Our Starting Secondary and Free Agency

[Aqua Man]

As we head into the final day of the draft, Miami has checked off the boxes of filling 2 starting positions: Grant at DT and Savaiinaea at Guard. In the process, early in the 2nd round the draft board began drying up with potential Day 1 starters at the IOL positions. This forced Grier into making the decision to trade up from 48, costing Miami a 3rd round selection and removing a pick that could have reasonably yielded another starter in the defensive backfield.

But purpose of this thread isn’t to debate the merits of that decision, or the decision to draft Grant in Round 1. it’s to discuss the reality of Miami still needing to fill 2 starting CB positions and I firmly believe still needing to fill a starting Safety spot as well. Either way, at minimum they still need to add safety depth. It’d obviously be nice if Miami can find another Day 1 starter in this draft but is becoming increasingly less likely with the picks they have remaining. So it’s officially time to begin building a starting secondary off of the 2nd wave of free agency.

There obviously will be some players released post draft, but barring a huge surprise, Miami already has a pretty good idea of what their options are. At the CB spot, I wouldn’t be opposed to checking in on Kendall Fuller’s health and gauging his interest in a return to Miami at a cheaper price. I also feel like it’s time to kick the tires on Asante Samuel Jr. If he’s getting healthy, I still think there’s a good chance he can salvage his career as a starting CB. An elephant in the room that I have seen mentioned is the fact that Xavien Howard wants back into the NFL and is willing to listen to Miami. I’m sure the guys health is as good as it’s been in ages due to taking a full year off, but I still have HUGE character and locker room worries with this guy and don’t know if he’s worth bringing back.

At Safety, a guy I’m surprised is still available is Julian Blackmon. The guy has battled injuries early in his career but is still young at 26 years old, has gotten healthy and has put up plenty of above average safety play on tape when healthy. Yes, he’s gonna cost next to nothing due to needing to prove he can stay healthy but I think he’s got a higher ceiling than either guy currently penciled in as a starting safety. Would LOVE to see Miami take a flyer on this kid.

That’s my list. Just curious to see who I’m missing or if there’s some other guys we think might become available in the days after the draft or if you think there’s a starter or two still out there to be drafted.

 

[ONole1]

I mentioned in another thread about the possibility of keeping Ramsey. Omar talked about a day last year after practice when Ramset was going off to another player about how soft the team and the mentality is. Bringing in guys like Daniels, Britt, Westbrook-Ikhine and Gay as free agents. The drafting Grant and the Samoan Nightmare, definitely seems to move the needle away from being soft. Go out and draft a couple more Dawgs and Miami may start being the that steals your lunch money.

 

[ChambersWI]

If you look at the CBs we spent time with most are slot guys. Weaver likes Kader outside (and he honestly played well there). There are still a decent amount of slot defenders in the draft... and the defense we run the slot defender is very important

 

[Finsup1981]

As we head into the final day of the draft, Miami has checked off the boxes of filling 2 starting positions: Grant at DT and Savaiinaea at Guard. In the process, early in the 2nd round the draft board began drying up with potential Day 1 starters at the IOL positions. This forced Grier into making the decision to trade up from 48, costing Miami a 3rd round selection and removing a pick that could have reasonably yielded another starter in the defensive backfield.

But purpose of this thread isn’t to debate the merits of that decision, or the decision to draft Grant in Round 1. it’s to discuss the reality of Miami still needing to fill 2 starting CB positions and I firmly believe still needing to fill a starting Safety spot as well. Either way, at minimum they still need to add safety depth. It’d obviously be nice if Miami can find another Day 1 starter in this draft but is becoming increasingly less likely with the picks they have remaining. So it’s officially time to begin building a starting secondary off of the 2nd wave of free agency.

There obviously will be some players released post draft, but barring a huge surprise, Miami already has a pretty good idea of what their options are. At the CB spot, I wouldn’t be opposed to checking in on Kendall Fuller’s health and gauging his interest in a return to Miami at a cheaper price. I also feel like it’s time to kick the tires on Asante Samuel Jr. If he’s getting healthy, I still think there’s a good chance he can salvage his career as a starting CB. An elephant in the room that I have seen mentioned is the fact that Xavien Howard wants back into the NFL and is willing to listen to Miami. I’m sure the guys health is as good as it’s been in ages due to taking a full year off, but I still have HUGE character and locker room worries with this guy and don’t know if he’s worth bringing back.

