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Ranking the Dolphins Draft Needs After Free Agency

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The Miami Dolphins were aggressive in free agency but still have many needs in the upcoming draft.

After an organized and sound approach to free agency, the Miami Dolphins must now turn their attention the NFL Draft.

Whenever and however that may take place.

Now that the dust has settled on the free agency period, Miami can utilize the draft to build a foundation for sustained success.

Let’s take a look at five position groups that could be a high priority.

1.Quarterback

Perhaps the worst kept secret this offseason is that Miami will likely take a quarterback at the top of the draft.

Whether with their current pick, or perhaps with a trade up to either No. 3 (Detroit) or even the top pick from Cincinnati.

 

Miami has been linked to Tua Tagovailoa for what seems like an eternity, and there is a possibility that he is still on the board with pick No. 5.

If he is their guy, the Dolphins will likely use whatever draft capital necessary to bring him to Miami.

Other (perhaps less than ideal) options could be Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert or Utah State’s Jordan Love.

This draft is short on quarterbacks after the top four, with Joe Burrow being consistently mocked to Cincinnati with the top selection.

Regardless, this should be the year Miami takes their first shot at a quarterback in Round One since Ryan Tannehill in 2012.

2. Offensive Tackle

Now that Miami has their signal caller, they must protect him.

They brought in both Erick Flowers and Ted Karras to shore up the interior of the line, but outside remains an issue.

Barring a trade up, the top three tackles Tristan Wirfs (Iowa), Mekhi Becton (Louisville), and Jedrick Wills (Alabama) will likely be off the board.

Several high upside tackles could still be on the board with Miami’s next pick at 18, or even their third first round selection at 26.

Miami could even double down on the tackle spot and turn the offensive line from a liability to a strength in one day.

Possible targets at 18 and 26 include Andrew Thomas (Georgia) and Josh Jones (Houston).

Lucas Niang (TCU) and Ezra Cleveland (Boise State) could also be options with Miami’s second round selection at pick 36.

USC’s Austin Jackson may be available with their other second round pick (56) depending how the board falls.

Matthew Peart (UConn) is another to keep an eye on in the third round.

3. Interior Offensive Line

Continuing the theme Miami will likely commit some draft capital to filling out the interior of the offensive line.

Flowers and Karras are starting caliber, but nowhere near upper echelon.

Given Miami’s deficiency in both pass protection and running the football, they need some maulers in the trenches.

If they don’t go another direction, the late first round and second round could set up well for them in this area.

One player to watch is Michigan’s Cesar Ruiz, who could go in the first round.

Other early options include Matt Hennessy (Temple), Jonah Jackson (Ohio State), and Robert Hunt (Louisiana).

This is a pretty deep draft for interior offensive linemen, particularly in the middle rounds.

Miami should have no problem supplementing the middle of their line.

4. Safety

Another position with solid depth in the draft is safety, where a myriad of players project in the early rounds.

Miami bolstered their secondary with the addition of cornerback Byron Jones, who along with Xavien Howard form a lethal tandem outside.

Now they must turn their attention to the middle where the departure of Reshad Jones means a changing of the guard is coming.

They retained Adrian Colbert but must add a true game changer on the back end.

Alabama safety Xavier Mckinney could be the first safety off the board, if he is there at 18 Miami should run to the podium.

 

LSU’s Grant Delpit is another projected to go in the late first round and would by no means be a consolation prize. He could still be on the board at 18 or even at 26 if the board goes another route.

The next tier are no slouches by any means, with Antoine Winfield being one of the most intriguing prospects. Winfield’s father was an excellent NFL player and the apple did not fall far, his football IQ and ball skills will be in high demand.

Others to watch in the second and third round area include Ashtyn Davis (Cal), Kyle Duggar (Lenoir-Ryhne), and Jeremy Chinn (Southern Illinois).

5. Running Back

Unlike the previous two position groups, this projects to be a pretty thin running back class.

 

Depending on who is sitting there at either 18 or 26, Miami’s best option could be to hang tight in regards to the running backs.

D’Andre Swift should be the first running back off the board but the separation in talent amongst the top five is not vast.

Value should be a priority here, if Clyde Edwards-Helaire is sitting there at pick 39 in the second round, he may be too good to pass up.

His pass catching would be a perfect compliment to Jordan Howard, who is more of a between the tackles runner that offers little in the pass game.

