The Miami Dolphins seemingly emerged from the draft addressing a few significant needs, particularly in the trenches. Although the team still has some needs, some appear to be more glaring than others. The one position that seemingly still needs a starter or two starters and more depth added is cornerback. General manager Chris Grier has seemingly thrown more money at that one position on defense over the years than any other, only to see it turn into the most worrying position going into 2025.
Corner Xavien Howard is gone, but will still cost the team $15,699,000 against the cap this year in dead money. Byron Jones was another failed experiment that the team threw a lot of money at, and now Jalen Ramsey wants out and seems to be on the way out of town just as soon as the team can manage to trade him. Ramsey was given a huge deal and another one right after that to keep him happy, which was clearly not enough. Ramsey will also cost the team additional dead cap space when traded this season and likely next season. Grier stated that the team expects former second-rounder Cam Smith to step up when asked about next season’s starters, but does anyone really trust him as a potential starter going into the season?
The hole at defensive tackle opposite Zack Sieler was filled, but it’s another position that could use more depth pieces. Likewise, on the other side of the ball, the offensive line could use additional depth pieces. While Jonnu Smith was a pleasant surprise during an otherwise disappointing year, the team was expected to add a tight end in the draft as a bookend to Smith or at least as depth, but failed to address the position in the draft. Tight end depth might fix itself if the undrafted free agent Jalin Conyers is the steal that some believe him to be. While Grier has a history of mixed results in the draft and with some of his free agent signings, he does have a knack for finding decent players among the undrafted free agents.
Other positions that the team was thought to address in the draft were wide receiver and inside linebacker. Even with the rumors of Tyreek Hill wanting a trade or that the team would trade him having died down, the team was expected to address his likely departure after this season in this year’s draft. My guess, for whatever it’s worth, is that the team will probably take a wideout in the first couple of rounds in next year’s draft unless we find a surprise or two among the UDFAs we signed this year. An inside linebacker is not necessarily needed by the team at the moment, but the team has seemingly experienced constant turnover at the position in recent years. None of the ILBs currently on the roster is younger than 25, and the team could have used a young player or two to develop as long-term answers at the position.
So tonight’s Phinsider Question Of The Day is:
Following the draft, which other positions do you want Chris Grier to address via the remaining free agents or even possibly via a trade, from the list above or a position I did not mention, between now and the beginning of training camp, and why?
Please share your thoughts and answers in the comments section below-