At Safety, a guy I’m surprised is still available is Julian Blackmon. The guy has battled injuries early in his career but is still young at 26 years old, has gotten healthy and has put up plenty of above average safety play on tape when healthy. Yes, he’s gonna cost next to nothing due to needing to prove he can stay healthy but I think he’s got a higher ceiling than either guy currently penciled in as a starting safety. Would LOVE to see Miami take a flyer on this kid.

That’s my list. Just curious to see who I’m missing or if there’s some other guys we think might become available in the days after the draft or if you think there’s a starter or two still out there to be drafted.

While I agree with you that we need to sign a veteran FA CB, there were no offensive lineman taken in the early 2nd round before we got Savaiinaea and the next one wasn’t taken till 48. The 2 previous offensive lineman selected were tackles in Simmons and Conerly so the last guard was at 24 with Donovan Jackson.

My point is, I think Grier panicked a bit because there was no run on OL, someone would’ve prob taken him before 48 anyways so maybe he didn’t have to trade that far down, but what’s done is done and we got the last remaining great guard prospect.

 

[Miami4471]

While I agree with you that we need to sign a veteran FA CB, there were no offensive lineman taken in the early 2nd round before we got Savaiinaea and the next one wasn’t taken till 48. The 2 previous offensive lineman selected were tackles in Simmons and Conerly so the last guard was at 24 with Donovan Jackson.

My point is, I think Grier panicked a bit because there was no run on OL, someone would’ve prob taken him before 48 anyways so maybe he didn’t hs e to trade that far down, but what’s done is done and we got the last remaining great guard prospect.

He really didn't panic he was assertive in who he wanted and got his starting right guard for 2025. If he'd of waited he would of been gone by 48

 

[Aqua Man]

While I agree with you that we need to sign a veteran FA CB, there were no offensive lineman taken in the early 2nd round before we got Savaiinaea and the next one wasn’t taken till 48. The 2 previous offensive lineman selected were tackles in Simmons and Conerly so the last guard was at 24 with Donovan Jackson.

My point is, I think Grier panicked a bit because there was no run on OL, someone would’ve prob taken him before 48 anyways so maybe he didn’t hs e to trade that far down, but what’s done is done and we got the last remaining great guard prospect.

I agree COMPLETELY and I actually don’t like my wording on the original post. You sum it up much more accurately. Personally, I think if a trade down wasn’t available at 13, Grier should have drafted O-line in round 1 and stayed put at 48. There were a few plug and play DT’s available at that spot last night and we could argue between those options and Grant at DT but I think if Grier had gone that route, we’d still have filled 2 starting spots at IOL and DT along with still having that 3rd round pick.

I really like Savaiinaea at Guard but that doesn’t change the fact that I think Grier got an itchy trigger finger while looking at the remaining board and probably overpaid. I don’t think Miami was in a position to lose that 3rd round pick and I think this draft is just another piece of damning evidence against Grier.

Selecting players that fill obvious needs is definitely all well and good but it still matters how you got those players and what it ultimately cost to acquire them. Our GM is still lacking in the savvy necessary to knock a draft out of the park like the GM’s from franchises like Baltimore, Philly, KC, and Buffalo seem to do on a regular basis. Is it any wonder we’re constantly looking up in the standings at those teams year after year??

 

[Finsup1981]

He really didn't panic he was assertive in who he wanted and got his starting right guard for 2025. If he'd of waited he would of been gone by 48

I just said he didn’t have to trade that far down, I think we could have got him low 40s…just my opinion, would’ve prob lowered the cost to a 4th which would be more palatable since we have 2 of them.

Still love the pick

 

[Kyndig]

As we head into the final day of the draft, Miami has checked off the boxes of filling 2 starting positions: Grant at DT and Savaiinaea at Guard. In the process, early in the 2nd round the draft board began drying up with potential Day 1 starters at the IOL positions. This forced Grier into making the decision to trade up from 48, costing Miami a 3rd round selection and removing a pick that could have reasonably yielded another starter in the defensive backfield.

