The
Miami Dolphins are a team that when healthy are a playoff contender in most
eyes. Coming off an injury riddled 2017 season that saw Ryan Tannehill the team’s
starting quarterback tear his ACL in training camp, the dolphins were unable to
repeat the success they had in 2016. However, with Tannehill coming back and
2017 second round pick Raekwon McMillan also coming back from a torn ACL, this
helps the Dolphins greatly. The Dolphins as of right now have a few holes on
the roster even with these players returning from injury.

 
  Expect the team to add possibly 2 to 3 interior linemen as the outside
tackles appear to be set with Laremy Tunsil and surprise UDFA Jesse Davis
replacing Ja’Wuan James who is likely to be cut. Mike Pouncey could possibly be
restructured but with subpar play and injury issues over the years, he seems
like a likely cap casualty with his 8-million-dollar cap hit in 2018. 2017
draft pick Isaac Asiata seems like a likely choice to play right guard despite
very little time on the field in 2017. Miami could look to add star left guard
Andrew Norwell in free agency as well as Jack Mewhort and other options in free
agency. Offensive guard is a position that had be a glaring weakness on the
team since the departure of Richie Incognito. Lackluster offensive line play
has held Tannehill back from his full potential thus far in his career and it
is time to change that if Miami wants to contend.

 
  Despite head coach Adam Gase saying after the season that Ryan Tannehill
is his week 1 starter the team is rumored to be eyeing Heisman award winner
Baker Mayfield and have also had some ties to free agent Kirk Cousins. Mayfield
did not hesitate to show mutual interest when he commented on a live periscope
video from Kenny Stills saying “#GetMeToMiami”. While Miami is
rumored to be very high on prospects Roquan Smith, Quenton Nelson, and others
it would be hard for Miami to pass up the chance of drafting Mayfield if he
were to fall to the 11th pick. While Smith and Nelson would fill the dolphins
needs, Baker Mayfield could be a potential game changing franchise quarterback
that Miami has lacked since Dan Marino.

 
  Miami has a dilemma with star playmaker Jarvis Landry. The 3-time pro
bowl wide receiver is set to hit free agency and is seeking a contract in the 14-16-million-dollar
range which is a hefty price for the cap strapped Dolphins. The team still has
good playmakers in Kenny Stills, Devante Parker, and Kenyan Drake which makes
you think it’s less than likely that Miami gives Landry the money he desires.

 
   The Dolphins defense, while it wasn’t elite with Vance Joseph as
defensive coordinator, regressed in a big way in 2017. While as usual Ndamukong
Suh was graded amongst the best defenders in all of football, the rest of the
defense was mediocre at best. Rookie first round pick Charles Harris made
little impact with only 2 sacks and 19 total tackles, but the now second year
defensive end is expected to have a much larger role in 2018. Cameron wake who
is nearing the end of his hall of fame worthy career, was still effective in
2017 recording 10.5 sacks, which led the team. While the defensive line is
already set for 2018, the rest of the defense is in question. Linebacker has
been a gaping hole on the roster since the great Zach Thomas last took the
field, but with 2017 2nd round pick Raekwon McMillan returning, it should help
the problem a bit. Kiko Alonso regressed in a big way from 2016 which landed
him an extension with the team, moving him to a different position seems likely
with Lawrence Timmons seen as a likely cap casualty after a subpar 2017. Expect
Miami to aggressively pursue Roquan Smith and Tremaine Edmunds in the draft if
they fall to 11 as well as multiple free agent options to help fix this glaring
weakness.


 
   The secondary of the Dolphins is solid and young with corners
Xavien Howard who

showed in 2017 why the team selected him in the second round
in 2016, came on late and showed elite potential as a lockdown cornerback that
the Dolphins desperately need. Bobby McCain had his best season thus far,
grading out as one of the highest rated slot corners in all of football. While
the Dolphins do have a promising young corner in Cordrea Tankersley who was
selected in the third round in 2017, expect Miami to aggressively pursue
potential elite cornerbacks on the open market such as Malcolm Butler, Richard
Sherman, and Aqib Talib. Miami has never been shy about throwing money at big
time players and I wouldn’t expect that to change now. Miami is set at safety
with Pro Bowler Reshad Jones and TJ McDonald coming into his first full year as
a dolphin.

     Whether
Miami can turn the tide from last year’s disastrous 6-10 season or not is yet
to be seen, Mike Tannenbaum, Adam Gase and GM Chris Grier have a small hill to
climb and whether or n to they can do so is yet to be seen.