The 2015 NFL season hasn't even started so you probably think we're a little crazy for already putting out a mock draft for 2016. Even more crazy is that this mock draft is five rounds deep! The thoughts are warranted but that's still not going to stop us from doing it! The draft is order is based on predictions for the 2015 season and of course, projected needs for the 2016 season. 

First Round

1. Tennessee Titans: Joey Bosa-DL-Ohio State
Bosa is the best player in the 2016 NFL draft. He is relentless and effective. Bosa is the type of player you build a defense around, which is something Tennessee currently lacks.

2. Cleveland Browns: Christian Hackenberg-QB-Penn State
Josh McCown is a short term solution and I have zero faith in the development of Johnny Manziel. Hackenberg, who possesses a combination of prototypical NFL size and arm strength, will give the Browns’ faithful a quarterback worth cheering for.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Robert Nkemdiche-DL-Mississippi
Nkemdiche is a disruptive force that could take the Jacksonville defense to the next level. A defensive line consisting of Nkemdicke, Sen’Derrick Marks, Jared Odrick, and Dante Fowler has a chance to be special.

4. Washington Redskins: Vernon Hargreaves III-CB-Florida
DeAngelo Hall is not getting any younger and is a shell of the shutdown cornerback he used to be. Hargreaves III is special and has ability to be a very good if not great cornerback at the next level.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Shawn Oakman-DE-Baylor
Oakman certainly passes the eyeball test and if his production starts to match his looks, then you have an absolute stud.

6. Chicago Bears: Connor Cook-QB-Michigan State
The Bears have to get rid of Jay Cutler and that awful contract. Cook is pro-ready and would prosper having the combination of Alshon Jeffery and Kevin White at his disposal.

7. Oakland Raiders: Ronnie Staley-OT-Notre Dame
The Raiders have invested a lot into their offensive line but they are pretty weak at the offensive tackle position. Staley is NFL ready and would instantly man the left tackle position and protect the blindside of Derek Carr.

8. New Orleans Saints: Laquon Treadwell-WR-Mississippi
Marques Colston has really slowed down and the Saints also lost their most dynamic receiver when they sent Jimmy Graham to Seattle. Treadwell has alpha-receiver potential and could help revitalize the career of Drew Brees.

9. New York Jets: Cardale Jones-QB-Ohio State
The Jets are a franchise quarterback away from being a serious contender in the AFC. Jones has NFL size and has proved that he will show up in the big game.

10. San Francisco 49ers: Tyler Boyd-WR-Pittsburgh
The 49ers have a strong combination of Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin, which the Baltimore Ravens rode to a Super Bowl in 2012. Boldin is soon to be facing father time, which will put the 49ers in the market for a big target.

11. Philadelphia Eagles: Su’a Cravens-SAF-USC
Cravens is a missile like former fellow USC Trojan Troy Polamalu. Cravens has a nose for the football and can light you up.
 
12. Houston Texans: Jalen Ramsey-SAF-Florida State
Ramsey has special coverage ability is a future All-Pro free safety.

13. Detroit Lions: Laremy Tunsil-OT-Mississippi
Drafting Tunsil would allow Detroit to move Riley Reiff to his more natural position at right tackle. Tunsil is a top five talent that falls into the Lions’ laps.

14. Minnesota Vikings: DeForest Buckner-DE-Oregon
The Vikings haven’t been able to replace Jared Allen since he left for Chicago. They need to put more pressure on Aaron Rodgers if they want to compete in the NFC North.

15. San Diego Chargers: Da’haquille “Duke” Williams-WR-Auburn
It’s time for the Chargers to get Phillip Rivers a brand new car instead of taking him to the used car dealership. “Duke” Williams is an ideal fit for the San Diego passing attack.

16. St. Louis Rams: Kendall Fuller-CB-Virginia Tech
The Rams have a solid pair of cornerbacks in EJ Gaines and Janoris Jenkins but Fuller has potential to be better than both of them. In fact, Fuller is the best player on the board at this point of the draft.

17. New York Giants: A’Shawn Robinson-DT-Alabama
If Robinson has a strong 2015 campaign at Alabama, he will be a top ten pick. Robinson will add some beef to the Giants defensive line playing next to Jon Hankins.

18. Kansas City Chiefs: Spencer Drango-OL-Baylor
Drango is a versatile player than can play four positions along the offensive line at a high level. Drango would start his career at right tackle in Kansas City and solidify the Chiefs’ offensive line.

19. Cincinnati Bengals: Jaylon Smith-LB-Notre Dame
The Bengals keep paying Rey Maualuga but it is clear they need to upgrade here. Smith is a far superior player that plays like his hair is on fire.

20. Buffalo Bills: Jared Goff-QB-California
Like their division rival, the Jets, the Bills are a quarterback away from being a contender in the AFC.

21. Atlanta Falcons: Taylor Decker-OT-Ohio State
Jake Matthews struggled during his rookie season and while it is way too early to give up on the high hopes for Matthews, the Falcons still need kelp all over their offensive line.

22. Pittsburgh Steelers: Cameron Sutton-CB-Tennessee
Ike Taylor retired and the Steelers drafted a couple cornerbacks to replace him but neither are NFL starting material - at least right away. On the other hand, Cameron Sutton is;

23. Arizona Cardinals: Ezekial Elliot-RB-Ohio State
Elliot is a brilliant runner with a tremendous balance of power and vision that is NFL-ready to be a bell-cow running-back.

24. Miami Dolphins: Myles Jack-LB-UCLA
Linebacker is one of Miami’s biggest needs and Jack is a plug and play player that completes their linebacker core. Jack has tremendous speed and coverage ability and is sure fire tackler.

25. Carolina Panthers: Jack Conklin-OT-Michigan State
Michael Oher and Jonathan Martin are the starting offensive tackles for the Carolina Panthers. Enough said.

26. Baltimore Ravens: Leonard Floyd-OLB-Georgia
Ravens have far bigger needs but they stick to Ozzie Newsome’s best player available philosophy and draft a dominant edge rusher to eventually replace Terrell Suggs.

27. Dallas Cowboys: Derrick Henry-RB-Alabama
The Cowboys are playing a dangerous game banking on the injury prone Darren McFadden. They will learn that despite having the best offensive line in the league, they still need a guy to hit the holes.

28. Denver Broncos: Scooby Wright-LB-Arizona
Wright will instantly become a fan favorite and the starting middle linebacker in Denver. 

29. Green Bay Packers: Reggie Ragland-LB-Alabama
You can pencil Ragland next to Clay Matthews Jr. in the middle of the Green Bay defense. Ragland finds the ball and can deliver a blow.

30. Indianapolis Colts: Tony Conner-SAF-Mississippi
Safety is the Colts’ biggest need and Conner is a steal at this point. 

31. Seattle Seahawks: Maliek Collins-DT-Nebraska
The Seahawks love to invest picks in their defense and especially their defensive line. Collins can be an immediate contributor on that amazing Seattle defensive line.

