Sunday Dolphins Mailbag: Holland, Phillips, Ramsey, and More

Part 2 of the latest SI Fan Nation All Dolphins mailbag:

From Faceplant Into Rock (@Faceplant4Life):

I get that we have to ride or die with Tua but if he can’t stay healthy this year, how the hell do we find a starting QB in 2024?

Let’s first start by pointing out that the Dolphins have exercised the fifth-year option on Tua’s contract for 2024, but playing along with your hypothetical with Tua again getting injured and the Dolphins looking to move on in 2024, just know that there always are options when it comes to veterans. Russell Wilson switched teams last offseason and this time it was Derek Carr, with Aaron Rodgers possibly following suit. So, yes, I’m confident the Dolphins will be able to find a starting quarterback next offseason if they move on from Tua.

From Phinsverso (@PhinsversoBr):

Hi Alain. Greetings from Brazil. I saw your discussion with Big O about who should be Dolphins WR3 (if there is one). Apart from who we have already on the roster, is anyone on the market (or draft) that can play that "Trent Sherfield role"? Add a WR would be a realistic move?

Hi to you in Brazil. I do believe the Dolphins are going to find their W3 from what’s already on the roster, especially after the addition of Chosen Anderson, Cedrick Wilson Jr., Braxton Berrios or Erik Ezukanma. In free agency, Jarvis Landry is interesting, though he doesn’t have the speed to give him the ability to YAC, and Demarcus Robinson is another interesting name to me.

From David Triana (@davidtriana_):

Hey Alain. Given the Dolphins’ strength of schedule this coming season, what do you believe will be the determining factor for the Dolphins’ success, aside from the injuries suffered across the board last year?

Hey David, it’s too simple to say the offense has to succeed against quality defenses late in the season, so instead I’ll say the biggest key for me will be forcing more turnovers on defense. That was a big shortcoming last season.

From Jason Kirkland (@1bigdad424):

With the Dolphins having 4 RBs already, do you see them adding another back in free agency or the draft?

Hey Jason, the Dolphins will need more than four running backs for training camp, but at this time I think it’s way more likely to be a young, inexpensive player than a high-profile veteran like Dalvin Cook, as I examined Saturday.

From Dan Giunta (@Dan_B_Phin_Phan):

Any chance Connor Williams gets extended before the start of the season?

Hey Dan, yeah, that question came up in Part 1 of the mailbag and I suggested this is a very strong possibility because Williams is a key member of the offensive line and signing him to an extension would lower his 2023 cap number. In fact, I’d suggest he should be at the top of the list of candidates for extensions.

From Dave (@angryvet59):

How hard will Coach McDaniel encourage Tua to use the new QB specific helmet ? He holds on to the ball too long a lot but every little bit helps yes ? Thanks for all your work & enjoy the Podcast w/you and Omar.

Hey Dave, thanks. I don’t think McDaniel is going to have to do a lot of convincing with Tua here because Tua obviously wants to stay healthy. The only way this would have be to be done is if the helmet is very uncomfortable for QBs. Otherwise, I don’t think there’s going to be much of a need for a lot of pushing.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

FOR EVEN MORE COVERAGE ON THE MIAMI DOLPHINS, CHECK OUT SPORTS ILLUSTRATED'S MIAMI DOLPHINS PAGE ON SI.COM.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

From Chris Roney (@ChrisRoney0):

True or False: Healthy Jalen Ramsey is an upgrade over healthy Byron Jones?

Hey Chris, that is true, and the big difference between the two is that Ramsey will make plays on the ball and get picks and Jones always struggled to do that. But Jones at his best is very, very good in coverage, same as Ramsey.

From Big Ern McDolphin (@dana_buice):

Hey my friend, can I get a list of the top 5 seasons by a Dolphins QB post Marino?

Hey Dana, yes, you can. And sadly there are not that many from which to choose. At the top, it’s a tough call between Chad Pennington’s 2008 and Tua’s 2022 — and this is where we need to look beyond stats because the offenses were so different. Tua would get the nod easily if not for December and beyond, but now you can flip the coin between those two seasons. I also would include Jay Fiedler’s 2002 season, particularly the first six games when he was very good before breaking his thumb in a Sunday night game at Denver; Ryan Tannehill in 2014; and Ryan Fitzpatrick in 2020. Honorable mention goes to Matt Moore for his work at the end of the 2011 season.

