As the NFL season approaches its conclusion on February 9, when the Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles, for 30 other teams, the off-season has already arrived. Even without games, the action doesn’t stop once the games do. Between free agency and the draft, the storylines are seemingly endless. Every team has certain needs they prioritize as they look to take another step in their competitive process. For Miami, the number one priority is glaringly obvious after watching one unit star as the weakest link for what feels like forever.
One Unit Must be Dolphins’ Focus as Off-Season Approaches
Interior Offensive Line
Football is won and lost in the trenches and for too long the trenches have failed Miami when it mattered most. Whether from injury, lack of depth, or just overall lack of production, the offensive line has kept the Dolphins from taking the next step for multiple years. They boast an electric core of weapons. From Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle to Jonnu Smith and DeVon Achane, playmakers aren’t in short supply. This year as production dipped for their offense, the line was a culprit as to why, but more specifically, the guard play just wasn’t good enough.
The step back they saw offensively was eye-opening in the running game. What started strong, didn’t last the length of the season. Miami ranked 21st in yards per game as a team with 105.6, and 28th in yards per attempt with four. A steep fall back from their numbers the year prior, which saw them rank 6th in YPG with 135.6 and first in YPC at 5.06. Offenses need to be balanced to see sustained success in this league. A quick-fire passing attack masked some of the deficiencies, but being one-dimensional severely hampered them this season.
There were bright spots, most notably Left Tackle Terron Armstead, and Center Aaron Brewer, who both performed at an extremely high level.
Miami is seemingly set at right tackle as well with Austin Jackson. He’s been a steady presence on the line for years. His importance was highlighted this season when he was lost to injury. The Dolphins’ bread and butter for their running attack is an outside zone scheme. When Jackson went down, it effectively made the right side of their line a sieve. Miami had a six-game stretch where they averaged just three yards per carry.
Even with Jackson healthy, the play of their guards was consistently below average all season. This meant any injury to other linemen was magnified even more because they weren’t there to mask any errors. Outside of a few stretches the guard play often caused the downfall of the offense.
Free Agency
Miami should leave no stone unturned when it comes to building a formidable offensive line. The Dolphins have some work to do when it comes to their salary cap. As with all teams, there will be restructures, releases, and potentially even retirements that change that landscape.
When owner Stephen Ross penned a letter to the public explaining that both GM Chris Grier and Head Coach Mike McDaniel would return this upcoming season, it meant he felt public pressure. Subsequently, Grier and McDaniel do too. It’s natural to expect the front office won’t be afraid to spend money in what feels like a make-or-break upcoming season.
There are quite a few options available in free agency, with the top available being current Kansas City Chief, Trey Smith. He’s been a multi-year starter, who played 96% of the snaps last year. At just 26 years old, all of this means teams will view him as a player who will be available at a high level for the duration of his contract. He’ll be sought after and while he’ll most likely reset the market, Miami shouldn’t be afraid to take a swing.
Other options include: Tevin Jenkins, Will Fries, James Daniels, and Will Hernandez. Both for depth and starting roles, the Dolphins should look to add multiple in free agency. Preferably those without injury histories, as that has bitten them across the board for years.
Draft
The draft is a similar situation. What they do will be very dependent on what happens in free agency beforehand. However, even if Miami brings in multiple players on their offensive line, drafting one with one of their first three picks shouldn’t be off the table. Many mock drafts have them selecting an offensive lineman with their first pick at 13, as it stands now. With Texas’ Kelvin Banks is a popular name linked to South Florida.
Whether it’s the first, second, or third round, the Dolphins should bring in another piece or two on their line.
Both for the present and for the future.
While the offensive line rankings were ok in 2023. It now feels like it had more to do with how explosive Miami’s offense was and less to do with the overall capabilities of the line from top to bottom. While Miami is confident in its tackles and center, you’re only as strong as your weakest link. And the guard play has held the team back. This off-season needs to be about building the Dolphins an offensive line that can be a strength for the team for years to come.
Main Photo: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
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