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Dolphins Positional Draft Preview: Interior Offensive Linemen

What did the Dolphins do in free agency, what do they stand heading into the draft, and how big of a need is there at this position?
Alain Poupart|
Dolphins Positional Draft Preview: Interior Offensive Linemen
Dolphins Positional Draft Preview: Interior Offensive Linemen

Breaking down the interior of the offensive line for the Dolphins and how they stand heading into the draft. Are they completely set in the interior of the offensive line? Could they use more depth in that area? If so, how early?

PLAYERS AT POSITION ON THE ROSTER: Ted Karras, Keaton Sutherland (G/T), Shaq Calhoun, Michael Deiter, Danny Isidora, Jesse Davis (G/T), Ereck Flower (G/T)

2020 TRANSACTIONS: Declined the option on the contract of Daniel Kilgore (March 13) ... Waived Evan Brown (March 18) ... Signed Ereck Flowers and Ted Karras as unrestricted free agents (March 20)

2020 DOLPHINS FREE AGENTS: Evan Boehm (UFA, signed with Buffalo), Daniel Kilgore (UFA, remains unsigned)

THE BREAKDOWN: The Dolphins made big moves in that area in free agency when they signed former Giants first-round pick Ereck Flowers and former New England center Ted Karras.

Flowers is coming off a very good season at left guard for the Washington Redskins after struggling at tackle at the outset of his NFL career. Karras was a backup until last season when he took over at center for the Patriots after starter David Andrews landed on IR.

Both Flowers and Karras should be expected to start for the Dolphins, leaving the right guard spot open for a competition among Michael Deiter, the 2019 third-round pick, Shaq Calhoun, Danny Isidora and perhaps Jesse Davis, who could be moved back inside if the Dolphins land a right tackle in the draft.

DRAFT OUTLOOK: With the additions of Flowers and Karras, the Dolphins now find themselves with a lot of options for the interior of the offensive line, and logic says it wouldn't make sense to draft somebody at the position just for the sake of adding competition.

No, if the Dolphins are going to use a pick on an interior offensive lineman this year, it will be on somebody with a legitimate chance of earning a starting job quickly.

The one name that comes to mind is Michigan center Cesar Ruiz, who is projected as either a late-first-round or second-round pick.

While it's not a priority, it's certainly possible the Dolphins could go for Ruiz at 26 or 39, assuming they don't trade either of those picks.

Other names to remember among interior offensive linemen are Robert Hunt from Louisiana and Lloyd Cushenberry from LSU.

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Alain Poupart
ALAIN POUPART

Alain Poupart is the publisher/editor of Miami Dolphins On SI and host of the All Dolphins Podcast. Alain has covered the Miami Dolphins on a full-time basis since 1989 for various publications and media outlets, including Dolphin Digest, The Associated Press and the Dolphins team website. In addition to being a credentialed member of the Miami Dolphins press corps, Alain has covered three Super Bowls (for NFL.com, Football News and the Montreal Gazette), the annual NFL draft, the Senior Bowl, and the NFL Scouting Combine. During his almost 40 years in journalism, which began at the now-defunct Miami News, Alain has covered practically every sport at one time or another, from tennis to golf, baseball, basketball and everything in between. The career also included time as a copy editor, including work on several books, such as "Still Perfect," an inside look at the Miami Dolphins' 1972 perfect season. A native of Montreal, Canada, whose first language is French, Alain grew up a huge hockey fan but soon developed a love for all sports, including NFL football. He has lived in South Florida since the 1980s.

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