Miami Dolphins Poised for A Turnaround

The Miami Dolphins wasted no time getting started in free agency signing over ten new faces in the first week of the 2020 season. 

The biggest name the Phins locked up is Byron Jones, who signed for 5 years, $82.5 million, making him the highest paid cornerback in the NFL. Jones will join pro bowler Xavien Howard in Miami’s secondary, looking to become one of the best backfields in the league next season. 

If Miami had only kept Minkah Fitzpatrick this team might already get that top tier designation. Trading Fitzpatrick remains one of the few poor decisions Brian Flores and Chris Grier have made thus far in their reign. 

Miami also added quality players in linebacker Kyle Van Noy, defensive end Shaq Lawson, offensive guard Ereck Flowers, and running back Jordan Howard. Though with the Howard signing, I wonder if the Phins missed out on Melvin Gordon. Maybe they simply dodged getting an injury prone, underachieving player, but he didn’t receive a crazy deal either at 2 years, $16 million. No matter, the Dolphins signed the 25-year-old Howard to a 2-year deal that gives the team something to work with at the position after being pretty bare last season. 

Overall, Miami improved their defense by a significant margin, shoring up that side of the field with lineback Kamu Grugier-Hill and defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah also getting picked up. 

Ted Karras, New England’s center from last year signed with the Dolphins and will likely be the starter replacing Daniel Kilgore. 

Brian Flores has evidently been the one attracting free agents to Miami ($94 million in cap space also helps). Newly signed Van Noy said as much to reporters via a Zoom video call, saying of the Dolphins head coach, “he’s ready to go all the time, and he brings that same energy each and every day, and that's what you want-- and as a player that’s who I want to play for.” Karras, another former Patriot, reportedly declined a more lucrative deal from New England to join the former Patriots defensive coach. 

The sentiment has been echoed by Ogbah and superstar cornerback Bryon Jones, with Jones saying Flores intense coaching style is something he wanted to be a part of. 

The Dolphins head coach was also able to guide the team to a five wins last season, five more than anyone expected after their tumultuous start to the year. The Phins winning those games despite being hailed as one of the worst teams ever in the early part of the year was a false narrative anyway. Many players were cut or traded right before the regular season started, along with a first-year head coach getting his first reps under his belt in that role and the opponents being teams (Baltimore and New England) who went combined 26-6 during the regular season. 

Putting that start behind them, Miami had a competitive season that concluded on the highest note possible, as Flores took down his former New England boss and forced them into a Wildcard Playoff game they would ultimately lose. 

While Flores has helped achieve a successful offseason of signings, the biggest of the free agency splash has concluded, and all eyes turn toward the NFL Draft. The Dolphins hold the most picks with 14, including three first round picks, with the fifth overall being their hottest commodity. Rumors have centered around Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa being Maimi’s first selection, but it's truly unknown the path the team will follow. A miracle trade for Joe Burrow is a possibility, but the Dolphins would likely need to give up their three first round picks and then some to pull that off. 

Even without going after the LSU quarterback, Miami may still have to trade up to get Tagovailoa, with the Lions and Redskins in front of them, and the Chargers and Panthers right behind them looking for quarterbacks themselves. The Dolphins may also go after the third projected QB off the board in Justin Herbert, who could fall into the fifth spot without any movement from Miami. 

However, the Phins may utilize all the picks they have and build up the team on both sides of the ball. With 14 selections at their disposal, Miami ought to hit on at least a few future X-factors. Going this route might be the safest bet, especially with a defensive-minded head coach who seems focused on adding the right pieces around a QB before going out and getting one. Miami may shift their focus to draft a signal caller in the 2021 NFL Draft with Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence in mind. 

Depending on who the Dolphins plug in at QB this year will determine the goal of this season. If Miami passes on a QB this year and puts Fitzmagic back out there, then the team is evidently angling for a QB in next year’s draft. But even if they draft one this year, the young gun may start the year as the backup as Flores looks to gradually put a winning team on the field. 

No matter the QB situation, the division may be a low-win threshold to capture and make the playoffs. I don’t think anyone is projecting a contender out of the AFC East this season, with the Bills being the closest thing to a favorite there is. The Bills made the postseason last year so it appears as though it will be their division to lose. Josh Allen looked both promising and troubled at times throughout the season, making any sure-thing prediction for the team questionable at best. Their defense will likely remain stout, so time will tell how they’ll operate in a Tom Brady-less division. 

The Patriots are unknown at this point, especially with their QB situation unclear. Will they draft a guy? Will they pick up someone like Andy Dalton or Cam Newton in free agency? Or will they go with 2019 fourth-round pick Jarrett Stidham? New England still retains DPOY Stephon Gilmore and head coach Bill Belichick, so a steep drop for the team is probably more wishful thinking than reality for the rest of the division. Still, this will be the first time in 20 years without Tom Brady under center. 

The Jets went 7-9 last year with QB Sam Darnold missing multiple games due to illness. This is the make or break year for Darnold to take a step forward in his progression. The second year of Le'veon Bell will prove interesting for New York. If he resembles Bell of old, then the division is in trouble of the Jets stepping up and taking the crown for the first time since 2002. But if it's more of the same with Bell the Jets are vulnerable to repeat another mediocre year. 

Miami's schedule doesn’t look too forgiving for the squad, which may impact their drafting decisions of what to prioritize now compared to a season down the road. The Dolphins will face the likes of defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs, the Los Angeles Rams, and Seattle Seahawks throughout their season. Add on their six division matchups which will likely be hotly contested battles, and Miami will likely be on the cusp of a .500 season.

But whether this season or next, the pieces, coaching atmosphere, draft stock and salary capital that Miami has attained put themselves in prime position to become a regular playoff team in the near future. The turnaround Dolphins fans have waited the last two decades for appears right around the corner.