The Miami Dolphins Offseason Thus Far

Fortunately for Dolphins fans everywhere, we no longer have to worry about this happening again.

(March 21st, 2016) Coming off a disappointing season after being expected to contend for a Wild Card spot in the playoffs, if not for the AFC East, the Miami Dolphins are making a great deal of changes to their roster in an effort to become more competitive within their division and end their postseason woes, having been to the playoffs only three times in the millennium and not once since 2008.

A Change in Leadership 

The Dolphins finished the 2015 season 6-10, and in the process of the season fired head coach Joe Philbin and replaced him with tight ends coach Dan Campbell. While Campbell created an atmosphere of energy which was evident on the field especially in his first two games at the helm, Campbell finished 5-7 as opposed to Philbin's 1-3 record in the first four games of the season and the Dolphins front office chose not to retain him, instead hiring former Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase as their new head honcho.

I love the move to hire Gase because he has worked with good NFL quarterbacks in the past, having coached Jay Cutler last year and having worked with all-time great Peyton Manning in his time as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator with the Denver Broncos. I believe Gase will bring his wealth of knowledge and experience with Manning and Cutler and use it to greatly improve the play of Ryan Tannehill. who will be in his fifth year as the Dolphins' quarterback having signed a $96 million contract extension in May of last year.

Owner Stephen Ross and VP of Football Operations Mike Tannenbaum also hired Chris Grier as the organization's new general manager, another move I love because of Grier's past experience as the Dolphins' Director of College Scouting, which points to the organization improving primarily through the draft and secondarily through free agency.

Before this year's coming NFL Draft in late April however, Tannenbaum and Grier have made some heads turn with their offseason additions.

Trade and Free Agency Extravaganza

Let's start with what has been lost, since then it is easier to understand why certain acquisitions were made.

Departing this year is last year's leading rusher Lamar Miller to the Houston Texans, second-leading receiver Rishard Matthews, who left Miami for the Tennessee Titans, cornerback Brent Grimes (now a Tampa Bay Buccaneer), wide receiver Greg Jennings (still a free agent), offensive lineman Jacob Fox (free agent), defensive end Quinton Coples (Los Angeles Rams) and cornerback Brice McCain (Tennessee Titans). The team leader in sacks last season, Olivier Vernon, is now a New York Giant and was given the transition tag March 1st by the Dolphins only to have it taken away March 9th upon the signing of what in my opinion is the team's most pivotal acquisition of the offseason.

This signing of course is the signing of defensive end Mario Williams to a two-year deal. Williams will provide a huge help to the line alongside Ndamukong Suh and Cameron Wake and adds to an already prolific pass-rushing group. It also reunites him with the 4-3 defense in which Williams has thrived throughout his career.

The Dolphins also added linebacker Kiko Alonso and cornerback Byron Maxwell as well as the 13th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for the 8th overall pick in the same draft. Maxwell, a former member of the infamous "Legion of Boom" defensive backfield of the Seattle Seahawks, will start at cornerback while Alonso bolsters an arguably weak linebacker corps.

Former Pro-Bowl offensive lineman Jermon Bushrod was signed to shut what was a revolving door at right offensive tackle last season. If Bushrod can remain healthy, he could be one of the most underrated acquisitions of this entire offseason.

Also signed were defensive end Andre Branch from the Jacksonville Jaguars, who will spell both Suh and Wake off the edge, cornerback Chimdi Chekwa (Oakland Raiders), offensive lineman Sam Young (Jacksonville Jaguars), safety Isa Abdul-Quddus (Detroit Lions), wide receiver Griff Whalen (Indianapolis Colts) and defensive end Cleyon Liang (Toronto Argonauts of the CFL), all of whom will provide quality depth at their respective positions.

Looking Forward to the Draft

In the wake of these offseason additions, the Dolphins still have holes to fill, and this draft should serve to plug most of those holes. Originally slotted to draft 8th overall, the franchise now holds the 13th overall pick after the trade with the Eagles for Maxwell and Alonso.

The primary needs the organization needs to meet are those at cornerback, both the tackle and guard positions along the offensive line, running back and defensive end.

I believe the biggest need out of these three is that of the cornerback position. While my favorite prospect in the entire draft is Jalen Ramsey, the cornerback/safety/nickelback extraordinaire out of Florida State, it is highly unlikely he falls out of the top 5. In fact, it is rumored that Ramsey is the current favorite to be the 1st overall pick in the draft. Rather, a more likely target at that position would be Vernon Hargreaves III out of Florida, Mackensie Alexander out of Clemson, or Eli Apple of Ohio State.

Of course, the Dolphins could also look to shore up the offensive line first, picking up Jack Conklin of Michigan State or Taylor Decker of Ohio State and drafting a corner like Baylor's Xavien Howard in the second round.

Whatever decisions Mike Tannenbaum and Chris Grier decide to make on Draft Day 2016 and beyond, I trust their judgment to do whatever is necessary to bring this team back to the glory days of yesteryear. and get us hoisting the Lombardi Trophy sometime very soon. Having been a Dolphins fan myself since birth and a former resident of South Florida, it would be a fantastic boost to the fanbase and the area to have a perennial winner again in the Miami Dolphins.


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