Second Round

32-Tennessee Titans: Carl Lawson-OLB-Auburn
33-Cleveland Browns: Corey Robinson-WR-Notre Dame
34-Jacksonville Jaguars: Jerald Hawkins-OT-LSU
35-Washington Redskins: Eddie Vanderdoes-DL-UCLA
36-Tampa Bay Buccaneers: James Conner-RB-Pittsburgh
37-Chicago Bears: Eddie Jackson-CB-Alabama
38-Oakland Raiders: Shilique Calhoun-DE-Michigan State
39-New Orleans Saints: Adolphus Washington-DL-Ohio State
40-New York Jets: Le’Raven Clark-OL-Texas Tech
41-San Francisco 49ers: OJ Howard-TE-Alabama
42-Philadelphia Eagles: Cody Kessler-QB-USC
43-Houston Texans: Pharoh Cooper-WR-South Carolina
44-Detroit Lions: Sheldon Day-DT-Notre Dame
45-Minnesota Vikings: Tyler Johnstone-OT-Oregon
46-San Diego Chargers: Kenny Clark-DL-UCLA
47-St. Louis Rams: Dak Prescott-QB-Mississippi State
48-New York Giants: Darron Lee-LB-Ohio State
49-Kansas City Chiefs: Trevone Boykin-QB/WR/ATH-TCU
50-Cincinnati Bengals: Chris Jones-DT-Mississippi State
51-Buffalo Bills: Germain Ifedi-OT-TAMU
52-Atlanta Falcons: Nate Andrews-SAF-Florida State
53-Pittsburgh Steelers: Emmanuel Ogbah-OLB-Oklahoma State
54-Arizona Cardinals: Gunner Kiehl-QB-Cincinnati
55-New England Patriots: KeiVarae Russell-CB-Notre Dame
56-Miami Dolphins: Vadal Alexander-OG-LSU
57-Carolina Panthers: DeVontae Booker-RB-Utah
58-Baltimore Ravens: Travin Dural-WR-LSU
59-Dallas Cowboys: Jordan Jenkins-LB-Georgia
60-Denver Broncos: Jalen Mills-SAF-LSU
61-Green Bay Packers: Andrew Billings-DL-Baylor
62-Indianapolis Colts: Tre’Davious White-CB-LSU
63-Seattle Seahawks: Marquez North-WR-Tennessee

Third Round

64-Tennessee Titans: Zack Sanchez-CB-Oklahoma
65-Cleveland Browns: Reggie Carter-LB-Georgia
66-Jacksonville Jaguars: Will Redmond-CB-Mississippi State
67-Washington Redskins: Rashard Higgins-WR-Colorado State
68-Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Karl Joseph-SAF-West Virginia
69-Chicago Bears: Terrance Smith-OLB-Florida State
70-Oakland Raiders: Jonathan Williams-RB-Arkansas
71-New Orleans Saints: Devonte Fields-OLB-Louisville
72-New York Jets: Noah Spence-OLB-Eastern Kentucky
73-San Francisco 49ers: Reggie Northrup-LB-Florida State
74-Philadelphia Eagles: Byron Maxwell-RB-Oregon
75-Houston Texans: Josh Augusta-DL-Missouri
76-Detroit Lions: Wayne Lyons-CB-Stanford
77-Minnesota Vikings: Mike Williams-WR-Clemson
78-San Diego Chargers: JT Barrett-QB-Ohio State
79-St. Louis Rams: Max Tuerk-OL-USC
80-New York Giants: Nick Martin-OG-Notre Dame
81-Kansas City Chiefs: De’Runnya Wilson-WR-Mississippi State
82-Cincinnati Bengals: Michael Thomas-WR-Ohio State
83-Buffalo Bills: Montravious Adams-DT-Auburn
84-Atlanta Falcons: Kyle Carter-TE-Penn State
85-Pittsburgh Steelers: Josh Doctson-WR-TCU
86-Arizona Cardinals: Charles Tapper-DL-Oklahoma
87-New England Patriots: Ricky Seals-Jones-WR-TAMU
88-Miami Dolphins: Jeremy Cash-SAF-Duke
89-Carolina Panthers: Fabian Moreau-CB-UCLA
90-Baltimore Ravens: Isaac Seumalo-OL-Oregon State
91-Dallas Cowboys: Anthony Zettel-DL-Penn State
92-Denver Broncos: Jack Allen-OC-Michigan State
93-Green Bay Packers: Tyler Marz-OT-Wisconsin
94-Indianapolis Colts: DJ Foster-RB-Arizona State
95-Seattle Seahawks: Landon Turner-OG-North Carolina

Fourth Round

96-Tennessee Titans: Cyrus Jones-CB-Alabama
97-Cleveland Browns: Pharoah Brown-TE-Oregon
98-Jacksonville Jaguars: Kris Frost-LB-Auburn
99-Washington Redskins: Rodney Hardrick-LB-Oregon
100-Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Matthews-OC-TAMU
101-Chicago Bears: Alex Collins-RB-Arkansas
102-Oakland Raiders: Antwaun Woods-DT-USC
103-New Orleans Saints: Jordan Simmons-OG-USC
104-New York Jets: Tra Carson-RB-TAMU
105-San Francisco 49ers: Pat Elflien-OG-Ohio State
106-Philadelphia Eagles: Eric Striker-OLB-Oklahoma
107-Houston Texans: Jarron Reed-DL-Alabama
108-Detroit Lions: Casanova McKinzey-LB-Auburn
109-Minnesota Vikings: Khodi Whitfield-SAF-Stanford
110-San Diego Chargers: Hunter Henry-TE-Arkansas
111-St. Louis Rams: Sterling Shepard-WR-Oklahoma
112-New York Giants: Dillon Gordon-TE-LSU
113-Kansas City Chiefs: Chris Brown-WR-Notre Dame
114-Cincinnati Bengals: Jeremy Johnson-QB-Auburn
115-Buffalo Bills: Dadi Nicholas-OLB-Virginia Tech
116-Atlanta Falcons: Kendall Beckwith-LB-LSU
117-Pittsburgh Steelers: Luther Maddy-DL-Virginia Tech
118-Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Fackrell-OLB-Utah State
119-New England Patriots: Bronson Kaufusi-DE-BYU
120-Miami Dolphins: Jonathan Bullard-DL-Florida
121-Carolina Panthers: Austin Beck-OT-Arkansas
122-Baltimore Ravens: Deon Bush-SAF-Miami
123-Dallas Cowboys: Taveze Calhoun-CB-Mississippi State
124-Denver Broncos: Brandon Shell-OT-South Carolina
125-Green Bay Packers: Austin Hooper-TE-Stanford
126-Indianapolis Colts: John Theus-OT-Georgia
127-Seattle Seahawks: Malcolm Mitchell-WR-Georgia

Fifth Round

128-Tennessee Titans: Jake O’Donnell-TE-Miami
129-Cleveland Browns: Michael Caputo-SAF-Wisconsin
130-Jacksonville Jaguars: Nelson Spruce-WR-Colorado
131-Washington Redskins: Kevin Hogan-QB-Stanford
132-Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Kentrell Brothers-LB-Missouri
133-Chicago Bears: Jake Brendel-C-UCLA
134-Oakland Raiders: Quinshad Davis-WR-North Carolina
135-New Orleans Saints: Kenneth Dixon-RB-Louisiana Tech
136-New York Jets: Eric Murray-CB-Minnesota
137-San Francisco 49ers: Jacoby Brissett-QB-NC State
138-Phildelphia Eagles: Josh Tupou-DT-Colorado
139-Houston Texans: Jason Spriggs-OL-Indiana
140-Detroit Lions: Delvon Simmons-DE-USC
141-Minnesota Vikings: Corey Clement-RB-Wisconsin
142-San Diego Chargers: Jordan Lucas-CB-Penn State
143-St. Louis Rams: Adam Gotsis-DT-Georgia Tech
144-New York Giants: Antonio Morrison-LB-Florida
145-Kansas City Chiefs: Tracy Howard-CB-Miami
146-Cincinnati Bengals: Darion Griswold-Tight End-Arkansas State
147-Buffalo Bills: Kyle Murphy-OT-Stanford
148-Atlanta Falcons: Josh Perry-Linebacker-Ohio State
149-Pittsburgh Steelers: Everett Golson-QB-Florida State
150-Arizona Cardinals: Devon Cajuste-WR-Stanford
151-New England Patriots: Lloyd Carrington-CB-Arizona State
152-Miami Dolphins: Nick Vannett-TE-Ohio State
153-Carolina Panthers: Dexter Charles-OL-Washington
154-Baltimore Ravens: Isaiah Johnson-SAF-Kansas
155-Dallas Cowboys: Braxton Miller-ATH-Ohio State
156-Denver Broncos: Braxton Deaver-TE-Duke
157-Green Bay Packers: Paxton Lynch-QB-Memphis
158-Indianapolis Colts: Francis Kallon-DL-Georgia Tech
159-Seattle Seahawks: Storm Woods-RB-Oregon State

This mock draft was completed by Neal Driscoll. Follow him on Twitter: @NealDriscoll

With the departure of many veteran players this past offseason (for better or worse), the younger members of the Miami Dolphins squad are going to be expected to step up and make an impact right from the start.

