Chris Grier and his staff deserve a round of applause for how they built the Miami Dolphins roster this offseason.
It’s been a while since the team’s depth chart hasn’t had multiple needs heading into an NFL draft.
Grier, the Dolphins’ general manager and top football executive, has seemingly assembled a versatile and deep roster courtesy of the offseason moves, which included adding Pro Bowl players Tyreek Hill and Terron Armstead, and re-signing most of the key pieces from last year’s defense.
Here’s a look at the team’s top five positions of need heading into the draft on April 28-30:
Inside linebacker: Elandon Roberts’ career history indicates he’s a two-down linebacker considering he’s struggled in pass coverage and that Jerome Baker thrived playing outside linebacker last season. If Baker remains in the same role he played the second half of last season, the Dolphins need to find an inside linebacker who has good run-game instincts and pass coverage skills.
Edge rusher: Emmanuel Ogbah is Miami’s second-best defender, but the Dolphins need to find someone reliable to put opposite him. Jaelan Phillips, Miami’s 2021 first-round pick, thrived when the Dolphins scrapped their plans to make him an outside linebacker and used the former Hurricanes standout strictly as a pass rusher. Behind those two there’s only linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel and two developmental projects in Daeshon Hall and Darius Hodge as edge players.
Center: Michael Deiter started eight games at center last season, but hasn’t proven he’s an NFL starter in his three seasons. While Grier seems committed to seeing the former third-round pick remain a starter, competition never hurt anyone. And seeing that Deiter, who missed half of the 2021 season with a foot injury, is entering the final season of his rookie deal it would benefit the Dolphins to be forward thinking by adding a young, developmental center.
Cornerback: Xavien Howard and Byron Jones are one of the best cornerback duos in the NFL and Nik Needham is a young, developing player. But Needham has struggled at times playing nickel cornerback, which relies heavily on quickness and physicality. It would benefit the Dolphins to find a true nickel back to develop, especially since Needham is playing on a one-year deal.
Nose tackle: The Dolphins struggled when Raekwon Davis missed four games last season due to a knee injury and during the handful of games he played while he was still recovering. It’s clear that Miami needs to add a better nose tackle than John Jenkins, someone who can be developed into a rotational player and potential starter since five defensive linemen have contracts that expire over the next two seasons.
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