The hype of free agency has come and gone and now it’s time to look at what teams have gained and lost since March 16th and where they stand as they prepare for the upcoming draft. Let’s discuss the Miami Dolphins.
Miami Dolphins
Key acquisitions: WR Tyreek Hill, OT Terron Armstead, RB Chase Edmonds, G Connor Williams, RB Raheem Mostert, QB Teddy Bridgewater, WR Cedrick Wilson, FB Alec Ingold, P Thomas Morstead, WR Trent Sherfield, CB Keion Crossen
Re-signed: TE Mike Gesicki (franchise), DE Emmanuel Ogbah, LB Elandon Roberts, TE Durham Smythe, LB Brennan Scarlett, DT John Jenkins
Departures: WR DeVante Parker (Patriots), OL Jesse Davis (Vikings), WR Mack Hollins (Raiders), QB Jacoby Brissett (Browns), RB Duke Johnson (Bills), CB Justin Coleman (Seahawks), WR Allen Hurns
Remaining free agents: WR Will Fuller, RB Phillip Lindsay, S Jason McCourty, WR Albert Wilson, RB Malcolm Brown
Analysis: I feel like every year the Dolphins make a bunch of signings and don’t really change their status in the NFL, but it feels different this year.
The Miami Dolphins pulled off one of the biggest trades this offseason, any other year it would’ve been the biggest, but in 2022 it was like third or fourth. The Dolphins acquired superstar wide receiver Tyreek Hill from the Chiefs for a first, second, 2 fourths, and a sixth, while signing him to a massive four-year, $120 million extension. Hill alongside Jaylen Waddle is very dangerous, both can play all over the field, but Hill has unreal speed and can take over a game. He takes over as the No. 1 receiver, replacing who was once thought of as that guy in DeVante Parker, who has been on the trade block for like 5 years. Also brought in to that WR room is former Cowboy Cedrick Wilson, who had a career year in 2021, and Trent Sherfield, formerly of the 49ers and Cardinals.
The Dolphins have struggled to find a starting running back for five years, but they’ve decided to go the committee route, signing two guys who have been in tandems and committees in Chase Edmonds of the Cardinals and Raheem Mostert of the 49ers. Both players have starting experience and can carry the load when called upon, but both have some injury history, but having them together can make this a lethal backfield along with Myles Gaskin. New head coach Mike McDaniel has his fullback in Alec Ingold, formerly of the Raiders, so this offense is starting to shape up like San Francisco’s.
The other big move on offense was signing former Saints Pro Bowl tackle Terron Armstead to a massive multi-year deal. Miami has been trying to find their left tackle replacement after trading Laremy Tunsil, drafting Austin Jackson in the first round in 2020, then moving him to left guard in 2021 in favor of second-round rookie Liam Eichenberg. They’ll have another offensive line shuffle in 2022, with every position up for grabs.
Not many changes on defense, with Emmanuel Ogbah getting a big extension.
Conclusion: This is it for Tua Tagovailoa. If he can’t take the leap with this offense under Mike McDaniel, there is no hope. They brought in Teddy Bridgewater to help Tua, or maybe push him out of the starting job, we’ll see how that plays out. The offensive skill players are retooled, with Waddle and franchise tight end Mike Gesicki returning. The defense is basically the same, with Xavien Howard signing yet another contract extension because he refuses to not be the highest-paid cornerback. It’s Tua time, and that means playoffs or find another job.
Football Nerds 