Players like cornerback Jamar Taylor and linebacker Chris McCain are two players that the organization is counting on to step up now that Cortland Finnegan and Philip Wheeler have departed, just as right tackle Ja'Wuan James was needed to immediately step in and hold down the right side of the offensive line last season.

The 2015 draft class for the Dolphins will have to make that same jump for the Dolphins to succeed, particularly players like wide receiver DeVante Parker and guard Jamil Douglas. But when forcing rookies to contribute in a big way immediately, there's always the question regarding how well they'll do, and head coach Joe Philbin recently addressed that.

“I think everybody is different." Philbin said. "You have to do it on a case by case basis, but certainly Ja’Wuan was a guy that when we studied and analyzed him, he’s a good athlete, smart, played a lot of football in a very demanding conference. It’s hard to make a blanket statement, but certainly the guys are getting very well coached in college.”

Using James as an example is quite fitting, as the offensive line is still in flux with the unknowns of players like Billy Turner who was drafted last season in the third-round, and Jamil Douglas, who was drafted in the fourth-round of this past draft.

Douglas in particular has many people wondering how well he'll adjust, as the alternative at present is either current starter Dallas Thomas, who has failed quite definitively each time he has been given the starting job, or average-at-best veteran players like Jeff Linkenbach or Jacques McClendon. When asked about Douglas's potential, Philbin praised the young lineman, but also gave reason to be cautious when making evaluations at this point in time.

“I feel very good about Jamil. The thing about these camps, it’s not a contact camp so it’s a little bit, I’ve been around them enough to understand. There are certain things you can evaluate in offensive linemen in OTA’s and certain things that you’re going to have to wait until training camp." Philbin said. "But from what I saw, first impressions of Jamil have been excellent and sometimes you can ask the veteran linemen, maybe not specifically, but you can watch their reaction and a coach taught me a long time ago, players know players."

If Douglas can indeed step in and make an impact right away and wrest the starting job away from Dallas Thomas, the Dolphins have hope that the offensive line will at long last be enough to keep quarterback Ryan Tannehill upright and allow him to continue his development. 

"You watch some of the veteran guys and how they see them and how they treat them and what they expect of them gives me a lot of hope that things are going to be good for Jamil."

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @FLSportDebater

Cameron Wake's journey began with the New York Giants, where he was then cut and eventually spent a stint in the CFL. It was then that he signed his deal with the Miami Dolphins, and the rest is history. Unfortunately, Wake's impressive NFL career has had just about everything a player could hope for except for one very special thing. A trip to the postseason.

Wake has been a star pass-rusher for years, and now playing next to the best defensive tackle in football in Ndamukong Suh, his numbers are expected to jump back up to elite status as offensive lines will be forced to double-team Suh and let Wake pass-rush with a one-on-one matchup. With all the changes the team has made this year, Wake is hoping that this year is the year the Dolphins finally get over the hump.

“My fingers are crossed,” Wake said on Tuesday, "It's the new year and it feels really good, obviously."

The addition of Suh is a big part of the Dolphins' optimism this upcoming season, his impact on the defense has been stated time and time again. His talent on the Lions defensive line made an otherwise average secondary and linebacker core one of the top defenses in the league with help from DT Nick Fairley and DE Ezekiel Ansah.

Now he'll be joining with Wake and DT Earl Mitchell on an overall more talented defense that features young up-and-coming linebacker Jelani Jenkins, Pro Bowl cornerback Brent Grimes, and safeties Reshad Jones and Louis Delmas, the latter of whom was his teammate in Detroit.

The last time the Miami Dolphins made the playoffs was in 2008, the year they won the AFC East under then head coach Tony Sparano and their newly acquired quarterback Chad Pennington. That was also the year the New England Patriots lost QB Tom Brady to a season-ending knee injury. Wake came along one year later, and the Dolphins haven't made the playoffs since. But now with quarterback Ryan Tannehill entering his fourth year and steadily improving, and the additions made to the defense, Wake is hopeful that he'll finally make his first playoffs in his whole career.

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @FLSportDebater

With the Dolphins interior offensive line still in flux and incumbent starting left guard Dallas Thomas already making another poor showing in OTAs, rumors have been swirling for months now regarding the possibility of the Dolphins somehow acquiring Philadelphia Eagles guard Evan Mathis.

Mathis, a 33-year old offensive lineman who is on the outs in Philadelphia, has been rumored to the Dolphins ever since the offseason began and it was revealed that the Eagles were shopping the veteran guard. The talks came to a head when it was reported that the Dolphins were closing in on a trade with the Eagles that many speculated might send either Mathis or cornerback Brandon Boykin to Miami, but ultimately, those talks either fell apart, or were exposed as nothing more than a smokescreen.

Mathis has been rated as the top overall guard by Pro Football Focus for the past several years, and the Eagles run a zone-blocking scheme just like the Dolphins do, which would make Mathis a seamless fit on an offensive line that has been struggling to keep quarterback Ryan Tannehill on his feet ever since his rookie season.

If the Dolphins were to acquire Mathis via trade, they would likely be on the hook for his $6,500,000 cap hit this season, and that money is a big reason the Eagles are looking to move the aging veteran. Unfortunately, it seems that the Dolphins pulling the trigger on a trade is unlikely based on comments recently made by Mathis's agent Drew Rosenhaus.

“I’ve been given permission by the Eagles to shop Evans,” Drew Rosenhaus said on the Joe Rose Show. “We thought we had a trade with another team leading up to the Draft. It was not the Dolphins. It kind of fell through based on what the team did in the draft but right now it doesn’t appear the Dolphins are a strong possibility. We’ve never really gotten close on a trade with the Dolphins.”

Could Rosenhaus merely be creating further smokescreens? There's always that possibility. It's been reported that Mathis' name was brought up in trade talks that probably would have sent Dolphins defensive end Dion Jordan to the Eagles to reunite with his college coach from Oregon, Chip Kelly. Kelly's actions have indicated he isn't hiding the fact he enjoys having his former Oregon Ducks on his current Philadelphia Eagles squad, and Jordan would have added to that collection. That is, if he hadn't gotten suspended.

While any impending trades are unlikely, there's still the possibility that the Eagles may just outright cut the 11-year veteran and pocket the $4,500,000 the team would save by cutting him. That number jumps to $5,500,000 if he's cut after June 1st. Obviously, if Mathis is cut, the Dolphins should look into signing him to a more team friendly deal, but they will be competing with other teams in need of a top guard for a couple of years.

There's very little doubt that acquiring Mathis would fix the offensive line for the short term, and that unit is one of the few true concerns the team has at this point in time. Right now, Dallas Thomas is the starter, and that should be enough to make the whole fanbase break out in a cold sweat.

Mathis is currently holding out of the Eagles OTAs, and Chip Kelly hasn't been shy about cutting people he feels aren't going along with his vision. If Mathis is cut, then the Dolphins should put on a full-court press to make sure the veteran guard dresses in aqua and orange in 2015, and finally solidifies an offensive line that has been desperate for good interior play for years.

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @FLSportDebater

On Thursday,I started a week long project where I’ll be taking a look at which positional battles pique my interest in this upcoming season of Miami Dolphins football. Week One of OTA’s are winding down, and after scoping out the interior offensive line, I wanted to look at what I think is the second most important position that needs to be filled.

The battle to earn the starting cornerback spot opposite of Brent Grimes is wide open. The Dolphins have rounded up a ton of young talent to try and replace the hole left by the departure of last year’s starter, Cortland Finnegan. Finnegan was cut back in March, and then decided to retire. The competition will be fierce for the starting job, so let’s first take a look at the new blood coming to the team.

Tony Lippett and Bobby McCain are both rookies picked by the Dolphins in the 5th round. Miami’s current regime is notorious for being reluctant to give starting snaps to rookies. But with the gaping need of replacing not only a starting cornerback, but also needing to fill in the nickel spot (due to the departure of Jimmy Wilson), the Dolphins may very well be in position to start their young guys. Lippett played both corner and wide receiver for Michigan State. His biggest strengths are his size and ball catching ability. The Dolphins plan to use him (as of now) only as a cornerback, and he will need the entirety of camp to polish his technique. He’s very raw at corner and will need to learn all the minute details that his new position entails.