Jonathan Taylor (Wisconsin) and J.K. Dobbins (Ohio State) are intriguing talents who would be solid selections in the late first or early second rounds.

Cam Akers is another to watch in the third round where Miami has pick 56.

There could be some hidden gems on Day 3 as well if the Dolphins are patient.

With trades and players going higher or lower than projected, Miami has flexibility to make moves up or down in the draft.

Time will tell how everything plays out in the most important NFL draft for this franchise in a long time.

For more in-depth Miami Dolphins coverage visit www.fivereasonssports.com.

Make sure to subscribe to the 3 Yards Per Carry Podcast for year-round Dolphins news.

2020 Miami Dolphins Free Agency Tracker

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Despite everything going on in the world, the new NFL league year will begin as planned and NFL Free agency has begun! Which means, the start of the most important offseason in Miami Dolphins history is upon us. Lucky for you, we will take all of the news, rumors, and free-agent signing from around the internet and bring them to you in one place-HERE.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy.

This is the official 2020 Miami Dolphins Free Agency Tracker.

Signings

Miami adds linebacker depth with Kamu Grugier-Hill

Dolphins re-sign Safety Adrian Colbert

Miami Patriots sign another former New England Captain

 

Dolphins poach Ted Karras from New England

The Dolphins add another special teams captain 

Miami gets someone better than Kallen Ballage for their backfield

 

Dolphins start to build out the trenches with a short deal

 

Dolphins make Byron Jones highest-paid cornerback in NFL

 

Miami signs Safety Clayton Fejedelem

 

Dolphins agree to terms with OG Ereck Flowers

 

Dolphins agree to terms with DE Shaq Lawson

Wide Receiver Isaiah Ford, Linebacker Trent Harris, and Defensive Tackle Zach Sieler have been tendered.

 

Rumors

Is Byron Jones a possibility? 

 

Dolphins have interest in EDGE Shaq Lawson

Cuts

Safety Reshad Jones

Center Daniel Kilgore

DeeJay Dallas Could be Late Round Steal for Dolphins

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DeeJay Dallas may be worth a late round flyer from the Miami Dolphins.

All the talk surrounding the 2020 NFL Draft for the Dolphins has been focused on the quarterback position.

Rightfully so.

With an abundance of draft capital and a lot of new faces via free agency, Miami is poised for a quick resurgence.

The Dolphins added running back Jordan Howard in free agency but will likely be in the mix for another back via the draft.

 

Howard is an upgrade over anyone in the Miami backfield, which isn’t saying much.

He is a safe player with a low ceiling, yet has shown some promise.

Howard averaged 4.4 yards per carry and scored six touchdowns last year in Philadelphia before missing the last six games with a shoulder injury.

The Dolphins were the worst rushing team in the NFL last year in both yards per game (72.2) and yards per carry (3.3).

That being said, this year may not be the one to waste a high draft pick on perhaps the most interchangeable position in football.

 

A familiar face could sneak onto the Dolphins’ radar in the late rounds.

DeeJay Dallas also had his season, and college career, end on a down note with an elbow injury in the disaster versus FIU.

He finished his three year college career with 1527 yards on 265 carries for a healthy 5.8 YPC.

There is a lot to like about Dallas, from his toughness on the field to his leadership off it.

 

He is a willing blocker in pass protection and can contribute in the pass game as well.

Dallas had a solid combine and ran a 4.58 40-yard dash, he can also impact the game as a kick returner if needed.

Brian Flores loves versatility and players that can fill different roles.

If the Dolphins forgo a running back near the top of the draft, Dallas could be a steal on Day 3.

Brian Flores indicated this week that Josh Rosen isn't ready to be the Dolphins' quarterback. (Photo/Tony Capobianco)

Fresh Perspective: Dolphins should thank Brian Flores for not tanking 2019

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It wasn’t that long ago that the Dolphins world seemed to revolve around losing every game possible in 2019. Nothing mattered except getting the first overall pick so Miami could draft their franchise quarterback. Never mind the consequences of such a strategy. Did it matter that the NFL frowned upon that strategy? No. All that mattered was throwing 2019 in the trash. Pride didn’t matter, most of the roster wouldn’t be back anyway. Some even said Brian Flores is a sacrificial lamb for the future head coach.

