A look at the miami dolphins roster after free agency

[jimlerario]

https://phinphanatic.com/2018/03/27/look-miami-dolphins-roster-free-agency/

The Miami Dolphins are in full draft mode right now but a quick look at the roster easily shows the holes that need to be filled.
Miami has a lot of young players that are filling depth roles on the team. Some have the potential to grow into future starters while others are likely to maintain an NFL career that is made for being a back-up. There is nothing wrong with that.

The Dolphins need to find players however that will start or become starters. The draft is tricky and more often than not a player is out of the league sooner rather than later. As of today the Dolphins have a few holes that need to be addressed but you have to look at the whole roster to see exactly what holes are priorities over the other.

Here is the Dolphins expected roster come Week 1:

QB - Tannehill & Osweiler
RB - Drake, Gore & HOLE
LWR - Parker & Carroo
RWR - Stills & Grant
SWR - Wilson & Amendola

LT - Tunsil & Sam Young
LG - Sitton & Asiata
C - Kilgore & Brendel
RG - Davis & Larson
RT - James & Eric Smith

TE - HOLE, Derby & Gray

Offense is pretty much set aside from a third RB and starting TE.

LDE - Wake & Hayes
DT1 - Phillips & HOLE
DT2 - Godchaux & Taylor
RDE - Quinn, Branch & Harris

WLB - Alonso & Anthony
MLB - McMillan, Hull & Allen
SLB - HOLE & HOLE

LCB - Howard & HOLE
RCB - Tankersley & Lippett
SCB - McCain
FS - McDonald & HOLE
SS - Jones & HOLE

DT is a need, but Quinn and Hayes can bump inside. SLB is completely open and there are not many reputable backups in the secondary.

K - HOLE
P - Haack
KR - Grant
PR - Grant

Oh, and a Kicker.

In all, I feel we should go LB in the first, TE in the second, DT in the 3rd, RB in the 4th and the rest go secondary. Dolphins also have two 4th rounders.

 

[gregorygrant83]

Not a priority, but would like to see the team draft Pitt wr Jester Weah or South Florida's Marquez Valdez-Scantling to compete with Carroo, Ford and Grant. I know people think Grant's a lock, but I think Wilson could hurt his status. Grant is slightly slower, but still fast with better hands and being slightly bigger. I really can't see the Dolphins playing Stills, Wilson and Grant at the same time.

 

[footsteps_falco]

I see more positions with significant injury history and/or possibly near retirement than players that you could count on to be season long starters.

Tannhill, Kiko, Amendola, Parker, Kilgore, Drake, Alonso, Mcmillan all have pretty big injury questions, let alone being top players in this league when healthy.

Sitton and Wake are near retirement. J. James and Hayes on 1 year deals. There currently isnt a starting tight end or kicker. I feel awful about the DT group and the CB group behind X.howard. Also not confident in the RG or Parker or the future at DE. I guess i don't like this roster

 

[jimlerario]

I have confidence in the players we have. SLB is a big need. Edmunds or Smith in the first. Book it.

 

[Anvil35]

I have confidence in the players we have. SLB is a big need. Edmunds or Smith in the first. Book it.

I dont see either player getting to us at 11. Vea makes sense positionally, Vander Esche is a "one year wonder", I think he'd be a bit of a reach. I believe the Cards offer us something Tdumb cant refuse so they can jump the Bills for Mayfield or Jackson. Luke Falk is intriguing in 2.

 

[Jay131866]

https://phinphanatic.com/2018/03/27/look-miami-dolphins-roster-free-agency/


Here is the Dolphins expected roster come Week 1:

QB - Tannehill & Osweiler
RB - Drake, Gore & HOLE
LWR - Parker & Carroo
RWR - Stills & Grant
SWR - Wilson & Amendola

LT - Tunsil & Sam Young
LG - Sitton & Asiata
C - Kilgore & Brendel
RG - Davis & Larson
RT - James & Eric Smith

TE - HOLE, Derby & Gray

Offense is pretty much set aside from a third RB and starting TE.

LDE - Wake & Hayes
DT1 - Phillips & HOLE
DT2 - Godchaux & Taylor
RDE - Quinn, Branch & Harris

WLB - Alonso & Anthony
MLB - McMillan, Hull & Allen
SLB - HOLE & HOLE

LCB - Howard & HOLE
RCB - Tankersley & Lippett
SCB - McCain
FS - McDonald & HOLE
SS - Jones & HOLE

DT is a need, but Quinn and Hayes can bump inside. SLB is completely open and there are not many reputable backups in the secondary.

K - HOLE
P - Haack
KR - Grant
PR - Grant

Oh, and a Kicker.