Bobby McCain is the more polished of the two. He can play both zone and man coverage well, and he will probably have a smoother transition to the pro level. The knock on him is size - he has a small frame and not much weight to put behind it. He will more than likely compete for the nickel position.

The Dolphins also went out and hired some mercenary guns to help on their plight, Brice McCain and Zack Bowman. McCain is viewed purely as a nickel corner due to his size. He had a decent season last year with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but this came after a horrid showing in 2013. Pro Football Focus graded McCain as the worst corner of 110 qualifiers that year. 

Bowman is a seven year veteran, and is expected to compete for the starting cornerback spot opposite Grimes. He also has the most experience outside of Grimes. With the past history of injuries the Dolphins have had at the cornerback position, I believe Bowman may prove to be an invaluable cog to what should be a dominant defensive group.

Sammy Seamster was with the Dolphins in 2014, but if you don't know who he is, no one would blame you. He saw close to no action last year, and is mostly seen as a project: good size/ speed, but bad ball skills and tackling form, and he needs work in almost all the needed skillsets outside of natural ability.

The most intriguing of the cornerback group? That would be Jamar Taylor and Will Davis. After the Dolphins spent high draft picks on the pair in 2013, there has been one injury after another for the still-young duo. Taylor is penciled in as the starter right now, but you better believe there will be a ton of competition going on in the coming weeks for that open starting cornerback role.

This story was written by Pablo Gomez. Follow him on Twitter @PabloGRadio.

The first week of OTA’s are winding down and I wanted to take a look at the position battles that we should be keeping a close eye on. There has been much turnover in the recent months with the Miami Dolphins, many staples of past years are simply not here anymore. With veteran starters like Brian Hartline, Charles Clay, and Jared Odrick leaving, there is plenty of room for the young guys to make some noise this season. 

I'll be highlighting various positions over the next week or so and we can begin with the offensive line with a special focus on the interior of the line at both guard positions. 

Now, I certainly think that the offensive line battles are the most important.  But unfortunately with Branden Albert still rehabbing from tearing up his ACL and MCL week 10 vs the Detroit Lions, we simply cannot put too much emphasis on the way the line play is this early into camp. The regular season offensive line roster in Week One is going to be vastly different from day 1 of OTA’s roster. With that being said, we can get a good gauge from what the Dolphins’ young guards can bring to the table by watching them in camp.

Dallas Thomas is set to start at left guard. Many long-time Dolphins fans cringe at hearing those very words being uttered and with good reason. Thomas gave up seven sacks on only 333 snaps while manning the tackle position for the Dolphins. But there is a world of difference between the guard and tackle spots. Just lining up three feet further out brings a whole slew of different gap assignments, level of competition (tackles usually face the defenses best/ biggest pass rusher) and overall sense of responsibility. The Miami Dolphins were ranked dead last in offensive line play by Pro Football Focus. Injuries to Albert and Ja’wuan James certainly weighed heavily on those results. But this is football, and the mantra of “Next Man Up” is something these teams take to heart, “no excuses.”

Many feel Billy Turner will make a jump this year. He is still very raw at pass protection but he is a wrecking ball run blocking and is set to flourish in offensive coordinator Bill Lazor’s zone blocking system. Turner was sidelined early on during the preseason with a turf toe and many believe his injury concerns are his biggest obstacle from being a consistent contributor to the team. Right now, Turner is penciled in to be the right guard and barring an injury or a collapse during the exhibition games I fully expect him to be the starter in Week One.

The wildcard in the bunch is Jamil Douglas. The former Arizona State standout played his entire college career in a zone blocking scheme (ZBS.) This will make the jump to the pros much easier as he will be comfortable with the responsibilities the left guard position entails. As of now, the Dolphins are spelling (rotating between plays) Douglas and Thomas in the first team offense. 

Miami has in the past been viewed as reluctant to play rookies or first year players. But Douglas benefits greatly from being in a ZBS during his college stint and also from the blatant lack of experience from the other two guards (Turner and Thomas). I fully expect Douglas to push Thomas for that left guard spot and we should be able to tell who the best man is a couple of games into the preseason.

This story was written by Pablo Gomez. Follow him on Twitter: @PabloGradio

Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Bill Lazor has been a great addition to the coaching staff and in 2014, he helped the offensive players make great strides. One player who made a huge stride was quarterback Ryan Tannehill, and now in 2015, Lazor is hoping for even more improvement not only from him, but from everyone else as well.

“I think everything should be better. Everything should be clearer. I’m very happy with how his offseason went and the time that we got to spend with him. Ryan’s an extremely hard worker. He’s a very intelligent guy and he wants to do it right. I don’t know that you could script a better formula for a guy to be successful, and that’s how he’s approached it and I’m really proud of how far he’s gone in the offseason, and I think we were all waiting for this time of year now where you get to have a defense out there to throw against and really try to put yourself to the test, and that’s what he’s doing.”

One big reason for the expected improvement for Tannehill is because the Dolphins went out and got new receivers who are better suited for his strengths and the offensive system. Lazor talked about the new players and his expectations for them on a daily basis.

“Well let’s face it, when you hit ‘em, then people aren’t going to ask about it. I think the key thing is we walk in the room every single day together, not only committed to being the best that you can possibly be as a person, but also with the understanding (that) we’re all going to do it together, and no one’s going to be right all the time, and no one’s going to be the one that’s wrong all the time. We’ve got to figure it out together. As coaches, I mean that’s the attitude we want every player to walk in and have. Let’s face it, this time of year without pads on, a lot of it is about the passing game. That’s just the reality of the rules, so we’ve got to make the most of that. As coaches I’ve got to help provide structure and guidance with that, but I want them to work with us. Let’s face it, a guy like Greg Jennings walks in the room, who has had a ton of experience and a ton of success, I want his input. I want him to feel like he’s a part of it. Because I think as they help them discover with you how things work, then they’ll take ownership of it, and they’ll be even more excited to make sure it does work.”

Following the 2014 season, Lazor and his offensive staff looked at every area and noted their strengths and weaknesses. They then put a plan in place to improve on their weaknesses and make their strengths even stronger this coming season.

“It sounds like a cop-out to say everything but, we tried as coaches to look at every area. We haven’t presented every single thing to the players, but I think in this setting, in OTAs certainly the way the rules are, you can get a lot more done in the passing game than in the run game. We’ll install our whole run game, but you can’t drive block anybody. There are going to be certain times when it’s not quite real football yet, same thing in pass protection. I think the emphasis in OTAs typically tends to be on the passing game a little bit more. I expect our pass protection to improve. It’s not just the blocking. Certainly you don’t have pads on to hit, but from the quarterback handling it to the receivers helping with their hots and sights and backs picking things up, I expect that to take a jump forward. I think the most publicized thing about the Dolphins would be throwing the ball down the field and some days we’re going to and some days we’re going to try to move it throwing it short and running it, that works to.”

While it’s still very early in the process of preparing for the upcoming season, Lazor has noticed just how much energy and enthusiasm his players have thus far.

“I’m excited about the guys that are here. I was excited about the acquiring of every single one of them that is here. They walk in the building every day with enthusiasm, they walk on the field with energy. They did it when it was on air and they did it today. I’m absolutely certain we’ll be better tomorrow, and that’s all I can ask of them.”

This story was written by Matthew Cannata. Follow him on Twitter: @PhinManiacs

During the 2014 season, the Miami Dolphins wide receiver unit clearly wasn’t cohesive nor did it work well within the offense. Following the season, the front office moved swiftly, releasing Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson while trading  away Mike Wallace. They then traded for Kenny Stills, signed Greg Jennings, and drafted DeVante Parker in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. The only holdovers from 2014? Jarvis Landry, Rishard Matthews, and Matt Hazel.

Now, with a revamped group that better fits the offensive philosophy, things are looking up for the wide receiver unit, and head coach Joe Philbin didn’t hold back when talking about how excited he was while also seemingly taking shots at receivers he had in 2014.

