I don't know if this a Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs thing, but most teams go into each year with some holes in their roster. It's rare that you can fix everything at once. Last year, we did major work on the line and didn't bring in weapons. The Bengals took a QB, but didn't have enough picks to fix everything else... The Patriots brought in a ton of depth, but couldn't secure a QB...
This is normal... unless you are on top.
So I wonder... which needs will we leave unfulfilled this year as we slowly get better? We've pretty much agree that we need, at minimum: 1 Receiver of some kind (maybe 2), a Running Back, a Center, a Tackle or Guard, a DE Edge, an OLB Edge, and another developmental Safety... and we aint getting all of this in one draft. Even if we had that many high round picks... some would bust, some would get injured, and some would end up being just a guy.
How we react to these unfulfilled needs, and whether we lie to ourselves about how they are REALLY are not needs so as to buttress our arguments... define what we are discussing. Is is more important to draft an Edge than a second receiver? If we take a RB, can we still take a Center? If we grab that Tackle, do we have to pass on the second Edge prospect?
That's what we are arguing over... because we CAN'T fill every need here. Something will be left off the list, and when that hole becomes apparent during the season... someone will cry. They'll blame Grier. They'll tell us that they knew this would happen and any idiot could have... blah blah blah...
So I'm challenging people to look at it through this prism... where are you willing to accept a weakness? And are you willing to admit that we've made a choice that made that weakness worse?
Great post.
Prior to free agency, I would have said avoid the edge rushers in this draft. But Miami can't afford to do that with the current roster. That leaves me uneasy because most likely that means missing on a more talented player.
A dynamic wide receiver and an edge rusher are must haves. Two receivers early would be taking advantage of the talent in the draft, but that's unlikely if we are talking needs.
On NFL network, they had Miami going edge at #18 with Rousseau and at #36 with Tryon. That might be more likely than fans would want to hear.
Safety, running back and center would be the three potential "left out" positions IMO.
I think Miami could get by in the secondary at safety with Rowe, Brandon Jones and McCain. Would absolutely love the addition of Holland, but that's top 50.
The free agent signing of Malcolm Brown was a little bit of an under the radar move and I think a real good one. While I really want Williams or Harris, the Dolphins could look middle rounds or later at running back.
Skura is probably a slight upgrade over Karras at center. Deiter had a nice game filling in for Karras last year, so maybe that factors in. Humphrey or Dickerson would be upgrades, but again would require a top 50 pick.
The wildcard for me is RT. Hunt wasn't bad there and showed improvement as the year progressed. But with Tua being left handed, I would draft a tackle. This draft is loaded with tackles and I love drafting to the strength of the draft.
I'm not sure on linebacker. The trade for McKinney and signing Riley might be it. No doubt Flores would like to add to the unit, but my guess is the team prioritizes an edge rusher, or two.