From Earl Gottfried (vai email):

Hello Alain, having just read Omar's two pieces on draft prospects, it sounds as if he expects major turnover in the next 2 years, but how can they rebuild thru the draft without enough picks? Secondly, if the Dolphins fail to make a dent in their quest to the playoffs and Super Bowl over the next 2 years because of injury and/or competition, whose head rolls first? Grier or McDaniel? Or does Ross dump and run from failure and sell the team?

Hey Earl, the Dolphins will have draft capital beyond next year and they also could have a lot of cap space if they decide to rebuild in the 2025 offseason. As for those in jeopardy if things go south the next two seasons, I’d say everybody would be vulnerable and Ross will sell the team at some point if for no other reason than he’s 83.

From Michael McDonald (via email):

Hi Alain, Can you polish off your crystal ball and finish this sentence?

In 2023 the Miami Dolphins will ______

A) Compete for a Super Bowl.

B) Win at least 1 playoff game.

C) Be one and done in the playoffs

D) Sitting at home for the playoffs.

Hey Michael, let me start by saying that I hate making predictions … because if I was doing more than making an educated guess, I’d move to Vegas and just gamble on the NFL. So my best-educated guess at this time would be B.

From Todd Newton (via email):

Hi Alain, I’ve really been enjoying the new podcast. You and Omar are doing a great job. Keep up the good work. I was wondering, since Omar is very much into the business side of things, if you guys could discuss the upcoming contract extensions the Dolphins will need to make next offseason. Next year we might have to extend Tua, extend Jevon Holland, and possibly extend either Waddle or Phillips so you don’t have to do both in the same offseason. Would an extension for Waddle make the most sense next offseason and design the contract so the big salary hits start hitting once Hill is gone? Or do you try and do Phillips and work his years around Chubb’s big cap hits? Just thought this could be an interesting topic on the podcast in a time where there isn’t much happening.

Hey Todd, yes, it would be a very interesting topic and we’ll get to it soon. To answer your question here for now, I’m not sure the Dolphins will want to do a lot of extensions next offseason because they have a lot of cap space already committed to veterans and Waddle and Phillips still will be on their rookie contract and they already have Tua locked in for $23 million. I think the heavy lifting with Waddle and Phillips will come in 2025.

From Dwain Jennings (via email):

Hey Alain, I appreciate your insight on Dolphins matters. My opinion is that Chris Grier is a fine GM, but he plays from the conventional GM playbook. I think if the Dolphins are going to compete for their first championship since 1973, the situation calls for more ambitious measures. What do you think of this scenario? The Dolphins trade Xavien Howard and Jaylen Waddle to Detroit for the 6th and 18th picks in this year's draft, as well as Detroit's second- round pick this year (pick 48). The Dolphins then trade the 18th pick this year and their 2nd round pick next year to Chicago for the 9th pick in this year's draft. With the 6th and the 9th picks, they select both Peter Skoronski and Paris Johnson Jr. The Dolphins then trade the 2nd round pick from the Lions and their own 2nd round pick to the Texas for their 2nd round pick (pick 33), and use the pick to select Darnell Washington, another excellent run blocker. With their 3rd round pick, they select whichever defensive player Coach Fangio deems best fits his needs. Finally, with the cap space created by the trade, the Dolphins sign Yannick Ngakoue, Jarvis Landry and Rock Ya-Sin and re-sign Brandon Shell. Thoughts?

Hey Dwain, I’ll say this, the scenario certainly is fun to consider. And, no offense, but I don’t like it. You have a potential Super Bowl contender, you don’t trade established veterans for draft picks because rookies don’t always (often?) make a big impact right away. If you want a really bold approach, you go for most established veterans, not draft picks.

From Stuart Kahl (vai email):

Hi Alain, I’ve been enjoying your podcast w/Omar. Keep up the good work. The Dolphins seem happy with Connor Williams at center, so why does everyone outside the organization seem to want to move Connor Williams back to guard? Wasn’t he one of the highest rated centers in his first year there? We all have been less than impressed with LG play lately, but it seems that a decent guard is easier to find than a center. Who is to say that we wouldn’t have the same issue at center if we moved Connor back to guard I’m expecting them to sign a veteran RT after the draft, possibly after June 1st when they get more cap room. I suspect it will be Brandon Shell or maybe George Fant. Who are you hoping they will sign?

Hey Stuart, I would be fine with either Shell or Fant to compete with Austin Jackson at right tackle or back him up and I’d also throw in Billy Turner as another option.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for reading. Make sure to bookmark this site and check back daily for the latest Dolphins news and analysis year-round. Also, you can follow me on Twitter at @PoupartNFL, and that's where you can ask questions for the regular All Dolphins mailbags. You also can ask questions via email at fnalldolphins@yahoo.com.