This is The Gridiron Review’s Miami Dolphins 2023 Offseason Team Breakdown. We provide you with all things you need to know about the Dolphins heading into FA and the draft. We also provide our thoughts on the needs of the team and how we think they can be addressed!
Miami Dolphins 2022 Record: 9-8
Miami Dolphins Salary Cap(According to Spotrac): $-12,665,861
Notable Free Agents(According to Spotrac):
- Teddy Bridgewater, QB
- Raheem Mostert, RB
- Jeff Wilson, RB
- Myles Gaskin, RB
- Trent Sherfield, WR
- Mike Gesicki, TE
- Melvin Ingram, OLB
- Andrew Van Ginkel, OLB
- Elandon Roberts, ILB
- Nik Needham, CB
- Eric Rowe, S
Team Needs: QB (Depending on Tua health), RB, TE, OL(Depth), DL(Depth), OLB(Depth), ILB(Depth)
3 Free Agent Targets(In No Order):
- Carson Wentz, QB
- Saquon Barkley, RB
- Dalton Schultz/Foster Moreau, TE
Miami Dolphins First Round Pick(s): None (Forfeited for tampering)
3 Draft Prospect Fits/Targets:
- Hendon Hooker, QB, Tennessee
- Israel Abanikanda, RB, Pitt
- Cameron Latu, TE, Alabama
Our Dolphins Ideal Offseason Plans/Thoughts:
- The Miami Dolphins roster can absolutely compete in the AFC. However, that requires this team to stay healthy(particularly at QB), which they had issues with this season. Going hand-in-hand with the injuries, is the absolute lack of depth on this team. The only position group on this team with any is the secondary.
- The QB position was played pretty well by Tua under first year HC Mike McDaniel, but his health is a major red flag right now. He missed most of this season due to concussions. It’s probably in Tua’s best interest to retire, but there’s nothing indicating that he will. If Tua returns, it’s assumed that he is the starter(although they don’t know what to do with his 5th year). They need a high-end backup though that can step in and lead this team to the playoffs if Tua were to go down again. This is going to cause a ton of controversy, but don’t be surprised if they bring in Carson Wentz as a backup. Wentz has been dragged through the mud and really shouldn’t be able to demand big money anymore. The Shanahan/McDaniel system does not require you to be a good QB. Look at the strides Tua made under McDaniel. Wentz is more than capable of leading this offense. If they want to address backup QB in the draft, Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker could absolutely get the job done in Miami, and wouldn’t be rushed in his ACL recovery.
- The only way this offense is going to work though is if you have a strong RB room to take pressure off the QB. This offensive system is usually run with a committee, but considering the entire RB room is set to hit FA, a bell cow like Barkley could be the best option. Also, look for the Dolphins to target Pitt’s Israel Abanikanda. Abanikanda has elite speed and a great burst that could remind McDaniel of Raheem Mostert. He would be a more youthful version of Mostert, who McDaniel brought with him from SF (he brought his own luggage, but it wasn’t Louis).
- The Dolphins are in need of a star TE for the McDaniel offense. Gesicki ended up falling out of favor under the new regime(probably because his blocking was bad). Dalton Schultz isn’t as good after the catch as Kittle, but from a blocking and reliability standpoint, Schultz could be McDaniel’s Kittle in Miami. If they want to go slightly younger and cheaper, look for Foster Moreau as a name to watch. If they want to address it in the draft, Alabama’s Cameron Latu would be a fit in Miami.