But purpose of this thread isn’t to debate the merits of that decision, or the decision to draft Grant in Round 1. it’s to discuss the reality of Miami still needing to fill 2 starting CB positions and I firmly believe still needing to fill a starting Safety spot as well. Either way, at minimum they still need to add safety depth. It’d obviously be nice if Miami can find another Day 1 starter in this draft but is becoming increasingly less likely with the picks they have remaining. So it’s officially time to begin building a starting secondary off of the 2nd wave of free agency.

There obviously will be some players released post draft, but barring a huge surprise, Miami already has a pretty good idea of what their options are. At the CB spot, I wouldn’t be opposed to checking in on Kendall Fuller’s health and gauging his interest in a return to Miami at a cheaper price. I also feel like it’s time to kick the tires on Asante Samuel Jr. If he’s getting healthy, I still think there’s a good chance he can salvage his career as a starting CB. An elephant in the room that I have seen mentioned is the fact that Xavien Howard wants back into the NFL and is willing to listen to Miami. I’m sure the guys health is as good as it’s been in ages due to taking a full year off, but I still have HUGE character and locker room worries with this guy and don’t know if he’s worth bringing back.

At Safety, a guy I’m surprised is still available is Julian Blackmon. The guy has battled injuries early in his career but is still young at 26 years old, has gotten healthy and has put up plenty of above average safety play on tape when healthy. Yes, he’s gonna cost next to nothing due to needing to prove he can stay healthy but I think he’s got a higher ceiling than either guy currently penciled in as a starting safety. Would LOVE to see Miami take a flyer on this kid.

That’s my list. Just curious to see who I’m missing or if there’s some other guys we think might become available in the days after the draft or if you think there’s a starter or two still out there to be drafted.

Draft 2 rookie corners, and 1 rookie safety. Sign Stephon Gilmore, and maybe take a flier on Asante Samuel jr?

 

[LargoFin]

I like Ramsey and Duck starting. The problem is after that. We don't have rotational players.
The problem is also at nickel. They should improve that.
The biggest problem however is at starting FS with the loss of Holland. Id draft Jaylen Reed, he is better than Holland. That;s the priority imo today.
If Weaver wants to implement big linebacker-type strong safety like Baltimore has in Kyle Hamilton, then they should draft Hunter Wohler from Wisconsin, that should be the priority and start Melinfonwu to free safety. They just draft a nose tackle in first round so it looks like the draft is geared towards helping Weaver build the Baltimore type roster.

 

[dolfan91]

It sounds like Grier is going to sign some F/A after the draft. He said, he was intouch with a few. Let's see what happens. I think Oline can be crossed off the list. But the remaining F/A DB's are on speed dial.

 

[ThePeopleShow13]

I don’t think DBs matter that much in the modern NFL. If you watched the Super Bowl you saw the recipe for defensive success; generate pressure with your front 3-4 guys and drop everyone else into coverage. I don't think you need an elite secondary if you can create pressure. As long as your safeties don’t get beat deep you only need guys who can cover for 2-3 seconds most plays.

 

[bradmcnutt13]

I don't think Ramsey being traded is a foregone conclusion. We keep him and sign a FA or even 2 with the cap space we have which should be about 8 million after signing rookies and saving some for in season moves and we'll be in decent shape in the secondary.

 

[royalshank]

Just don’t trade Ramsey. It’s not like we have to. Let him get over himself.

 

[AMakados10]

I agree with Ramsey. Jettison the soft players on defense, like Kader, and use the three 5th rounders to draft some DBs that’ll lay the wood.

 

[zucca]

It sounds like Grier is going to sign some F/A after the draft. He said, he was intouch with a few. Let's see what happens. I think Oline can be crossed off the list. But the remaining F/A DB's are on speed dial.

Yea, no way Hernandez or the other guards out there are signing with us. There's no avenue to start. So, we have learned that Grier pretty much knew we were going to get Jonah. He also has said multiple times that we will be active post draft in free agency. There's hardly any DL guys out there. The OGs aren't signing with us anymore. His targets in free agency has to be in the secondary.