“We’ve got some new guys, so we’re getting them adjusted as quickly as we possibly can. They don’t necessarily have preconceived notions of, I’m a this, or I’m a that. What we’re really doing is, installing concepts offensively as we are on defense and special teams and we want to expose guys to different things. That’s one of the major focuses that we have. We talked about, we met at length as an offensive staff last week, and we talked and said okay, these guys, let’s get some of these guys some reps at this position and not get locked in, so if one injury occurs we’re all not of the sudden reinventing the wheel so to speak.”

One big addition is Jennings, and while he may not necessarily produce a ton off the field, there has been a lot of chatter of what he can bring to the young receivers both on and off the field.

“He catches the ball, I know this sounds elementary, but he catches the ball with his hands very well, I think he does that well,” said Philbin. “He’s a good route runner, crisp. He knows how to come in and out of his breaks well. I think he’s been a quarterback-friendly type of receiver throughout the course of his career. I think the quarterbacks have faith, and I think it’s going to take us time here as we get rolling, but he’s a guy that ends up doing the right things versus different coverages, a play gets extended, he has that good instinct and savvy.”

Bill Lazor, offensive coordinator, also had great things to say about Jennings but also noted that everyone, including the young guys, will have input in the meeting rooms, and they will all feed off each other to be the best they can possibly be.

“We’ve done it different places with all different kinds of guys and I guess as a coach, the approach I take is, okay, here is day one, here is what we’ve got, and it’s my job to make it work. I think the quarterback looks at it that same way. I don’t think of it in a comparison way. The way I think of it is, what I’ve asked them to do, Greg Jennings can attest to this, Kenny Stills can attest to this as they joined us and I had the chance to sit down and talk to them, I said look, what I need you to do is every day walk in the building with the assumption that I’m going to do everything I can to be the best I can be and understand we all have to do it together. It’s really not that complicated. There are a lot of schemes and things that are complicated at times, but as far as the attitude when you walk in the building, I’m trying to get them all to be that way, that’s how I try to live my life. Hopefully they can feel that from me. So you stand up there and ask their opinions. When a guy like Greg Jennings walks into the room, I’ll expect that he’ll have some opinion, I’ll expect that he’ll be able to draw from his experience facing cover three corners, press corners, big corners, combo teams. That’s part of the deal in this league. That’s why you enjoy coaching adults, guys who are experienced.”

At the end of the day, the receivers the Dolphins have now are better on paper than the ones in 2014. We’ll see if it can translate to the field when the games begin but all indications are is that there will be no problem making that happen.

This story was written by Matthew Cannata. Follow him on Twitter: @PhinManiacs

The Miami Dolphins opened their first OTA session on Tuesday and leading up to that, there was a lot of talk about whether or not Ndamukong Suh would show up. This is because for the first two phases of voluntary workouts, Suh was not with the team, with the exception of the very first day. With that in mind, this wasn't something that wasn't expected as Suh never trained with his teammates while in Detroit. Instead, he preferred to work out on his own with his own personal trainer. So when Suh showed up and was ready to go for on field workouts, head coach Joe Philbin wasn't complaining.

“Again, everything is voluntary as we all know. We’ve told the team what we believe in in terms of the significance of the offseason program. Just happy that everybody was here today.  I thought the energy was good. I thought he looked good. His quickness looked good. He seems to be in pretty good shape. He seems to be catching on to the scheme and the defense well.”

Philbin noted that with Suh being there, it sent a message to the entire team that the on field workouts are an important part of the offseason. After all, he's the team's highest paid player and the highest paid defensive player in the entire NFL. If he's there, everyone else should be too.

“Being part of the team is important, contributing is important, being out here for practice is important. The big thing that we’ve talked to the team about since April 20th, the things that we’re doing today are going to make a difference in September, October, December, January, February. Even though the season seems a long way off, September 13th, there are still a few more months before we get there. Everything we do is important.”

While all that talk is great, the only thing that really matter is the production on the field. On the first day, Suh spent a lot of time in the offensive backfield and Philbin was happy with the effort and results.

“He looked good, he looked like he got off the ball a couple of times, extremely well, which we all know, we’ve watched the tape of him, we’ve competed against him. It’s good for our offensive line to go against that on a daily basis. That’s the number one thing that obviously jumped out today.”

When Philbin was asked if Suh would continue to show up, he didn't give a clear answer, saying it was voluntary and that he would love to have everyone there. In the same breath, he admitted that things happen and they only worry about the guys that are there. We'll see if Suh does in fact continue to attend. While in the grand scheme of things it's not a huge deal, it is a good thing for him to get acclimated to the system and his teammates so they can be running at full speed when training camp opens in July.

This story was written by Matthew Cannata. Follow him on Twitter: @PhinManiacs

On Tuesday, the Miami Dolphins took to the field for the first time as a full team in preparation for the 2015 NFL season. Every player was in attendance and head coach Joe Philbin couldn’t have been more pleased with the turnout.

“We had everybody on the roster here in the building today. It was a great start to the OTA phase of the offseason program. I thought the energy on the field was good. We put in normal down and distance today. I thought it was a good start. We have a starting point as to where we are right now, day one of OTAs. We’ve also got to make some corrections when we come back and watch the tape tomorrow and move forward.”

There is a lot of mixed confusion as to whether or not OTAs mean anything. Some say that it doesn’t mean much while others take a great deal of stock into it. Philbin talked about what OTAs mean for him and his team.

“Every single day is hard for you to function as a football team if you don’t have 11 guys on the same page from an assignment, scheme, standpoint. That’s always part of every practice that we ever have. Again, I thought the guys moved around well. I thought we got a lot accomplished.”

While that didn’t provide much of an answer, he then went into a little more detail as to what he and the coaches talk about later in the day after reviewing the film and taking everything in. 

“I think from my chair right now, is the way we moved around. We were able, we put a lot on the table, we had a lot of reps planned for practice, we virtually hit our targets in each period and we were pushing the envelope there a little bit, because of the time crunch, we can’t extend periods, we can’t stay out here as long as we want. What I was pleased with most of all, aside from a particular individual, was the way the guys moved around and the energy and the effort.”

Leading up to Tuesday, the players had been through the first two phases of the voluntary workouts. Philbin noted that because everything hasn’t been completed yet and because they are only into day one of the third phase, it’s hard to get a true feel of where the team is headed and who can play where.

“It’s hard, it’s incomplete at this point. I’ve been very pleased with the way the guys have come into the building, absorbed the information, both the corrections from last year and the new points of emphasis for this year from a schematic standpoint. We’re just now starting the on-field portion, we get to compete a little bit, see some guys in some different situations that we haven’t seen yet. Again, there are a lot of guys that are new and we want to learn more about them here on the field. But very pleased so far.”

This story was written by Matthew Cannata. Follow him on Twitter: @PhinManiacs

When NFL teams hold Offseason Training Activities (OTAs), the vast majority of people know not to read too much into it. Often, this is the first time teams are all together on a field and it’s very early in the process of getting everyone ready for the start of the season. For the Miami Dolphins, that’s no different.

This is a time for coaches to see if the things they have taught in the classroom are translating onto the field. It’s a time to see how much one has improved from last year to this year. It’s a time to see how the rookies perform against the veterans and it’s also a time for coaches to start laying the foundation to the starting units for the upcoming season.

On the first day of OTAs for the Dolphins, we got a small glimpse of what the coaches are thinking. With that in mind, there is still a long way to go and a lot of things can change between now and the start of the 2015 NFL season. Thus, the starting units the Dolphins rolled out might not necessarily be the same in a few weeks.

On the offensive line, Dallas Thomas started at left guard with Billy Turner starting at right guard. Many are assuming that Turner will easily win the job while Thomas will have to battle to keep his spot in the starting lineup. Thomas has had plenty of opportunities so this is the year where he either has to prove himself or accept the fact that he will be a backup in Miami.

“They’re obviously both very talented; they deserve first crack at that spot,” offensive line coach John Benton told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. “But it’s very clear to both of them that nothing is set. They’re all in competition.”

