Ranking the Biggest Dolphins FA Priorities
Man, the Miami Dolphins are going to be hard-pressed to come up in free agency with something as splashy as their trade for All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey that will become official Wednesday.
But they still have a lot of work to do over the next few months heading into and past the 2023 NFL draft to solidify a roster that's got the makings of a championship contender.
With that in mind, let's break down the biggest priorities of the free agency period for the Dolphins:
1. Find a Dependable Backup Quarterback
Sure, it might seem strange to list as the first priority a player who ideally wouldn't see the field in 2023 except at garbage time during a Dolphins blowout victory, but the reality is the Dolphins have a starting quarterback with durability concerns. And the Dolphins simply can't have a repeat of 2022 when their backup quarterback, albeit one with decent credentials, couldn't finish either of the two starts he made and the team had to use a rookie seventh-round pick in a critical must-win game at the end of the season and then in the playoffs. So it could be that sacrificing a bit of talent here would be a wise trade-off for someone who's durable. The names to watch here would appear to be Andy Dalton, Taylor Heinicke and maybe Gardner Minshew, though it says here that Joe Flacco also would fit the bill.
2. Landing an Impact Tight End
What made the Dolphins offense special in 2022 was the ridiculous speed outside and the matchup problems that Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle created, and that's not going to change as long as they're in the lineup and performing at peak efficiency. But imagine what kind of step the offense could take with a high-impact tight end. The reality, though, is the free agent market doesn't offer many great options. Dalton Schultz of the Cowboys clearly is the top tight end, but he won't come cheap. It may be that the Dolphins are better off taking one of the many blue-chip tight end prospects in the draft. Irv Smith Jr. or O.J. Howard could be a lower-priced option since the Dolphins do have to rebuild the position after trading Hunter Long, releasing Cethan Carter and likely saying goodbye to Mike Gesicki.
3. An Off-the-Ball Linebacker
The acquisition of Ramsey will solve one of the biggest issues on defense heading into the offseason, that of a top-flight corner to line up opposite Xavien Howard. With Ramsey, the Dolphins have the makings of an elite secondary and there's talent up front (Christian Wilkins, Zach Sieler) and on the edge (Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips). What's missing is an impact off-the-ball linebacker, and there should be several appealing options at the position. Tremaine Edmunds is the marquee name, but he might be too pricey for the Dolphins or many other teams. Some really good veteran options include Bobby Wagner, Lavonte David and Deion Jones, and if the Dolphins could land any of them, it would be a major plus.
4. Right Tackle
The Dolphins ended up using four starters at this position last season after 2020 first-round pick Austin Jackson was injured in the opener, with Greg Little, Brandon Shell and even right guard Robert Hunt taking turns. Shell is a pending UFA, and maybe re-signing him is the simplest way for the Dolphins to get a veteran presence if they decide to give Jackson another shot and he doesn't pan out — because we really don't know at this time how effective he can be. If the Dolphins don't re-sign Shell, they absolutely should get another veteran as insurance.
5. Safety Dance
Jevon Holland has the makings of a star and there are more than a few analysts who expect him to flourish under new DC Vic Fangio, but there's a question mark at the other safety spot. Brandon Jones is a great blitzer, but might not be a great fit for a scheme that doesn't call for safety blitzes all that much; Eric Rowe is a pending UFA who's likely out the door; Verone McKinley III is unproven after making the team as a rookie free agent last year; and the same goes for Elijah Campbell, who's a valuable player in the secondary and on special teams. Jordan Poyer is the name that stands out here, particularly given his podcast comments when he was all but begging the Dolphins to sign him. Another option to watch here might be former Dolphins DB Bobby McCain, who was let go by Washington after last season.
Honorable mention: Deciding on the RB corps, which wasn't ranked higher because we expect Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. to be re-signed.
