Right here on this site we traffic with dozens of people who are active posters and spend probably a dozen hours a week poring over the Miami Dolphins specifically and in total isolation. Yet even here there won't be any kind of consensus on what the Dolphins need and what they should prioritize.
Think about that, and then think about a poor writer being tasked with coming up with the needs for ALL THIRTY-TWO teams for some click bait article the genesis of which came from an SEO (search engine optimization) machine.
It's not really the writers' fault in these situations, usually.
That said, here are my thoughts on the positions. For all intents and purposes, I'm not going to count positions where you could stick a final guy on the depth chart that will mostly play special teams anyway. And I'm considering our own unrestricted free agents. If we have free agents at a position to where it's bare, we have a need. One way or another, those positions need to be filled back up...either by re-signing the guy (which isn't always a guarantee) or by getting a new one.
Quarterback: --
There's room here for a guy to replace Matt Moore as the primary backup but they've got an iron in the fire in the form of Brandon Doughty. Also, keep in mind that Matt Moore's role is slowly shifting from the type of primary backup that other teams would consider trading for to "franchise QB's BFF". Translation? You can no longer make decisions about Moore in a vacuum. He may very well be the voice in the QB room that Tannehill trusts most; a guy that has been with him from the start of his career, is well beyond his own personal ambitions to be a starter again, and can probably only be jettisoned if he is forced to play at some point and disappoints everyone. Keep this in mind because these are among the real world problems real world coaches and general managers must deal with that constitute the difference between reality and fantasy.
Running Back: --
For all intents and purposes they are probably going to want to sit tight with what they've got here between Jay Ajayi, Damien Williams (RFA, will be re-signed) and Kenyan Drake. Anything they add here will probably be kind of an afterthought.
Wide Receiver: NEED (Full Time)
There is a legitimate need at this position because Kenny Stills is an unrestricted free agent and Miami doesn't have another player on roster that can fill his specific role on the team. His isn't really a role that Leonte Carroo could naturally fit, nor Jarvis Landry. You could make a case for DeVante Parker, but Parker's general lack of focus and stamina would worry me if he had to be running wind sprints all day like Stills does. So the reality is you've either got to find a contract Stills will accept or you've got to find a replacement. Either-or, something has to be done, and that makes the position a need.
Tight End: NEED (Full Time) + NEED (Rotational)
All four of Miami's tight ends are unrestricted free agents. All four. Including the guy on I.R. The Dolphins want an in-line tight end with flexibility in the mold of a Greg Olsen or Zach Ertz. They don't necessarily want to spend assets on an unattached specialist like they have in MarQueis Gray, or like a Delanie Walker or Jordan Reed. If Dion Sims had shown better ability to get open in man coverage they'd think about just re-signing him and having him be a focal point. I suppose there are 5 games remaining, but right now it doesn't look like he's the guy. And Jordan Cameron is certainly done. They want no part of his concussion issues anymore. At this point the easy decision to make would be getting MarQueis Gray and Dominique Jones back. They've outplayed their contracts and will probably continue to do so, as they'll be cheap. Gray might get a little bit of money (not much). But they need a focal point player for the position to put with Gray, while Jones serves as a third guy. If they don't get Gray back, suddenly they need two guys that they can be reasonably assured can play on Sunday immediately in 2017 without costing the team through poor execution. Remember that re-signing your own guys does not count toward compensatory formulas. In addition to usually being the smart thing all else being equal because of system translation issues as guys move from team to team, that's a consideration in deciding whether to sign these guys back that actually are playing kind of well.
Offensive Tackle: NEED (Rotational)
The reason they need a guy here is because Sam Young is an unrestricted free agent. He has filled in for Branden Albert/Laremy Tunsil ADMIRABLY from what I've seen. I didn't closely review his 49ers game but I reviewed his Rams game and it was like seeing a dog get up and play the piano. Remarkable. He's earned the contract to be the swing backup, for now. And again, signing him back does not count in compensatory formulas. If you just can't get him back then you really do need to target a swing backup that you're fully comfortable playing left tackle, even if you keep Albert on. The decision whether to keep Albert doesn't affect this position, really.
Offensive Guard: NEED (Full Time) + WANT (Future)
Jermon Bushrod is an unrestricted free agent. They had such success with the OL unit when all five starters were healthy, you could make a case they should just get him back regardless of the fact he'll be 33 years old and in his 10th season. But they may also understandably like to upgrade here. And even if they don't, a significant draft expenditure at this position could comfortably slide right into the space underneath Jermon Bushrod or Laremy Tunsil/Branden Albert. Kraig Urbik has performed well enough to keep him on for the second year of his two-year deal. I added a WANT here because even if they have Branden Albert back they might like to get started on succession for when Albert is no longer here. If they do something with Branden Albert like cut him (which they are NOT currently scheduled/expected to do) then the WANT (Future) goes to a NEED (Full Time).
Center: --
People are going to disagree here and that's fine. This isn't a need. Maybe it's a want for some of you. It's not a need. These coaches adore Mike Pouncey. His hips may disintegrate but they still adore him and will have him back at least for 2017 to see if he can turn his health around. Meanwhile they're grooming quite a fine backup quality player in Anthony Steen.