In the wide receiver unit, Kenny Stills and Greg Jennings lined up on the outside with Jarvis Landry in the slot. DeVante Parker also took snaps on the outside and won the vast majority of his match-ups against Brent Grimes. Disgruntled receiver Rishard Matthews was also present and got repetitions throughout the practice session. This is one unit where we are expecting quite a bit of change to happen leading up to the season, with Parker likely finding his way to the top of the depth chart once he proves he can produce on a consistent basis.

Moving to the defensive side of the ball at the linebacker position, we saw Jelani Jenkins and Chris McCain line up on the outside with Koa Misi in the middle.

“I feel very comfortable at the SAM position; coaches see I’m a lot more comfortable and put their trust in me,” McCain told Jackson. “I’m progressing really well. I’m long and lanky and pretty physical. I give it my all every play. I believe they can tell I’ve been trying to get the starting job.”

At the cornerback position, Jamar Taylor lined up opposite Brent Grimes with Brice McCain in the nickel position. The second cornerback position is Taylor’s job to lose and if he can stay healthy, he should have no problem locking it down heading into Week One of the 2015 NFL Season.

“I liked the way he went out and competed, first and foremost,” Joe Philbin said of Taylor. “From a technical standpoint, fundamentally there were some really good shots of him doing things exactly the way we’ve been coaching in a variety of different coverages.”

We’ll see how the team lines up on the second day of OTAs but keep in mind that no serious and in-depth analysis should be done during these upcoming sessions. It’s simply a way to get everyone on the same page and to make sure everything is translating onto the field.

This story was written by Matthew Cannata. Follow him on Twitter: @PhinManiacs

After missing most of the offseason workout sessions over the past month, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh made his presence felt in a big way today. On several plays during the morning practice session, Suh bullied his way past offensive guards Billy Turner and Dallas Thomas, and spent almost as much time in the backfield as the Dolphins running backs.

It wasn’t a perfect practice session, as Suh was whistled for jumping offsides twice. But he left no doubt that his choice to work out on his own this offseason hasn’t affected his impact on the Dolphins defense this year. Suh seems to have only one speed, and practices at full game speed. And although he dominated in today’s practice, his presence should help the Dolphins’ inexperienced Guards develop more quickly.

With Suh lining up next to Cameron Wake, the left side of the defensive line is going to be a nightmare for opposing teams to deal with this season.

This story was written by Eldon Jenson. Follow him on Twitter @EJFootball.

In spite of the Florida humidity, how cool is this - it’s only May and Dolphins fans are already excited for the season to begin. And rookie DeVante Parker has a lot to do with that.

In what shouldn’t really be seen as anything new, Parker had a great practice session today during OTAs, and according to several sources, caught every catchable ball thrown his way, including a few contested balls in tight coverage. Note I said ‘catchable’, as a few of Ryan Tannehill’s passes were nowhere near their mark, likely a miscommunication between the QB and WR on the route. Nothing to worry about at this point, as that’s what practice is for, to iron out the details.

On one pass, Parker was unable to gain separation while being covered by cornerback Brent Grimes, but Tannehill threw the pass in his direction anyway, and Parker went up and caught it at the high point. On another play Grimes was called for pass interference, but Parker pulled back and caught the pass anyway. Plays like this are sure to excite the fan base, but remember it’s only May, the players are without pads, and according to a few reports, Grimes appeared to be a step slow on his breaks. But there is no doubt that Parker is exciting to watch, and we can’t wait to see him with the pads on.

It should also be noted that Parker ran plays from both sides of the formation as well as the Y receiver (slot position), something fans should get used to, as head coach Joe Philbin is renowned for liking his receivers to be capable of running plays from any position. Jarvis Landry ran plays from both outside spots as well.

Keep your eyes on Parker, as he could well become  one of the more popular players to follow this fall.

This story was written by Eldon Jenson. Follow him on Twitter @EJFootball.

The football season is still a few months away but it is never too early to start analyzing your favorite teams’ roster. The Miami Dolphins had a very aggressive off-season which saw them add the likes of Greg Jennings, DeVante Parker, Jordan Cameron, Ndamukong Suh and more. In this column, I will list the top 50 players on the Miami Dolphins roster in a power rankings format.

50. JD Walton - Center/Guard
If he has to start, it won’t be a good thing but Walton brings depth to multiple positions along the interior of the Miami offensive line.

49. Zach Vigil - Linebacker
Will Vigil make the team? That is to be determined but one thing for sure is that the camp battle between Vigil, Jeff Luc, and Mike Hull will be interesting as one of them has a chance to make the team and contribute.

48. Jeff Luc - Linebacker
Please review the notes above for Vigil. One interesting thing with Luc is that he grew up a huge Dolphins fan.

47. Mike Hull - Linebacker
Again, please review above notes on Vigil and Luc. With that said, I think Hull has the passion and skill to win the battle.

46. Zack Bowman - Defensive Back
Bowman is a special teams’ ace but he will have a tough battle ahead of him to make the final roster. The Dolphins invested draft picks in two defensive backs (Bobby McCain and Cedric Thompson) who can contribute to special teams immediately as well.

45. Matt Hazel - Receiver
Hazel was impressive during rookie-camp and with Rishard Matthews wanting out of Miami, Hazel could find himself as the fifth receiver on this team.

44. Damien Williams - Running-Back
Williams flashed good running ability in limited opportunities as the Dolphins’ number two back but he will have to fight off impressive rookie Jay Ajayi to maintain that spot.

43. Bobby McCain - Cornerback
I don’t expect much contribution from McCain in his rookie campaign unless it comes on special teams but I do think this kid has a future. He is a feisty, aggressive player in the mold of Cortland Finnegan.

42. Jeff Linkenbach - Guard
He will be a depth guy more than likely but is important to remember he has more playoff starts than every offensive lineman on our roster besides Branden Albert.

41. Kelvin Sheppard - Linebacker
Sheppard might have an opportunity to start but I don’t think he is good enough. Sheppard is a core special teams’ player that provides depth at the linebacker position.

40. Terrance Fede - Defensive End
Fede closed out a win against the Minnesota Vikings by blocking a punt in his rookie season and will have a chance to contribute more now that Dion Jordan is suspended for the entire season.

39. Anthony Johnson - Defensive Tackle
Johnson is a good player and in my opinion, he is a starter in this league but he is buried on the Miami depth chart.

38. Rishard Matthews - Receiver
Matthews is a solid player but the Dolphins are loaded at receiver. Matthews is unhappy and wants out of Miami. The Dolphins would be wise to send Matthews away for a late draft pick.

37. Jordan Tripp - Linebacker
Tripp is a favorite of the coaches down in Miami and will be one of the most interesting players to watch during training camp. The Dolphins have two starters at linebacker in Koa Misi and Jelani Jenkins but it remains to see who the third is.

36. Spencer Paysinger - Linebacker
Paysinger was an interesting signing that will be battling Jordan Tripp for a starting position. The savvy veteran, Paysinger, is the odds on favorite.

35. Walt Aikens - Defensive Back
Aikens was one of the MVPs of the rookie-camp but with Louis Delmas and Michael Thomas returning, Aikens is far from a lock to make the roster.

34. Michael Thomas - Defensive Back
Thomas had a game-ending interception off of Tom Brady two years ago and is a solid nickel-back. He showed lots of promise and improvement before being put on injured reserve halfway through last season.

33. Jamil Douglas - Offensive Line
It won’t be long for Douglas to off-seat Dallas Thomas for the starting left guard position.

32. Chris McCain - Linebacker
McCain won’t be an every down player but with the Jordan's suspension, he will have an opportunity to flourish as a linebacker in pass rushing situations.

31. Matt Moore - Quarterback
Matt Moore is a valuable backup that can win games if needed and could start for a handful of teams in the NFL.

30. Caleb Sturgis - Kicker
When the Dolphins drafted Sturgis, I really thought he would develop into one of the better kickers in the NFL but instead has been a major disappointment.

29. Dallas Thomas - Offensive Line
I think Thomas has nightmares of Mario Williams after the ass-kicking he received from him last season. With that said, Thomas is the teams’ current starter at left guard.

28. Jason Fox - Offensive Tackle
Fox was a very good swing tackle for the Dolphins and filled in nicely once given the opportunity late in the 2014 season.