Except there was one problem. Pride does matter, and the Dolphins proved it last season, taking a roster of street players and undrafted free agents to a five win season when most experts projected them to win one game at most. Instead they won five, including a massive upset in Foxborough which ultimately knocked the New England Patriots out of the top seed in the playoffs. That game now will be Tom Brady’s final game against Miami in a Patriots uniform. He went out with a whimper, instead of a roar.

The purpose of pointing this out is directly related to Miami’s recent spending spree. All throughout the 2019 season, the Dolphins were judged for draining the roster of big name talent. They traded Ryan Tannehill and Cameron Wake, they traded Robert Quinn, they traded Laremy Tunsil, Kenny Stills, and then they traded Minkah Fitzpatrick when he threw a temper tantrum over how he was being used on the field as well as – presumably – Miami’s intention to tank 2019.

Fitzpatrick’s reaction is the most telling of all. Some will say Fitzpatrick was immature in forcing his way off the Dolphins to go join the Pittsburgh Steelers. To be fair, they aren’t wrong. But there’s another factor to this. Fitzpatrick wanted to be on a winning franchise. He’s used to success from his college days at Alabama. Regardless of the team’s true intentions, the image they were portraying was of a team doing everything they could to secure the first overall pick in next year’s draft, not win games. Action speaks louder than words.

Pundits went on a rampage, tearing into the franchise for seemingly trying to lose games. Mike Greenberg, Steve Young, Domonique Foxworth, Mike Golic, the list goes on. They all went out of their way to explain why Miami’s tanking efforts were not just bad for the team, it was bad for the NFL. Players don’t like the idea of throwing their careers away on a team that doesn’t want to win. There were even reports that – after a 59-10 loss to the Ravens – players were coordinating with their agents to manufacture trades out of Miami. 

Whether there’s any truth to those reports or not is irrelevant now. One thing remains correct through all this. No player wants to play for a team that doesn’t want to win. Fans didn’t really care though, they just wanted the first overall pick regardless of the consequences. When the Dolphins started winning games, fans began getting worried. Could it really be that Miami couldn’t even lose properly? How could Brian Flores do such a thing? He was jeopardizing everything the team was striving for with his irrational pride and refusal to give up in spite of the front office’s talent-draining efforts.

Thank you, Brian Flores, for not giving up and knocking the Dolphins all the way down to fifth overall.

Obviously, it’s easier for teams to get the player they want when no one is in their way to stop them. Now, Miami has the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Chargers to worry about if they want their quarterback of choice. But there’s something bigger to consider, and it has everything to do with the Dolphins and their recent free agent frenzy.

Players want to come to Miami.

Generally, money is the deciding factor for most new contracts. Additionally, the Dolphins aren’t being shy about spending it either. The free agents they’ve signed so far are cashing in with Miami. That’s not the reason they’re coming though.

Ted Karras, one of the Dolphins’ most recent signings, reportedly took less money to come to Miami instead of staying in New England. The reasoning is that with the Dolphins he’ll be a starter, while in New England that’s not guaranteed. Fair enough. But if the Dolphins tanked the season, do you think Karras would be willing to give up money to go a team that one year prior didn’t care about the outcome?

No.

Byron Jones, the biggest free agent signing thus far for the Dolphins, had multiple teams bidding for him. In the end, Miami was willing to pay the most. But no player worth having wants to play for the money alone. They want notoriety, they want success, and Brian Flores showed that a team can have success without household names leading the charge. Five wins with the roster he had last season? Players believe in the vision that Brian Flores is selling, and they want in on that vision.

I won’t sit here and pretend more money isn’t a major deciding factor for free agents, especially with no state income tax in Florida. But anyone who believes that money is the only reason players like Jones, Ereck Flowers, Kyle Van Noy, Shaq Lawson and Jordan Howard are joining up with the Dolphins is fooling themselves.

The players who already know Brian Flores from their New England days (Van Noy, Karras) have nothing but great things to say about him. The players who don’t know Flores, saw what he and the staff was able to do with the likes of Nik Needham, Mike Gesicki and DeVante Parker, disappointing players who miraculously turned their careers around in a season assumed to be wasted. They want to be put in the best possible position to win while still getting paid. Think of Emmanuel Ogbah for this.

