As of right now (Week 8, Bye Week) this would be my idea of an ideal offseason for the Dolphins, keeping it within reason, realistically speaking.
Release/Waive/Do Not Resign:
Sammy Morris, RB
Darian Barnes, FB
Chris Davis, WR
Eric Kimble, WR
Jason Rader, TE
Tim Massaquoi, TE
Damion McIntosh, T
Bennie Anderson, G
Kendyl Jacox, G/C
Trey Darilek, C
Vonnie Holliday, DT
Keith Traylor, NT (Retire?)
Jeff Zgonina, DT (Retire?)
David Bowens, DE
Donnie Spragan, LB
Keith Adams, LB
Keith Newman, LB
Michael Lehan, CB
Eddie Jackson, CB
Will Poole, CB
Travares Tillman, S
Olindo Mare, K
Trade:
Marty Booker, WR for a 4th round draft choice
Jeno James, G for a 5th round draft choice
Sign in Unrestricted Free Agency:
Eric Steinbach, G (Bengals)
Adalius Thomas, LB (Ravens)
Asante Samuel, CB (Patriots)
Josh Brown, K (Seahawks)
Draft:
(Assuming 3rd overall pick)
Round 1-
Joe Thomas, T - Wisconsin
We haven't had a quality LT since the days of Richmond Webb; this guy could solve a lot of problems.
Round 2-
Aaron Rouse, S - Virginia Tech
We need a physical, nasty presence in the defensive backfield, to tandem with the coverage ability of Jason Allen.
Round 3-
Nate Harris, LB - Louisville
If we are going to continue to try and run the 3-4, then good linebackers are a neccessity, and Harris could take over for Zach Thomas by 2008.
Round 4-
a: Jonathan Wade, CB - Tennessee
Eddie Jackson and Michael Lehan can't hold it down; Wade is much more athletic and fluid.
b: (Booker trade) David Ball, WR - New Hampshire
A receiver that actually catches the ball would be a welcome addition to this corps.
Round 5-
a: (To Detroit for Joey Harrington)
b: (James trade) Dan Mozes, C - West Virginia
Hopefully could beat out Joe Berger to improve interior O-Line depth.
c: *(possible comp. pick b/c of Sam Madison) Ben Patrick, TE - Delaware
A good blocking tight end, seems to solve the 3rd TE issues we've been having lately.
Round 6-
a: Cory Anderson, FB - Tennessee
Probably better than Barnes or anyone we've had around here recently.
Round 7-
a: Justin Hickman, DE - UCLA
Should be able to adeptly fit the DE/OLB role.
So, after all this, the Dolphins seem to have improved in key areas. It is asking a lot to sign those four free agent players, but Miami needs to pony up the dough for these guys, especially because of their deficiencies at their respective positions. Here is what their roster would look like for the most part, at least heading into camp.
QB: D. Culpepper, J. Harrington, C. Lemon
RB: R. Brown, R. Williams, T. Minor, P. Cobbs
FB: C. Anderson
WR: C. Chambers, D. Hagan, W. Welker, M. Vick, D. Ball, F. Gibson
TE: R. McMichael, J. Peele, B. Patrick
LT: J. Thomas, A. Alabi
LG: E. Steinbach, J. Berger
C: R. Hadnot, D. Mozes
RG: L. Shelton, S. McKinney
RT: V. Carey, J. Toledo
DE: K. Carter, M. Roth
DT: K. Vickerson, R. Wright, M. Wright
NT: D.Wilkinson, F. Evans
OE: J. Taylor, J. Hickman
SAM: A. Thomas, J. Maxwell
MIKE: Z. Thomas, N. Harris
WILL: C. Crowder, D. Pope
CB: W. Allen, A. Samuel, T. Daniels, A. Goodman, J. Wade
FS: J. Allen, R. Hill
SS: A. Rouse, Y. Bell
K: J. Brown
P: D. Jones
LS: J. Denney
I still think, even with these improvements, that this team would be around an 8-8 team, with the possibility of plus or minus 2 wins, and maybe a wildcard birth. But the real contending team would come in the following year, after some of the younger players got more experience. One more caveat to this offseason would be the firing of Mike Mularkey. I'm not sure who's available in the coaching arena, but I wouldn't be opposed to a young, up-and-coming coach from the college ranks to come in and take over as offensive coordinator. This might add a newness to the offense.
Anyway, criticize away.