27. Dion Sims - Tight End
I thought Sims would have a chance to start once Charles Clay left for Buffalo but Miami signed Jordan Cameron. Sims is a very solid number two tight end.

26. Jordan Phillips - Defensive Tackle
Phillips was an absolute steal for the Dolphins in round two of the 2015 NFL draft. Phillips has a chance to grow into Miami’s version of Nick Fairley playing next to Ndamukong Suh.

25. Brice McCain - Cornerback
McCain is an excellent nickel cornerback that could start if Jamar Taylor struggles.

24. Billy Turner - Guard
The Dolphins have Turner penciled into the right guard position and while hopes are high, it is not a certainty that he will play at a high level. We'll see how he progresses during the next few months.

23. Greg Jennings - Receiver
Jennings is the fourth best receiver on the Dolphins which speaks to the strength of the position to the team. Jennings will bring veteran leadership to a young receiving core.

22. Jay Ajayi - Running-Back
The Dolphins should be arrested and charged with theft with their selection of Jay Ajayi in round five of the 2015 NFL draft. Ajayi runs like Marshawn Lynch and will give Miami a very good one-two punch with Ajayi/Miller.

21. Jamar Taylor - Cornerback
Taylor is a guy I had ranked as a top 15 prospect in the 2013 NFL draft. He will have a chance to start in 2015 and it should be noted that he played well before being injured in 2014.

20. Derrick Shelby - Defensive Line
Keeping Shelby on the team was an underrated move by the Dolphins. Shelby is stout against the run and brings toughness to the team.

19. Brandon Fields - Punter
Fields is a top five punter in the league and gives the Dolphins a leg above the competition when it comes to field position.

18. Earl Mitchell - Defensive Tackle
Mitchell started strong in 2014 but fizzled as the season went on. However, with Suh and Phillips now aboard, I expect Mitchell to have a very good season.

17. Kenny Stills - Receiver
The Dolphins have their new Mike Wallace without the attitude. Stills is a big-play, deep threat that has a very high reception % for passes over twenty-yards.

16. Koa Misi - Linebacker
Misi is one of  Joe Philibin’s favorite players and while he doesn’t put up eye-popping numbers, he has been Mr. Consistent for the Dolphins over the past several years.

15. Jordan Cameron - Tight End
The Dolphins lost Clay but still upgraded the position. Cameron was a Pro-Bowler two seasons ago despite poor quarterback play and will instantly become a red zone threat for Ryan Tannehill.

14. JaWuan James - Right Tackle
James played very well at right tackle before moving over to left tackle after the injury to Branden Albert where he still played decently. The truth is that James outplayed higher regarded offensive linemen (Jake Matthews, Taylor Lewan, and Glen Robinson) from his draft class.

13. DeVante Parker - Receiver
It won’t be long before Parker is way higher on this list. Parker’s game reminds me of AJ Green in Cincinnati and there is no doubt that Tannehill is happy to have this big-time target.

12. Jarvis Landry - Receiver
Landry is a pass-catching machine that is lethal out of the slot. Landry proved he could move the chains and find the end zone in his rookie campaign and I expect him to continue on this path in 2015.

11. Olivier Vernon - Defensive End
Vernon was a beast two seasons ago accounting for 11.5 sacks and played well in 2014 but I expect this season to be his best considering he is in a contract year and the addition of Suh.

10. Lamar Miller - Running-Back
Producing 1,000 yard running backs is not a specialty of the Dolphins but Miller eclipsed that mark in his first season as the primary starter. His 1,099 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns were impressive and I expect even better in 2015.

9. Jelani Jenkins - Linebacker
What a gem this guy turned out to be as he is without question the best linebacker on this team.  Jenkins finds the football, tackles, and makes plays.

8. Louis Delmas - Safety
Delmas was playing at a Pro Bowl level before an injury cost him the 2014 season. He is the best communicator on the team and brings leadership to a young defense. The good news is that reports state that Delmas is way ahead on his rehab and will be ready by training camp.

7. Reshad Jones - Safety
Jones is one of the best strong safeties in the NFL. He can cover, he can hit, and he can make plays. He was much better when he and Delmas were on the field at the same time.

6. Mike Pouncey - Center
I am so glad that Mike Pouncey is moving back to center where he is one of the league’s bests at the position. He should be happy that Miami gave him a new contract and will continue to be the leader of the unit.

5. Branden Albert - Offensive Tackle
The Dolphins’ season ended when Albert suffered a season-ending season against the Detroit Lions. Before the injury, Albert was Pro Football Focus’ 4th rated offensive tackle and Tannehill was kept relatively clean.

4. Brent Grimes - Cornerback
Grimes is among the best cornerbacks in the NFL coming off of a second consecutive Pro Bowl appearance representing the Dolphins. The highlight of the 2014 season for my money  was his one-handed interception against the Lions on a play where he was covering Calvin Johnson.

3. Ryan Tannehill - Franchise Quarterback
Tannehill has shown drastic improvement every year he has been in the league and his 2014 campaign should have had him in Hawaii. The Dolphins just rewarded him with a new long-term contract showing their faith in him. Tannehill gets Albert back protecting his blind side and has a plethora of weapons (Cameron, Landry, Jennings, Stills, Parker) at his disposal so I am expecting a big time jump for him in 2015.

2. Cameron Wake - Defensive End
Wake is among the best defensive players in the NFL. He has a non-stop motor and a knack for creating havoc. I cannot wait to see just how good he is playing next to Suh.

1. Ndamukong Suh - Defensive Tackle
Elite. Dominant. Force. Need I go on? Suh might be the best football player to play for the Dolphins since Dan Marino. Suh completely changes this defense and the culture of this football team. The Dolphins who some label as “soft” added the biggest badass in the entire league. The Dolphins already had one of the best defensive lines in the league and adding Suh takes them and the defense as a whole to the next level.

This column was written by Neal Driscoll. Follow him on Twitter: @NealDriscoll

Per the Palm Beach Post's Andrew Abramson (@AbramsonPBP), the Miami Dolphins superstar free agent Ndamukong Suh is expected to break his routine of skipping OTAs and will be joining his team today to practice.

Suh, who signed a 6-year $114 million contract to become the NFL's highest paid defensive player, regularly skipped voluntary work with the Detroit Lions in order to train with his own personal trainer, and Suh had been off the grid ever since the first day of voluntary team workouts.

But now it appears that Suh is looking to get a good feel for his new team as he will be there practicing with the rest of the Dolphins players, and there is hope within the organization that Suh will take it upon himself to mentor younger players like second-round draft pick Jordan Phillips, who has the physical tools and attributes to become a star in the NFL.

Suh being there for OTAs probably won't do anything to influence how the team does in the regular season, but it will definitely help his image with a fan base who generally feels that he should be there because of the massive contract he received. Whether he shows up or not, it probably won't make a difference to how he'll play come September, he's still Ndamukong Suh, and comparisons to Albert Haynesworth just don't match up with who Suh is.

What this will do however is get him further acclimated with his new teammates, and in the case of certain players (Jason Fox and possibly Louis Delmas), give him a chance for a reunion with his former Lions teammates on the football field. There's no contact in OTAs, so the opportunity to Suh in true action will have to wait until training camp.

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @FLSportDebater

The Miami Dolphins elected to wait until the fifth round in the 2015 NFL Draft to address their hole at the cornerback position, and they did so by selecting Bobby McCain with the 145th overall pick. 

Cortland Finnegan announced his retirement, and Jimmy Wilson has taken his versatile skillset to San Diego to play for the Chargers. McCain will find himself in a camp battle for the starting nickel cornerback job, and although he is only 5’9” (tied with newly signed Brice McCain as the shortest defensive player on the roster) McCain plays tough and is a ball-hawk with the potential to take it to the house on every return.

In honor of the Miami Dolphins 50th Anniversary celebration, we're bringing you an exclusive special series commemorating fifty years of Dolphins football. As the season progresses, we plan on bringing you memories from Dolphins players throughout history, from every era possible.

Just to give you all a little preview of what's in store for the season, we at PhinManiacs bring you the first article of many to come, just to whet your appetite for the beginning of the season. First on our list of Dolphins alumni is former cornerback Sam Madison.