Need more proof? Look how averse players seem to be to go to the Cincinnati Bengals. Rumors were abound that LSU QB Joe Burrow didn’t want to be drafted by the Bengals. He later refuted that report, but nonetheless it did start for a reason. Tua Tagovailoa’s agent literally went on-air and said that he hopes that the Bengals draft Burrow because he wants Tagovailoa to be in a good position to find success. Clearly, he believes that’s the Dolphins, not the Bengals.

It isn’t just about the money, folks. Brian Flores is creating a culture of accountability and success. Players who don’t want to be a part of the vision, they can leave. Minkah Fitzpatrick is the perfect example. But these players coming in want to be part of the vision. They see the light at the end of the tunnel and want to stand in it when the Dolphins get there. So thank Brian Flores for killing the tank narrative in 2019.

They’re reaping the benefits of his efforts right now, and perhaps for many years to come.

Luis Sung has covered the Miami Dolphins for numerous outlets such as Dolphins Wire for six years. Follow him on Twitter: @LuisDSung

THE EXTRA YARD: Solid Day 2 for Miami.

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After the splash of day 1, the Miami Dolphins followed up with a pretty solid day 2. They continued to covet younger players with “arrow up” trajectories, and in one instance, seemed to fall back into a pretty good plan B. With the departure of Tom Brady to Tampa Bay, the Miami Dolphins in the last 2 days, have built a challenger to what is now a weakened AFC East. It’s been a while since we can say this, but it looks like the Buffalo Bills, are the new leader in the division.

But first, how did Miami do in Day 2?

EMMANUEL OGBAH DE, $15 Million for 2 years, $7.5 Million Guaranteed.

Ogbah, was the sack leader with 5.5 when he got injured for the Champion Kansas City Chiefs. Ogbah had a Torn Pectoral in November, and is expected to have a full recovery, and return for OTA’s (if they are held). A Long and lean end, with active hands, Ogbah has always had a reputation for a quick first step toward the QB. Capable of playing every End position from 5 to 9 tech. Heavy-ish hands and active feet have produced pretty good film on him setting the edge and being generally difficult against the run. The snap counts have filled up in a hurry on the edge for the Miami Dolphins, and this signing is an ominous one for former 1st rounder Charles Harris. Three thumbs up from the 3YPC crew.

KAMU GRUGIER-HILL LB, 1 year deal, undisclosed.

The Dolphins had already signed special teams demon and Bengals captain Clayton Fejedelem. Now they signed special teams demon and Eagles captain Kamu Grugier-Hill. On defense, he is a bit undersized for the Fins scheme, but it didn’t hurt Jerome Baker too much when he looked his best in a few games this past year. Drafted by the New England Patriots in 2016 (6th round), Grugier-Hill was cut in camp, and later picked up by Philadelphia where he has excelled since. The Dolphins now have not 1, but 2,former Special Teams captains.

JORDAN HOWARD RB, $10 Million for 2 years.

You do get the sense this was plan B at the RB position during this free agency period. it is a certainty that they explored signing Melvin Gordon, and it seems as if it proved difficult. The appeal to Gordon was his perfect fit for Chan Gailey’s system, age, and complete skill set. The appeal to Howard is that you get a reasonable facsimile at a reduced price. Jordan Howard is a very good one-cut runner, but not the cleanest of pass catchers. While being very good in pass pro, Howard improved his route running and passing game awareness this past season in Philly. After having a monster year in his rookie year in 2016 (Chicago), Howard has had some injury issues he has dealt with that led him to sign a “prove it” deal with the Eagles this past year, and he more than flashed with his opportunities. Only 25 years old, with a career 4.3 YPC average to go with his 3,895 yards in 4 years. Highly productive, cheap, with a monster upside. What’s not to like with this signing?

Alfredo Arteaga (@Alf_Arteaga) is one-third of the trio that does the Three Yards Per Carry (@3YardsPerCarry) podcast.

The Dolphins' free agent signings fit into coach Brian Flores' scheme. (Tony Capobianco for Five Reasons Sports)

Pressure Point: Dolphins’ signing spree fills needs, fits Flores’ scheme

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The most encouraging aspect of the Miami Dolphins’ startling flurry of acquisitions at the onset of free agency is that it revealed the method to the madness of last season.

GM Chris Grier and Co. accumulated a huge stockpile of assets — beaucoup draft picks and money under the salary cap — and Monday quickly showed they are going to be aggressive about utilizing them.

The initial signing of five players revealed a cogent plan that addressed vital areas of concern throughout the roster, particularly on defense.

