Going forward... the Defensive Line | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Going forward... the Defensive Line

Feverdream

Feverdream

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Let's face it, from a long-term standpoint, we have a one-man line: Zach Sieler. The rest of our Defensive Line, such that it is, is a collection of older guys with expiring contracts. We've got NOTHING here.

Calais Campbell? (38) Expired contract.
Benito Jones? (27) Expired contract
Emmanuel Ogbah? (31 and back problems) Expired contract
Da'shawn Hand? (29) Expired contract

The others on the roster are barely NFL caliber players, so there is no need to mention them by name. ...and don't try to include any of our Edge players here because all of them are low-weight, stand-up OLBs who might play on the line of scrimmage occasionally, but they are FAR from true Defensive Linemen.

So, we have ONE Defensive lineman. One.

Yes, we might, and probably will, resign Jones or Hand (or both). Maybe Ogbah too, but with the possible exception of Jones as a two-down run stopper, we got bupkis as far as long-term answers are concerned.

Nothing. Zero. Nada.

...and yet, FAR too many brothers want to wave their hands at this and salivate over Tight Ends or Safeties in the coming draft, and I think they are seriously missing the point. The NFL is about the trenches, and we have a HUGE hole here. Can you imagine what our D-Line would look like if Sieler went down early? Even if we can coax one more gasping year from Campbell, we've GOT to draft a lineman with a high pick--maybe two of them. Hell, Sieler is 29.

Whether we take a big edge like Mykel Williams, Nic Scourton, or Landon Jackson... or go DT with guys like Nolen, Grant or Sanders, we've got to make a pick here. At least one.

I am not saying that we HAVE to do this in round one, but any mock without a guy in the first two days is an automatic failure.

Add this to our absolute NEED to draft a Guard or a Tackle/Guard (or both), and you are looking at a beef draft unless we are stupid, really, REALLY stupid.
 
Didn’t we sign all those dline players in FA last offseason? Ogbah was a cut and resigned.

Can’t draft everything and Grier just made the dline “work” with FA castoffs. Maybe he can do it again?
 
AMakados10 said:
Didn’t we sign all those dline players in FA last offseason? Ogbah was a cut and resigned.

Can’t draft everything and Grier just made the dline “work” with FA castoffs. Maybe he can do it again?
Click to expand...
It isn't about "doing it again". First off, it didn't work THAT well, as our 35 total sacks and our late-season inability to stop anyone showed, but drafting is about the long term, not just the short term, I want to win now ideology. At best, we were average.

Drafting is for the next 5-8 years, not the 'now'.
 
Be nice if we could get another top 50 pick.

Got to look at free agency day too Fever.

We need to spend about 10 mill on Sieler running mate
 
I like Scourton a lot... he's sort of my consolation prize @13. He's the guy I take if my "they have to fall" list is exhausted.
 
djphinfan said:
Be nice if we could get another top 50 pick.

Got to look at free agency day too Fever.

We need to spend about 10 mill on Sieler running mate
Click to expand...
If we could swing a trade back deal for an extra pick in this area, we might be better off. DTs and OGs fall... every single year. If we could score... say Landon Jackson AND Donovan Jackson for that one pick... two birds, one stone. And they'd both be expected to start.
 
Feverdream said:
I am not saying that we HAVE to do this in round one, but any mock without a guy in the first two days is an automatic failure.

Add this to our absolute NEED to draft a Guard or a Tackle/Guard (or both), and you are looking at a beef draft unless we are stupid, really, REALLY stupid.
Click to expand...

100% Agreed. This needs to be the beefiest draft since Richmond Webb and Keith Simms went 1-2.
 
This is what I have been barking about all offseason. Go take a look at the depth chart:

https://finheaven.com/threads/2025-depth-chart-updated-01-09-2025-10-34-am.382705/

It's not just defensive linemen. We basically have NO guards on the roster. Not a lack of good guards, a lack of guards period. It's the same exact things at safety too. We are also 13 mil over the cap and no easy cuts. Forget upgrading other postitions. We are going to struggle just to stay afloat without hurting the long term health of the team by extending and restructuring contracts of the older, expensive players.
 
Feverdream said:
Let's face it, from a long-term standpoint, we have a one-man line: Zach Sieler. The rest of our Defensive Line, such that it is, is a collection of older guys with expiring contracts. We've got NOTHING here.

Calais Campbell? (38) Expired contract.
Benito Jones? (27) Expired contract
Emmanuel Ogbah? (31 and back problems) Expired contract
Da'shawn Hand? (29) Expired contract

The others on the roster are barely NFL caliber players, so there is no need to mention them by name. ...and don't try to include any of our Edge players here because all of them are low-weight, stand-up OLBs who might play on the line of scrimmage occasionally, but they are FAR from true Defensive Linemen.

So, we have ONE Defensive lineman. One.

Yes, we might, and probably will, resign Jones or Hand (or both). Maybe Ogbah too, but with the possible exception of Jones as a two-down run stopper, we got bupkis as far as long-term answers are concerned.

Nothing. Zero. Nada.

...and yet, FAR too many brothers want to wave their hands at this and salivate over Tight Ends or Safeties in the coming draft, and I think they are seriously missing the point. The NFL is about the trenches, and we have a HUGE hole here. Can you imagine what our D-Line would look like if Sieler went down early? Even if we can coax one more gasping year from Campbell, we've GOT to draft a lineman with a high pick--maybe two of them. Hell, Sieler is 29.

Whether we take a big edge like Mykel Williams, Nic Scourton, or Landon Jackson... or go DT with guys like Nolen, Grant or Sanders, we've got to make a pick here. At least one.

I am not saying that we HAVE to do this in round one, but any mock without a guy in the first two days is an automatic failure.

Add this to our absolute NEED to draft a Guard or a Tackle/Guard (or both), and you are looking at a beef draft unless we are stupid, really, REALLY stupid.
Click to expand...

Yup. I am guilty. (LOL!) I like Warren the TE, but there is no doubt we could use a stud DT. However, depending on the depth of the draft, I might wait until later to take one. A DT won't help Tua and the offense if we get to the postseason, but a GREAT TE might. Tua, if healthy, might get us invited to the prom, but we have to find a way to get our offense to dance.

P.S. It's still early, and I reserve the option to change my mind as I learn more. :-)

Note: Like others, I also believe in building the trenches. However, since Ross has already bought his ticket to the Grier and McDaniel circus, I am adjusting my preference for ways that I think may help us in the postseason next year. Tua can't do it with two slot receivers when it gets cold. I would like to see us get a bigger, badder RB, and upgrade even more at TE. When we go full rebuild, I prefer us to build kickass OLs and DLs!
 
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These guys will probably move up the consensus rankings, but one or two could slip through the cracks.

162. Darius Alexander - good all-around game and most likely to rise to Day 2
201. Simeon Barrow Jr - disruptive smaller DT
341. CJ West - short, stout, makes a ton of plays vs the run, but he can disrupt the pass, too.
348. Cam Horsley - not a NT, but he's about as good as any DT vs the run. Doesn't offer much as a pass rusher, but he could be a valuable part of a rotation, and twists could mitigate his lack of pass rush.

You can get by with role players at DT, so it doesn't make sense to force the issue, but special DT's are obv worth prioritizing. In practice, if Mason Graham falls to 13, he's worth it. Nolen could go either way for me, but the rest of the group doesn't warrant consideration until Day 2 imo.

As the players I highlighted suggest, I'm inclined to take advantage of the deep DT class by waiting to see who is there at the end of Day 2 or on Day 3.
 
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