Defensive Tackle: --
So I'm seeing some people talk about this as a need. It's really not. I think those people are discounting Earl Mitchell, who has come back from his injury and played with his hair on fire under Jim Washburn in this new style of defense. He appears to be among the latest winners of the Jim Washburn Lotto. The guy has a habit of turning defensive linemen with physical talent that haven't quite had things click yet in their careers into productive players. Mitchell is still signed through 2017 so he's back regardless. Jordan Phillips by the way has been MIXED, not disappointing. There's a difference. He's a young, physically dynamic, second year planet theory guy that still isn't always where he needs to be but also makes some pretty ridiculous plays. Give up on that at your own risk. Honestly I'm not even sure you do anything here on a "want" basis. Just fill that fourth spot with some almost-free player. I'm not even sure I see a WANT here.
Defensive End: NEED (Full Time) + NEED (Rotational) + WANT (Future)
Andre Branch is an unrestricted free agent that they would like to get back. Jason Jones is an unrestricted free agent, and at his age and based on his production level here is probably unlikely to be asked back. Mario Williams is almost certain to be booted off the roster if he's not willing to take a drastic pay cut. That means you actually need THREE guys here that can play football immediately in 2017 on Sundays. And that's without even considering Cameron Wake's advanced age (which is easy to forget about because he's still among the best in football). Basically Terrence Fede and Dion Jordan are the only DEs figuring into the plans, and Fede doesn't look all that good, and Jordan is so far opposite of reliable that they need a new word for it because the mere addition of a prefix isn't good enough. Incidentally Dion could very well be the next winner of the Jim Washburn Lotto. But again, ridiculous to count on him for anything. EVEN IF the Dolphins focus their energies on getting Andre Branch back, they're going to want a marquee caliber addition at this position. It makes the most sense for this to be a young asset like a draft pick who can eventually take over for Wake while also potentially pushing Branch for playing time. And then even after they get that guy and re-sign Branch, they still need another guy that will play on Sunday. Crazy, huh?
Linebacker: NEED (Full Time) + NEED (Rotational) + WANT (Hybrid SLB/PR)
Jelani Jenkins, Donald Butler and Spencer Paysinger are unrestricted free agents. I believe the Dolphins are buttering up Jenkins for an attempt to re-sign him as a nickel/dime linebacker, but he may be ready to say "eff this" and leave. I don't think they've been happy with him for a while and I don't know if he's happy with them. I could see Jeff Ireland trying to get him in New Orleans. Don't believe sources like Spotrac on Kiko Alonso. He's a RESTRICTED free agent. He did not accrue a year toward free agency in 2014 when he spent the entire season on Buffalo's Reserve/Non-Football Injury list. The reason it was a Non-Football Injury is because he did it in Oregon while training on his own. You don't accrue when you spend the entire year on that reserve list. There may be a push to re-sign a guy like Spencer Paysinger or Donald Butler (more likely Butler) because as I said before getting your own guys back doesn't figure into compensatory formulas. Koa Misi's neck injury isn't career threatening after all so they'll probably have him back. Truthfully, he plays well when he's here. There is room for a marquee player to satisfy one of these needs, opposite Kiko Alonso. But that would likely be an opportunistic decision rather than an intentionally sought one. There is also room to opportunistically add a WANT in the form of a hybrid player that could induce a small restructuring of their defensive approach in terms of being able to have their Sam linebacker put his hand on the ground and rush the passer even from a position tight to the offensive formation (5-technique).
Perimeter Corner: --
Say what you want here but since his benching, since he and his coaches had a moment where they clarified their expectations about how he expects to be used and how they expect him to play, Byron Maxwell has been among the most effective corners in football. Even if they hadn't restructured his deal in the off season to make it more difficult to cut him in 2017 in exchange for a little bit lower total compensation, they'd probably be of the mindset that they're keeping him in 2017. Now, I think they're not even thinking about ditching him. Tony Lippett has been nearly as good, which is scary because he is a second year guy making a transition from wide receiver so the potential on him in particular is through the roof. And then you add Xavien Howard to the mix here? This position is FINE, even before you add in a Jordan Lucas.
Slot Corner: WANT (Upgrade)
I like Bobby McCain well enough, but he's not upgrade-proof. He will be on the roster next year. But if the right upgrade comes along then watch out. This is virtually a full time position. Right now I think Michael Thomas and LaFayette Pitts are the only guys that can really play the position behind McCain. Michael Thomas is some sort of free agent, hard to nail down if he's restricted or not because there are reports he got an exclusive rights tender in 2016 which would mean a restricted tender in 2017. On the other hand he's been around for four years. Don't care to find out if he just didn't accrue one of those years for whatever reason.
Safety: NEED (Rotational) + WANT (Hybrid S/LB)
Baccari Rambo has been ridiculous as a late-season addition to help replace Reshad Jones. They will want to get him back if they can. Again I have to say it, re-signing your own doesn't carry penalties in the compensatory formulas, so when it's a low compensation guy that is giving you good minutes, it's a no-brainer if he's willing. Getting him back takes care of the rotational need but there's also potential to restructure your defensive approach a little by picking up a big safety that you believe can play like a linebacker in certain nickel formations. Teams should always be on the lookout for this, particularly if they don't already have two full-time snap hogs at linebacker.
Special Teams: NEED (Long Snapper) + WANT (Place Kicker)
Pretty self-explanatory here. John Denney is an unrestricted free agent and is 37 years old besides. Andrew Franks isn't necessarily making tons of friends around Miami although personally I wouldn't complain heavily about him.