Investing $17 million a year in Byron Jones, the best cornerback available, was the signal the Dolphins are making a big move to win as soon as possible.

That continued Tuesday with a reported agreement with defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah, who was the sack leader for the Kansas City Chiefs before a season-ending injury (pectoral tear).

Miami had already bolstered the pass rush via Kyle Van Noy (Patriots) and Shaq Lawson (Bills) on Monday.

Later Tuesday, Miami reached a deal with former Eagles running back Jordan Howard, who has 3,895 yards and 30 rushing touchdowns since 2016.

Can afford to trade up for QB

Adding established players in their prime increases the likelihood the Dolphins will use some of their league-high 14 picks in the upcoming draft (they also have four in the first two rounds of 2021) to trade up for whichever quarterback they have targeted.

Yes, they need to get maximum value out of their draft capital. But they don’t have to rely on turning around their fortunes with this year’s Senior Bowl roster.

This Dolphins free agency extravaganza in the making is more than a welcome distraction at a time the sports world is at a standstill amid a global health crisis. Dolfans haven’t had much hope to cling to in years, and something extraordinary appears to be unfolding.

They aren’t just pushing chips to the center of the table and rolling the dice. Jones will become a vital cog in coach Brian Flores’ secondary scheme emphasizing man-to-man coverage.

The Dolphins now have premier bookend corners, provided Xavien Howard emerges healthy from an injury-curtailed season. Returning safeties Bobby McCain and Eric Rowe are also former cornerbacks who can cover.

These newcomers aren’t perfect players. They have their flaws.

Jones, for instance, has only two interceptions in 79 games. But the metrics show he can cover.

The Extra Yard: Big day for Dolphins

Not all are stars, but all useful pieces

All of them fit as useful pieces for a coaching staff that got surprising production out of a threadbare roster over the final nine games of 2019.

The worst pass rush in the league has been altered dramatically already, as indicated above.

Van Noy was a key component in the Super Bowl defense Flores oversaw in New England.

The first step in addressing the offensive line was taken by adding Ereck Flowers. The former Miami Hurricane has a spotty NFL record, but he showed more promise after transitioning from tackle to guard.

It is just a beginning of a needed overhaul of the line.

But here’s the thing: All of the new acquisitions are upgrades, not only at the top of the depth chart but in broadening the depth.

And a purpose is evident in each one.

Former Bengals safety Clayton Fejedelem projects as a backup in the secondary, but he will play a leading role on special teams.

Dolphins’ work just beginning

So, has a flurry of free-agent acquisitions transformed the Dolphins from one of the least talented teams to playoff contender? Whoa, there.

The only conclusion that can be drawn at this early stage is that the so-called tankathon of 2019 was the foundation for how Grier and Flores conceive of assembling a championship team.

Will it work? It’s way too soon to say for sure.

But for months Dolphins fans and media have been wondering about and debating the team’s plans.

The early moves are intriguing and encouraging.

Tom Brady rumors afloat — kooky or not?

At a time when there are no games to watch, the Dolphins offer the best sports story to follow over the upcoming weeks and through the draft (April 23-25).

What will they do about a quarterback?

Crazy rumors are even percolating about Tom Brady. But that seems like an unlikely marriage that doesn’t fit what what the Dolphins are trying to achieve.

It makes more sense to stick with Ryan Fitzpatrick as the bridge to the future. He’s an established presence on this team who inspires without being the central figure in a soap opera.

But it’s tough to rule anything out right now.

I am convinced the Dolphins will trade up and make sure they get one of the top QBs in the draft — and I’m OK with it. This week’s action makes it clear this Dolphins regime isn’t leaving anything to chance.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for four decades. Follow him on Twitter @CraigDavisRuns

 

More Dolphins from Five Reasons

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View on Byron Jones from a Cowboys fan

Miami Dolphins

THE EXTRA YARD: Big Day for the Dolphins

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What a day!

Well, to be completely honest, the day got off to a most underwhelming start, as big name after big name came off the board, and the Dolphins were just sitting there with two uninspiring signings. Things changed in a hurry, as your Miami Dolphins made the biggest of splashes.

So how did they do?

ERECK FLOWERS LG, $30 Million for 3 years, $19.95mil Guaranteed.