In all, I feel we should go LB in the first, TE in the second, DT in the 3rd, RB in the 4th and the rest go secondary. Dolphins also have two 4th rounders.

Nice write up...as far as the draft, I agree with your strategy but as much of a fan of Tannehill as I am, we desperately need to find at LEAST a top tier 2 guy at backup QB. The biggest problem I see is we would need 2 second rounders to nab Rudolph and a top TE. I don't really see a point wasting a mid-late round pick on a project QB that will never be good enough even as a backup. If we pass on the second tier guys which I'm worried we will, we are gonna be screwed if Tanny gets injured. And next years class blows from what I've read.

 

[Digital]

Great analysis jimlerario.

With some minor details changed I agree wholeheartedly. I would say Allen is our #2 SAM, and I do not think the SAM is a particularly big position of need. I wouldn't draft a LB until the middle rounds unless someone fell substantially or we have injuries.

The DT position needs 2 new people, as Suh played 85% of the snaps and Phillips is lucky to break 20%. Godchaeux was sub-par when constantly double teamed and without Suh, is nothing but back up material. Phillips was hot and cold even when he played. Our DT need is huge, IMHO.

I hope and expect we will use TJ McDonald as a hybrid SS/LB, easing our need for a TE covering LB. But, we really need at least one more safety, preferably a true ballhawking center fielding FS. This could come as early round 1.

As others have mentioned, we have aging OL and need to draft one or two, as we do every year, just like every other NFL team.

Great analysis and thread. On point and well articated!

 

[SCOTTY]

Great analysis jimlerario.

With some minor details changed I agree wholeheartedly. I would say Allen is our #2 SAM, and I do not think the SAM is a particularly big position of need. I wouldn't draft a LB until the middle rounds unless someone fell substantially or we have injuries.

The DT position needs 2 new people, as Suh played 85% of the snaps and Phillips is lucky to break 20%. Godchaeux was sub-par when constantly double teamed and without Suh, is nothing but back up material. Phillips was hot and cold even when he played. Our DT need is huge, IMHO.

I hope and expect we will use TJ McDonald as a hybrid SS/LB, easing our need for a TE covering LB. But, we really need at least one more safety, preferably a true ballhawking center fielding FS. This could come as early round 1.

As others have mentioned, we have aging OL and need to draft one or two, as we do every year, just like every other NFL team.

Great analysis and thread. On point and well articated!

I just really can't get passed "Godcheux is sub-par, is nothing but back up material". I just can't get passed that.

 

[sleek]

I really like the looks of that roster so far. Nice oline upgrades. Some true diehard vets. and some open spots for some star rookies.

 

[phintim]

Roster looks so much weaker than last year outside of the Oline. I agree with the QB situation being a priority but unless the right guy is there at the right pick roll the dice and nab that position next year if things fall apart. The DT, TE and LB all need starter material which screams first 3 rounds of this draft. In round 4 we must find that missing rb. Then I would push for that free safty in round 4 and a kicker in 6 or 7 along with the OL and cb in the later rounds.

 

[phintim]

Whats bothering is that this is the 2nd year since Gase has been here where we have jettisoned productive players creating craters on the team thst creates desperation situations for us to fill. That first year of Gases draft we had a chalkful of draft picks and blew a bunch of them in that draft to pick players. We do not have that option this year. Its sad. Snyone notice the Giants want 2 1sts for Becham and we give away Laundry for a 4th what a laugh.

 

[Danny]

we need to wait and see what happens with the draft. We'll have a better idea as to what the team will look like on opening day

Ozzy rules!!

 

[jimlerario]

Great analysis jimlerario.

With some minor details changed I agree wholeheartedly. I would say Allen is our #2 SAM, and I do not think the SAM is a particularly big position of need. I wouldn't draft a LB until the middle rounds unless someone fell substantially or we have injuries.

The DT position needs 2 new people, as Suh played 85% of the snaps and Phillips is lucky to break 20%. Godchaeux was sub-par when constantly double teamed and without Suh, is nothing but back up material. Phillips was hot and cold even when he played. Our DT need is huge, IMHO.

I hope and expect we will use TJ McDonald as a hybrid SS/LB, easing our need for a TE covering LB. But, we really need at least one more safety, preferably a true ballhawking center fielding FS. This could come as early round 1.

As others have mentioned, we have aging OL and need to draft one or two, as we do every year, just like every other NFL team.

Great analysis and thread. On point and well articated!

Much appreciated. Thought it would be nice for all of finheaven to see the big picture.

Should of had Allen at the backup SLB, but him and Hull are mediocre at best and he went undrafted for a reason. We lack a true lumper LB that provides a spark for the whole defense. Would alleviate the DT lack, with both Hayes and Quinn able to play inside.