This is the Gridiron Review’s grading and breakdown series of every team’s offseason. This article is the offseason in review: Miami Dolphins

Players Retained:

Offense: Salvon Ahmed, RB; Preston Williams, WR; Mike Gesecki, TE(Franchise Tag); Durham Smythe, TE

Defense: John Jenkins, DL; Benito Jones, DL; Emmanuel Ogbah, DE/OLB; Brennan Scarlett, OLB; Elandon Roberts, ILB; Duke Riley, LB; Sam Eguavoen, LB; Nik Needham, CB; Sheldrick Redwine, S

Key Losses:

Offense: Jacoby Brissett, QB; Chris Streveler, QB; Duke Johnson, RB; Phillip Lindsay, RB; Malcolm Brown, RB; Will Fuller, WR; Allen Hurns, WR; Albert Wilson, WR; Mack Hollins, WR; Greg Mancz, C; Jesse Davis, OT

Defense: Daeshon Hall, DE; Justin Coleman, CB; Jason McCourty, CB; Jarvis Davis, CB

Specials: Michael Palardy, P

Key Free Agent Pick-ups:

Offense: Teddy Bridgewater, QB; Raheem Mostert, RB; Sony Michel, RB; Chase Edmonds, RB; Alec Ingold, FB; Cedrick Wilson, WR; Trent Sherfield, WR;  Connor Williams, OG; Terron Amrstead, OT

Defense: Porter Gustin, DL; Melvin Ingram, OLB; Keion Crossen, CB

Specials: Thomas Morstead, P

Trades(If Applicable):

Acquired WR Tyreek Hill in exchange for 2022 1st, 2nd, and 4th and 2023 4th and 6th round picks

Draft Class:

• Round 3, Pick No. 102: Channing Tindall, LB, Georgia
• Round 4, Pick No. 125: Erik Ezukanma, WR, Texas Tech
• Round 7, Pick No. 224: Cameron Goode, EDGE, California
• Round 7, Pick No. 247: Skylar Thompson, QB, Kansas State

Our Offseason Grade: From controversy to promise, now can Tua make the jump?

Record Prediction(Division Rank): 10-7(2nd)

Summary:

Offensively, this is a completely new look team. It starts at the top. The Dolphins brought in former 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel to take over for Brian Flores. McDaniel was able to make Jimmy G a super bowl caliber QB, and we think he will be able to do the same with Tua now with great weapons and a new offensive scheme. The quarterback room will continue to be led by Tua, but brought in Teddy Bridgewater to be his backup/insurance policy. They also drafted Kansas State QB Skylar Thompson in the 7th round of the draft. Thompson was a QB we got our first look at while watching the East-West Shrine Game. He was a player both of us thought flashed a nice skillset, but needed some time to develop. With Tua and Bridgewater ahead of him, it will allow Thompson to take the time he needs to develop his skill set. The running back room will look much different. This team lost Duke Johnson, Phillip Lindsay, and Malcolm Brown, but brought in Raheem Mostert, Chase Edmonds, Sony Michel, and Alec Ingold. This is all while still having Gaskin and Ahmed. The Dolphins now have a 6 headed running back room which is similar to what the 49ers had under McDaniel. Mostert, Edmonds, and Michel have all dealt with injury issues throughout their career, but with a committee that limits all their reps, you hope they will be able to stay healthy. If not, you still have guys like Gaskin and Ahmed who led the backfield last year. The receiver room lost Fuller, Hurns, Wilson, and Hollins, but brought in Wilson, Sherfield, and Hill. Hill and Waddle will now create one of the fastest and most explosive WR duos in the league. Although Hill is the league shaking move everyone knows about, we loved the Cedrick Wilson signing. We think that Wilson is one of the most underrated receivers in the league and will sneakily be a super important piece in this new offense. Sherfield is a nice depth piece who usually flashes in the preseason and has familiarity with McDaniel’s system. The tight end room is going to stay the same as they franchise tagged Mike Gesecki and re-signed Durham Smythe. The offensive line will see some of the same players as last year starting, but made some big moves in free agency as they signed both Terron Armstead and Connor Williams. Williams was one of the most penalized offensive lineman last year if we remember correctly, so it is definitely going to be something to keep an eye on, but it is still an upgrade on what they had last year. Armstead is one of the league’s best tackles and should be a huge upgrade for Tua on the line. 

Defensively, this unit is staying intact with some new additions. Their only losses were depth pieces particularly in the secondary. On the defensive line they bring back Emmanuel Ogbah who seems to have found success in Miami. At OLB, they signed Melvin Ingram, who should bring the juice on 3rd downs and passing situations as a sub-package rusher at this point in his career. At ILB, they drafted Channing Tindall from Georgia in the 3rd round of the draft. This was their biggest addition defensively, and one of Jack’s favorite additions to this team. Tindall has some developing to do, but he is a solid overall LB with inside, outside versatility. He comes from a Georgia program that develops leaders and values high character players. Tindall will step in as a day one starter next to Jerome Baker and could even take over a leadership role early in his career. Tindall should have a day one impact as a starting linebacker and maybe even special teams player. After watching all three Georgia backers, Jack believes that a fully developed Tindall could end up being the best of the group. The secondary will be the same as last year with the loss of a couple depth pieces. Although ESPN has Eric Rowe slotted in as a starter right now, a name to keep an eye on is UDFA Verone McKinnley from Oregon. McKinnley played with Holland at Oregon and we believe he is a candidate to not only make the roster, but steal the starting job from Rowe, who somehow found a way to hold a starting job this long.

Overall, we have the Dolphins going 10-7 and being a fringe playoff team in a wild AFC. Trying to claim one of the three wild card spots is not going to be easy in this conference but we think Miami has a chance under new HC McDaniel. We think barring injury this could be one of the best defenses in football. Their starters are great with not so great depth. Offensively, we think Tua needs to take the next step. It seemed like the firing of Flores had to do with the debate over Tua. This offense was built up this offseason to help Tua and make him work. It’s why we think Flores was fired for McDaniel, and why McDaniel brought in so many weapons. We expect McDaniel to run a 49er-esq system that is run heavy and installs a heavy RPO scheme. If they can stay on script, we think Tua will thrive in a run and RPO heavy offense, but how will he look if they have to go off-script? Will he make the necessary jump with all the new weapons? We will see. Right now it’s 10-7, but we think there is room for a better record, but on the flip side it could also be a worse record barring injury or an unimproved Tua.