 

Oof. Where was Andrus Peat? Graham Glasgow? Joe Thuney? Anybody? Ereck Flowers has been, for the better part of his career, a bad NFL player. What is the “better part” of that career? How bout the first five years of it, till this past year in Washington. In 2019, he was moved to Left Guard and excelled. He had six penalties and allowed 2.5 sacks in 16 games. A further examination of Flowers suggests that he turned the tide in the final 8 games of the year, as he was for the most part, very good. He is young, trending up, but this signing is more about faith than conviction.

 

SHAQ LAWSON DE, $30 Million (could be worth $36) for 3 years, $21mil Guaranteed.

Starting to sense a trend. Young players to “scale” deals, that are trending up? It’s a plan. Gotta give them that. Shaq Lawson gives them versatility on the defensive line and can play anywhere from 3 Tech to 9. Highly touted coming out of Clemson, he rejoins his old defensive line coach Marion Hobby in Miami. Lawson will play many snaps, and this signing looks to pay dividends if he continues on his current trajectory.

 

CLAYTON FEJEDELUM S, $8.85 Million for 3 years, $3mil Guaranteed.

Good bye Walt Aikens. Gonna miss him. Was always courteous to us in the media, and was a helluva special teams player. This is who Clayton is. Although further inspection finds that he ran a 4.54 40 yard dash with a 40 1/2 inch vertical, to go with 20 reps of 225 at the combine in 2016, as he was drafted in the 7th round.

Our own Chris Kouffman (@ckparrot) had other ideas:

 

BYRON JONES CB, $82.5 Million for 5 years, $57mil Guaranteed.

What else can be said for Byron Jones. He was the consensus #1 target amongst us on the Three Yards per Carry Podcast. I always say that the quickest way to relevancy is to be “elite” at something. We now get to test that theory, as the Miami Dolphins now have a stacked secondary. Jones is a freakish athlete, sticky in bump man to man, with the versatility to play boundary corner, and safety. A home run signing. Although, does this mean that Xavien Howard could be on the move? I hope not. These two healthy, remind you of the days of Madison and Surtain. The Dolphins now have 2 of the 3 All Pros from 2018 at one position.

 

KYLE VAN NOY OLB, $51 Million for 4 years, $30mil Guaranteed.

The 16th ranked EDGE player on Pro Football Focus, Kyle Van Noy was used much more as a pass rusher in 2019. Good coming off the edge, Van Noy is even better against the run. The Dolphins now have a couple of guys renowned for setting the edge, and in Kyle Van Noy, they just signed the new Captain of the defense. Highly intelligent, and an interesting character, he is also close with Dolphins Head Coach Brian Flores, and this signing falling in the “friends and family” plan as my podcast partner Chris Kouffman likes to put it, is just fine with me. This was a near perfect Day 1 of Free Agency.

 

Alfredo Arteaga (@Alf_Arteaga) is one-third of the trio that does the Three Yards Per Carry (@3YardsPerCarry) podcast.

New Dolphins CB Byron Jones: View from a Cowboys Fan

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While I usually cover the Miami Hurricanes for Five Reasons Sports, I do have a professional rooting interest in the Dallas Cowboys. Sometimes, worlds collide and with the Dolphins signing Byron Jones to a 5-year, $82.5 million deal, with $57 million guaranteed, I found myself in a unique position among my Five Reasons brethren given that I’ve watched all of Jones’ career and have some thoughts on him.

Jones’ career has been interesting. When he was drafted, he was more of a tweener, with the ability to play corner and safety. And sure enough, that’s what he did. He started at corner for one year, then spent 2 years at safety, before moving back to corner for the last 2 years, where he became a Pro Bowler.

So what attributes allowed Jones to excel at both corner and safety? Physicality. Probably the one consistent thing throughout his career is he loves to tackle. The 2019 season featured Jones’ lowest tackle output, and he still had 49 tackles. In 2016, where he started at safety for a team that went 13-3, Jones had 81 tackles. He’s also very durable, having only missed one game in 5 seasons.

Basically, for a Cowboys fans, Jones represented a safety blanket. You could put him at any position in the secondary, and he would perform well. And the prospect of losing that safety blanket does make me uneasy.

But the Dolphins didn’t make Jones the highest paid CB in the NFL because he is a Swiss Army Knife. Can Jones be the best CB in the NFL?

