The Miami Dolphins went into the offseason with a ton of labor to do. Normal supervisor Chris Grier had a 53-man puzzle with holes and a few items that didn’t match.
The Dolphins misplaced just a few homegrown cornerstone gamers, corresponding to Christian Wilkins, Robert Hunt, and Xavien Howard, to begin the offseason. Nonetheless, Grier placed on his work boots, clocked in, and churned out one other playoff-caliber roster.
What began as a “capacolypse,” changed into a spot of prosperity with a pack of recent faces
prepared and desperate to make an impression with the league’s most explosive staff.
Contemporary Face or New Place
As we all know, the Dolphins have been in disarray to begin the offseason however rapidly went to work to fill some holes left by key gamers and repair a number of the issues that offered themselves down the stretch of the 2023 season.
The primary impactful signing of the offseason was tight finish Jonnu Smith. Smith made a reputation for himself with the Tennessee Titans and cashed in a 4-year, $50 million New England Patriots. Sadly, he may solely money in a single landing in two years with the Patriots earlier than being traded for a seventh spherical decide to the Atlanta Falcons.
Whereas with the Falcons, Smith’s profession received again on monitor, placing up his finest numbers in three years and ranked third in yards after catch amongst tight ends in 2023 with 7.1. His physicality, velocity, and underrated palms can flourish on this offense that’s begging for a receiving tight finish that isn’t a legal responsibility in run blocking.
After releasing long-time linebacker Jerome Baker, the Dolphins needed to discover a alternative with a nostril for the soccer and a ton of tackling gas. With the signing of Jordyn Brooks, they did simply that.
Brooks simply completed his third season in a row with 100+ tackles, together with 184 in 2021 and 161 in 2022. He ought to function an early-down linebacker as a result of the one gap in his sport has been as a canopy linebacker. Fortunately, that’s the place the signing of Anthony Walker Jr. comes into play.
Though Walker Jr. solely had 44 tackles in 2023, he’s broadly considered among the best cowl linebackers within the league. He’ll probably function a third-down linebacker matching up in opposition to the higher tight ends within the league. Brooks and Walker Jr. might be a powerful, interchangeable, duo alongside David Lengthy Jr.
With a shift in defensive philosophy below new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, the Dolphins invested within the again half of their protection. They went out and signed among the best corners available on the market for a steal of a deal in Kendall Fuller.
He replaces one of many franchise’s finest corners in Xavien Howard and does have massive sneakers to fill, however he’s two years youthful and graded a lot better (83.1) than Howard (55.1) in 2023 per Professional Soccer Focus as the highest nook on the Washington Commanders. As a quantity two nook behind Jalen Ramsey, the duo may strain the opposite staff’s offense and provides extra time for the Dolphins rushers to get dwelling.
The final massive piece that the Dolphins added on protection, a minimum of in my eyes, was Jordan Poyer. He could also be on the older facet of 30, however he’s nonetheless received greater than sufficient left within the tank and brings a management presence that the Dolphins have wanted for years on the defensive facet.
He’s a pacesetter and a playmaker on the Buffalo Payments protection that has given the Dolphins issues for years. That playmaker now performs in Miami and is aware of Josh Allen, having practiced on daily basis in opposition to him for a number of years. That might give the Dolphins an edge throughout these essential division video games in opposition to the Payments, and get them over the hump.
The best profile signing of the offseason was Odell Beckham Jr. He brings a veteran presence amongst younger receivers however has Tremendous Bowl expertise and performed effectively via the Rams playoff run and into that Tremendous Bowl. He makes performs when the lights are at their brightest, and the Dolphins can use all the assistance they’ll afford in these moments.
Beckham Jr. has been an damage legal responsibility the final handful of years, however with a decreased workload because the Dolphins WR3, he may carry some juice and make massive performs after they’re wanted. He nonetheless has a number of the finest palms within the league and is a man-breaker. Depth at receiver is essential, particularly when a lot of the receiving core is small and vulnerable to accidents.
If Jaylen Waddle or Tyreek Hill get injured, Beckham Jr. filling in as a WR2 isn’t a lot of a spot just like the case was in 2023. I see massive performs coming from Beckham Jr. in 2024.
What About The Children
I do know that the draft isn’t thought of a pickup just like the title refers to, however I need to carry them in as a result of they’re new faces to the staff, and there are nearly a handful that would make a direct impression.
Edge rushers in first-round decide Chop Robinson, who’s already exhibiting flashes in camp, and fifth-round decide Mohamed Kamara will get loads of snaps from the beginning. Robinson shall be a starter alongside the returning Emmanuel Ogbah (who may additionally make an impression, so let’s not overlook about him), and they will be who the Dolphins closely depend on, with Kamara backing them up till Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips come again from their accidents.
On the offensive facet, the rooks are simply as thrilling, however none are beginning but. Second-round decide Patrick Paul is the inheritor obvious to left sort out as soon as Terron Armstead retires, however with nobody locking up the fitting guard place, I may see Paul sliding over there and making a direct impression. If there’s a gap at guard, and you’ve got a man who may play effectively in that spot, there’s no purpose to have him warming the bench, particularly if you have already got a stable backup sort out in Kendall Lamm. He can study the nuances of the sort out place from Armstead and play guard his first 12 months, as many have achieved earlier than.
Fourth-round decide Jaylen Wright and sixth-round decide Malik Washington are each down within the depth chart because of the depth of their positions. Gamers at these positions on the roster have had a historical past of accidents, they usually may get time in 2023. Each gamers may make an impression if these positions weren’t so deep. Possibly we gained’t see them early, however they might flash in your display screen later within the 12 months so be looking out for them.
The Dolphins went from a staff most individuals thought would take a step again after their preliminary losses in free company, however Grier and his staff received after it and crammed each want with recent faces able to step up.
My query is, which participant may have probably the most impression within the upcoming season?
