangio led top 10 scoring defenses in eight of his past 11 seasons. He also led top 10 total defenses in seven of his past 11 seasons.
3. Linebacker David Long Jr.
Long comes to Miami after producing four solid seasons as a part-time starter for the Titans, for whom he started 26 games, contributing 230 tackles, four interceptions and two forced fumbles. Last season he recorded a career-high 86 tackles, and pulled down two interceptions. His ability to cover tailbacks and tight ends downfield was one of the primary reasons Miami viewed this former West Virginia standout as an upgrade over Elandon Roberts, who struggled in passing situations before moving on to the Steelers. The biggest concern about Long is whether he can stay healthy for a full season as an NFL starter who is needed to play 1,000 or more snaps. The most he’s ever played in a season is 740.
4. Offensive line coach Butch Barry
Barry is one of Mike McDaniel’s more controversial hires because there’s been mixed views about him at many of his stops. Last season his departure from the Denver Broncos offensive line, where he served as that unit’s lead coach, was reportedly celebrated by some players, and his stint as the University of Miami’s offensive line coach was disappointing. But McDaniel knows Barry from the 2021 season they spent together with the San Francisco 49ers, where Barry was the assistant offensive line coach. His resume hints he's an upgrade over Matt Applebaum, who returned to coach Boston College's offensive linemen after one season with the Dolphins. The hope is that Barry can help young players like Robert Hunt, Austin Jackson, Liam Eichenberg and Robert Jones clean up their technique, which would help them take their performance to another level. His success is critical because the offensive line is the Dolphins’ most troublesome area, and McDaniel openly admits he needs offensive coordinator Frank Smith to be freed up to do more than help out with the offensive line.
5. Punter Jake Bailey
Bailey, a 2020 Pro Bowl selection as a member of the Patriots, replaced Thomas Morstead, who signed with the Jets. The 25-year-old is coming off a season where he averaged a career-low 42.1 yards per punt and 35.1 net yards last season before landing on injured reserve with a back injury. Because Miami signed Bailey to a one-year deal worth nearly $1.1 million that’s fully guaranteed, it is a stretch to say Michael Turk, who was added as an undrafted rookie, will challenge him for the punter role unless Bailey continues to have back issues that impact his punting.
6. Cornerback Cam Smith
The Dolphins selected the confident and aggressive South Carolina standout in the second round, with pick No. 51 because he was a top 50 player on their draft board, and as General Manager Chris Grier accurately stated, “You never have too many good cornerbacks.” The hope is that Smith, who logged 91 tackles and six interceptions in his four seasons with the Gamecocks, learns from Ramsey and Howard enough to handle 500 snaps in his rookie season. The Dolphins likely will teach him how to play on the boundary before testing him out as a nickel cornerback, potentially challenging Kader Kohou and Nik Needham for their roles in the nickel and dime packages.
7. Receiver/ returner Braxton Berrios
Last season the Dolphins had a revolving door at slot receiver, and Miami’s punt return game was dismal. Berrios, who the Dolphins signed to a one-year deal worth $3 million, with another $500,000 in per game roster bonuses, should be able to drastically upgrade the team at both those roles. Berrios had a down year at receiver last season. He caught 18 of 31 passes thrown his way and turned them into 145 receiving yards. He also gained 91 rushing yards and scored two rushing touchdowns on nine carries. During his career he averaged 11.4 yards on 67 career punt returns, and 24.9 yards and a touchdown on 67 career kickoff returns.
8. Wide receiver Chosen Anderson
The one thing I respect about Anderson is that nothing has ever been given to him during his playing career. He’s always had to take it, and I expect this seven-year veteran to take a contributing role in Miami’s offense. Anderson is coming off a down year where he was traded during the season from the Carolina Panthers to the Arizona Cardinals. The 29-year-old finished 2022 with 20 receptions for 282 yards and one touchdown. But he’s pulled down 375 passes in 111 games, turning them into 4,965 yards and 29 touchdowns. The resume is there, and if he picks up on Miami playbook quickly enough, Anderson could become one of Miami’s top four receivers.
9. Safety DeShon Elliott
Miami signed Elliott to a one-year deal worth $1.1 million, and the hope is that this former Texas Longhorns player can compete with his former college teammate (Brandon Jones) for the starting strong safety spot. Elliott started 35 of the 42 games he played the past four seasons for the Ravens and Lions, contributing 205 tackles, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions and forcing three fumbles. Last season he contributed 96 tackles, forced one fumble and recovered another in the 14 games he played for a Lions defense that consistently got shredded by opposing quarterbacks. Let’s hope he wasn’t part of the problem in Detroit.
10. Quarterback Mike White
Miami signed White, a 27-year-old South Florida native, to a two-year, $8 million deal, hoping that he’ll be an upgrade over Teddy Bridgewater, who struggled to stay healthy last season. White has a reputation for being a scrappy quarterback who can analyze defensive coverages quickly and throws with accuracy. The problem is his body of work isn't impressive. He delivered a 2-5 record in his seven starts for the Jets the past two seasons and produced a 75.4 career passer rating. The biggest question moving forward is whether he can lead Miami to a winning record if Tagovailoa is sidelined for a long stretch because of an injury.
Also receiving consideration:
Tight end Eric Saubert, secondary coach Renaldo Hill, offensive lineman Dan Feeney, rookie tailback Devon Achane, and rookie offensive lineman Ryan Hayes.