I’d say no, but I also think it doesn’t matter. By my definition, the best CB in the NFL needs to be more than solid and more than an all-round player. He needs to change games. And for all of Jones’ positive attributes, the glaring miss in terms in his portfolio is the INTs. Byron Jones has 2 INTs in his entire career, both while playing safety. He’s never intercepted a pass while playing CB. That play making, game changing element is missing, and if the Dolphins expect him to be the style of player Xavien Howard was in 2018 (as an example), they’ll be very disappointed.

There’s a reason, however, I said it doesn’t matter. First, the market always dictates price, to a certain extent. There were other suitors for Jones and comparing across years is difficult. You can always argue someone is overpaid relative to their peers after they sign a new deal, because salaries generally rise. Second, the Dolphins know exactly who they’re getting with Jones. In fact, the Dolphins executed a well thought out offseason plan.

They landed Jones in addition to Shaq Lawson and Kyle Van Noy. They are building the 3 levels to their defense and with an improved pass rush, they are looking for Jones to be steady and physical on the outside, something he excels at. Jones represents the answer to a problem, a piece of the larger puzzle, and plugging that gap without someone that is steady and reliable was worth it to the Dolphins in the context of the larger rebuild. That is why I don’t agree that Byron Jones is the best CB in football, but I do agree with the Dolphins paying him as such. 

Five Reasons

Dear Sports,

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Dear Sports,

Let me start this off by saying that I never thought I’d be typing this. But here we are.

We miss you.

Life has took an unexpected turn, a turn that took you away from us. At this time, you had to take a back seat. You aren’t important right now. We are in a crisis with a virus. Stopping the spread of this thing is the most important thing for many us right now. 

But damn we miss you.

And we realized how deeply we under-appreciated you.

We are five days in from you being taken from us and it looks like we have a lot more to go.


We are now confused because when we needed you most, you were taken away. You are the one we usually ran to in times of crisis, when we needed to get our minds off the harsh realities of the world, you were there. You cheered us up. You occupied our minds just enough for the world to feel fine. You kept our sanity in check. 

When you got taken from us, It opened my eyes because I’ve never experienced something like this. The world has stopped, literally. We are trying to pickup the pieces and figure a way to get through it. People are confused.

You being gone made me realize a couple things.

It made me realize how unimportant you were in the grand scheme of things but at the same time, it made me realize you are one of the most important things there are.

I know that sounds confusing, so let me explain.

You are unimportant because you can be stopped when the world is going through a pandemic. Getting home to watch the game is the least of our priorities.

But you are so important because so many people relied on you to get through their days. A medicine to anxiety. Myself included. At this time, i need you more than ever. This thing has me and many other people nervous. I wish i could turn on the TV and watch the Miami Heat give us a heart attack, or make a joke about how the Panthers have games in hand. You kept us normal. You kept us sane. You kept us entertained.

Now the world isn’t normal and you’re gone, we don’t know when you’ll be back but when you are, I think we will appreciate you differently.

So let me end this by saying it again, we miss you.

Love, Sports fans around the world.

Dolphins Pats

THE EXTRA YARD: Takes on reported Dolphin targets

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In what has already become a pretty eventful sports weekend, without the actual, well..you know, sports? We were met with a report from ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) loaded with nuggets that includes possible early free agent targets for the Miami Dolphins:

I have since been able to confirm interest in many of the names reported above.

To summarize, the names are:

Logan Ryan (CB), Kamalei Correa (OLB), Kyle Van Noy (OLB), Shaq Lawson (DE), Markus Golden (EDGE), Danny Shelton (NT), Andrew Billings (DT), and A’Shawn Robinson (DT), on Defense. Graham Glasgow (OG), Ted Karras (C), Connor McGovern (C), and Melvin Gordon (RB), on Offense.

Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe), goes on to offer alternatives to some of these players. Now, here is the view of the Three Yards Per Carry crew on the Five Reasons Sports Network:

 

Alfredo Arteaga (@Alf_Arteaga)
First of all, what an underwhelming list. For a team with near $100 million in cap space, they are sure being thrifty and measured with this initial list. Logan Ryan headlines this list, and is a versatile boundary corner that can/has moved inside as a slot corner.

Many in the NFL consider Ryan a top 5 slot corner, and he is a very good fit. Now, here is the issue. He will cost $11 million per year, and would be a good signing, but at that point, spend the $16mil per year and get a MUCH better corner in Byron Jones. He is also 29 years old and did not have a very good 2019. Buyer beware.

