MDD Staff Writer: Chad Pullen
With free agency set to begin next Tuesday and a few of the free agent dominoes already having fallen, we take a quick look at how the first round of the draft could shake up before teams start to address their biggest needs in free agency. We will follow with more mock ups as the free agent pieces fall and adjust each teams draft boards leading up to the draft. (more…)
In October of 2011 after an 0-4 Dolphins start to the season, the popular phrase Suck4Luck was starting to blossom on the internet. Many Dolphin fans quickly took to the mantra in hopes that by tanking the rest of the season, Luck would be on their side and the Dolphins would have a true franchise QB to lead the team for the next decade. At the time, we at Dolphins Draft wrote up a history of the Dolphins draft merits and asked for caution in hopes that the Dolphins savior would come via the Draft. As the season played out, the Dolphins played themselves out of Luck contention and instead settled for the eighth pick in the draft and eventual franchise QB Ryan Tannehill.
While the Dolphins seem to have gotten things back on the right track in terms of the Draft recently, errors are still being made and over the course of Dolphins history, have been at an alarming rate. With the April 2013 Draft fast approaching, once again we will re-visit the Dolphins previous draft history dating back almost two decades.
I should warn you, if you have a weak stomach, this may not be the read you’re looking for. Starting from 1995, Don Shula’s final year, let’s examine how the Dolphins have fared and the multitude of mistakes that have been made. (more…)
The Miami Dolphins have one major question at offensive tackle: do they keep Jake Long or let him walk? Right now, I think they are (and should be) leaning towards letting him go. Unless he has made tremendous strides with his health and would be willing to take a big hometown discount, I think the risk completely outweighs the reward of keeping Long.
So if Long is out, what move should the Dolphins make to fill this huge void?
Cameron Wake causes opposing quarterbacks, and offensive tackles alike to lose sleep the night before a game against the Dolphins. The offensive tackle that is lined up without Cameron Wake facing him is all smiles however as the Dolphins have lacked a second pass rusher for a very long time. The last time the Dolphins were perennial playoff contenders, Jason Taylor had Trace Armstrong lined up down the line from him. Wake has yet to find that partner.
Jared Odrick and Olivier Vernon have been drafted in recent years to provide that, but Odrick has proven more of a run stopper and Vernon will need a little more time to develop his skills as a pass rusher. The Dolphins have an immediate need while Cam Wake is still in his prime so let’s check a few options the Dolphins have to upgrade a key need, one that can not only help the pass rush, but also helps the secondary not get exposed having to cover shorter amounts of time each snap. (more…)
GM Jeff Ireland has made several moves since taking over the roster building duties full time in 2010. He’s hit on some picks, missed on some, made a decent free agent signing, whiffed on some too. One of the best moves he has made however was trading for RB Reggie Bush. After making that deal with the Saints, Reggie was then signed for two years, ten million dollars to be the featured back down in Miami.
Questions about whether Reggie could be an inside runner full time were quickly answered as Bush put forth two of his best seasons the last two years and remained relatively healthy in doing so. Now it is time to decide if the Dolphins should reward Reggie with a bigger contract as he enters his last years, or let him go via free agency and start over at the position. (more…)
Miami Dolphins Free Agency Update and Predictions
Dolphins Sign TE Dustin Keller
Measuring the Impact of Mike Wallace Signing
Dolphins Free Agent Signings Day One Wrap Up
Pre Free Agency-Post Combine First Round Mock Draft
Miami Dolphins Draft History: A Look Into the Draft Blunders in Dolphins History.
NFL Draft vs. Free Agency: Filling the Dolphins Offensive Tackle Need
2013 NFL Mock Draft: Garrett’s February 13th Update
NFL Draft vs. Free Agency: Filling the Dolphins Defensive End Need