Kyle Van Noy is predictable. Another perfect scheme fit, captain, leader type. He is also very close to Head Coach Brian Flores,so we could have seen coming a mile away. Correa is interesting in that he is a heat seeking missle as a sub package linebacker capable of doing a lot in nickel, and even dime. He would be an instant fan favorite because his effort is evident right away. The rest of the defensive group, is about a lot of wishing and hoping, with some projection sprinkled in. I like Shelton and Golden a whole lot. The rest, are a 50/50 group in my opinion.

On offense, Glasgow, would be a home run signing. Capable of playing all along the interior, he offers the versatility they need, and desire on the offensive line. Karras and McGovern, would be slight upgrades over the departed Daniel Kilgore. I really don’t see the benefit of gradual improvement at the center position when the resources are there for a pretty big jump in talent level. Its a waste of time in my opinion. Then we have Melvin Gordon. I have written extensively about him on this site and on twitter, so you know how I feel. Gordon is the perfect one cut back for Chan Gailey’s lead Iso heavy run game. Averaging 91 scrimmage yards per game for his career to go with 47 TD’s in 67 games, makes him underrated as far as productivity is concerned. He is also a complete back, and you can do a helluva lot worse than Melvin Gordon in leading your running back room.

Simon Clancy (@SiClancy) (Simon offers these bullet points on the entire Cameron Wolfe piece)
-Van Noy is a perfect scheme fit, although I wonder how effective he’ll be surrounded by lesser players. Used more as a pure pass rusher last season, will be interesting to see if he heads back to a more versatile role.

-Correa is probably a sub package pass rusher who can drop off in coverage. To his credit he was strong down the stretch for the Titans.

-Ryan is consistently solid. Nothing spectacular. I think he’s best suited as a slot. Missed a lot of tackles last season.

-Lawson really didn’t do much until his last season in Buffalo so immediate buyer beware. Only played 47% of snaps last season. But Marion Hobby will know him well. He’s also said he prefers playing 43 end.

-Golden is a decent pass rusher who can set the edge. Pretty heavy handed. I don’t think he’s best suited as a number one edge but a valuable piece. Had better numbers across the board than Ngakouye last season. He’s 29 tho.

-Danny Shelton played really well last season. He and Lawrence Guy had a great thing going. Good free agent target in my opinion.

-Billings is a two down 1T run stuffer.

-Robinson was really good in 2018 and really bad in 2019.

-Graham Glasgow is one of the most underrated players in football. Solid at all three interior spots, was a good starting OC till they kicked him to RG for Ragnow who’s one of the league’s best. Never missed a game.

-Karras is OK and could play G. Pats know they have David Andrews coming back.

-McGovern similarity OK and didn’t embarrass himself like the rest of the Denver OL.

-Beachum actually played pretty well last year. He was solid in pass protection. Team captain. He’s 30 tho.

-Gordon you know how I feel: only one season of more than 4ypc, an anomalous 5.1 in among the mire of 3.7’s. Only had one 1,000 yard season, only completed one full season in five. Finding holes hasn’t hurt Austin Ekeler, the guy they decided to keep.

-Hyde has played for four teams already. Looked good in Houston last season at times but a guy heading to his 5th team?

-Miller we know. Slowing down and injury prone.

-I like Jordan Howard. I thought he was one of the best inside/outside zone runners in football in Chicago. Played well in Philly till he got hurt.

-Gore is Gore.

Chris Kouffman (@ckparrot) (Chris offers some bullet points of his own)

-With A’Shawn Robinson, I guess you’d just have to have a pretty good running thesis on why he was so much better in 2018 than 2019. But just having a bad year doesn’t mean you’re a bad signing. More often you get hurt for grabbing a guy super expensive off a great year.

-I don’t know what to make of this new found interest in A’Shawn popping up. I don’t really like the idea of Andrew Billings.

-The parts where Cameron Wolfe denotes expectation are interesting. I forgot about Kamelei Correa. He’s alright. I’ve looked at him. Didn’t really strike me as anything to write home about.

-I think Melvin Gordon is a fine player. You can’t always judge a RB by his YPC. He makes people miss and he gets yards after contact. He catches the ball and he produces touchdowns.

-It’s worth noting that there’s gonna be a rash of cuts in short order as teams have to get their cap space relative to the $198 million cap in order by Wednesday.

 

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