Madison was drafted by the Dolphins in the second round of the 1997 NFL draft and it didn't take him long before he became a star in the Dolphins defense. Within the first three years of his career, Madison had already accumulated 16 of his career total 38 interceptions, and was a 4-time Pro Bowler and 2-time First-Team All-Pro during his career. Since his retirement as a member of the New York Giants after the 2008 NFL season, Madison has become a regular member of the Miami Dolphins daily radio show known as TheFinsiders, where he gives his perspective on all things Dolphins.

Luis Sung: What is your greatest memory from your career as a Miami Dolphin?

SM: Just really having an opportunity to play with all the great players that I came in with. One Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas coming in before me, but you know, just building that bond, coming from the University of Louisville, not many guys in the National Football League so I had an opportunity to make a bond with some guys and grow with those guys. Nine years here with the Miami Dolphins, a great, great experience for me. 

But yet, and still, that one big memory for me is having three interceptions in one game and us coming up successful and winning that football game (vs. Tennessee in 1999).

LS: What memorable stories do you have that you look back on today and they give you a laugh?

SM: The one thing that I always remember about, my first road trip with the Dolphins. We ended up going to Indianapolis and I was a rookie so I always had to ride the first bus. So you ride that first bus, you know you had a lot of offensive linemen, you have your head coach on there and then you have your Hall of Fame franchise quarterback on there. So we pull up, and we're in Indianapolis and there's almost like 6,000, 7,000 fans sitting out there and they're screaming and going crazy and I'm sitting there like 'Man, this is amazing!'

And you know, Dan (Marino) gets off the bus, and you know, at that time for him to stop, he would've been out there all day long. For me, it was like a kid in a candy store! All these people screaming and yelling, they want somebody to sign autographs, I stood there the whole entire time just signing autographs, I thought that was so cool and I never, ever forget that.

And Dan was like 'Sam, man you're crazy!' and I'm like 'Dan, I was having fun man, they were looking at you and I'm just signing autographs!' so to be able to have that experience as a rookie, to be able to see how the fans really get behind their team and support their team and understand the tradition and know what it's gonna take to get to that level, it was really fun to be able to experience that.

LS: The first fifty years have been great for the organization. What are you hoping fans will see about the organization going forward into the next fifty years?

SM: The one thing that I really want them to see is that the Miami Dolphins still have fight. It's been a very long time for us to be in the limelight of winning lots of games, we have that rich tradition, and there's just been some bumps in the road over the last ten years. But hopefully we've gathered a group of guys that can go out on the football field and still compete and bring back those early glory days that you heard Shula talking about." (In reference to the comments Don Shula made during the 50th season celebration announcement.

About if you put in that work during the week to be successful, you'll be successful during those games on Sunday, and just having an opportunity to come out here and watch the guys in this first rookie mini-camp, but yet and still being able to see the things that Dennis Hickey has done since last year and then coming into this draft, understanding the guys on this roster and trying to build and put together a football team that can go out and compete every single week no matter who we're playing.

That's what I'm hoping that the fans will be able to get to have, having that confidence that they can come sit in those seats and enjoy a very good football game, but yet and still be entertained from the beginning to the end and come out with a 'W' at the end.

Right on the heels of the biggest charity event of the year for the organization, the Miami Dolphins partnered up with the Special Olympics program to give 82 Special Olympian athletes from Miami Dade and Broward County have the time of their lives with the 2015 Dolphins rookie class.

"This is the second time they've had our athletes come," said Ron Fulop, who is the Chairman of the Board for Special Olympics Florida. "The Dolphins have been tremendous in helping to sponsor our flag football both financially and with personnel support."

Kids ranging from 6th to 12th grade came pouring into the Dolphins practice bubble, all clearly excited at the thought of being able to play football with the Dolphins rookies.

"I actually have a daughter who is a special Olympian," said Fulop, "And I can tell you when they have an opportunity to partner with a professional sports athlete, it's just like, virtually anybody in terms of 'we'll do whatever it takes to be exposed to these professional athletes.'"

One individual in particular who put his heart and soul into this event, as evidenced by how he went out of his way to play and run around with the kids after officially letting the games begin, was Miami Dolphins general manager Dennis Hickey.

"My wife was a pediatric occupational therapist for many years," said Hickey. "And so it's special to our hearts and there's so many special, awesome kids out there, and it's great to give back, and it's really rewarding to work with them and have a great time."

Hickey also mentioned that this event wasn't just for the kids, but it also had a lot to do with getting the rookie class acclimated to exactly what it means to wear a Miami Dolphins uniform.

“It’s about the Dolphins way,” Hickey said. “That’s what we’re about. From Mr. Ross all the way down, we’re about giving back to the community. Our rookies do a great job. If you watch them out here, they’re really making that connection, having a great time and that’s what it’s about, giving back to the community because that’s what we’re about. It’s a bonding for them and it’s also integrating them into what it takes to be a Miami Dolphin. Obviously it’s playing on the field and winning games, but it’s also giving back to the community.”

And give back they did, as the rookies dove in headfirst and were quickly taken in by the enthusiasm of the Special Olympians, even joining into the friendly game of flag football themselves. Wide Receiver DeVante Parker lined up as a receiver and was being covered by defensive tackle Jordan Phillips. Obviously, that was a severe mismatch.

"I dunno what he was trying to do." Parker joked after the game was over, "He knows better, he knows he can't cover me."

But one player who really stood out - to me at least - was cornerback Bobby McCain, who went above and beyond the call of duty and took it upon himself to help instruct the kids on what to do, how to line up, and he even took Gatorade bottles and squirted water into the kids' mouths to keep them hydrated, giving them a true football experience.

Running back Jay Ajayi made similar contributions, as he huddled up his team and gave them plays to run which led to several touchdowns and touchdown dances to go along with them.

"If you look around the whole field, all of us guys, all of us rookies, we were just trying to have fun and enjoy it with them and just play." said Ajayi. "Funny enough, at Boise State (Ajayi's college) we actually did a lot of community stuff and did things like this where we did programs where we were helping kids to have fun and just have energy and all that."

Being no stranger to giving back to the community, the event held some special significance for the rookie running back, as he was thrilled to be able to wear aqua and orange in front of others for the first time, and he was honored that it could be at an event like this.

“That was the most important thing, just to interact with them, kind of get to know them a little bit in the short time and just have fun." Ajayi said. "It’s a great feeling and that’s why we do it. That’s why we do things like this is just to be able to bring smiles to kids’ faces and just to be able to make them feel well.”

Once the games were over, the kids all got the opportunity to eat lunch with the players to cap off an incredible afternoon of football fun. Medals were given to the Special Olympians after the games, and they wore them proudly. No matter what challenges the Special Olympians face in life, there is no doubt in anyone's mind that this event was one that they would remember for the rest of their lives. 

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @FLSportDebater

Last season, the Miami Dolphins gave a one-year prove-it deal to a player who has only played an entire season once in his whole career due to various injuries. This past year he made it to 15 games before his knee gave out and it seemed that the torn ACL had sealed his fate and cut his Dolphins career short.

So it came with great shock when the Dolphins re-signed safety Louis Delmas to the same deal he was signed to the year before, as fans were absolutely positive that he would be forced to start the season on the PUP list while he continued his recovery.

It came with even greater shock when it was revealed that just a mere five months after suffering his ACL injury, Delmas was already running, jumping and cutting as if he'd never been hurt in the first place.

"I don't think Louis is human," starting strong safety Reshad Jones said. "He's actually back right now running around like he never had surgery. Louis is running, no limp. He's doing all the drills that we're doing. He looks fine. I think he'll be ready, and he'll be able to help us."

And help he will, if last year is anything to go by. In order to truly see the impact Delmas made while on defense, one has to look beyond the raw statistics he put up. With 51 solo tackles, one sack and one interception (which he did return for a touchdown against the Jaguars' Blake Bortles), Delmas doesn't look like he did much on the surface. But thanks to some interesting research by Twitter's own Chris Kouffman (@ckparrot), Delmas apparently had a much greater impact than it appeared.

That in itself is a very telling statistic that you won't find on any box score, and it speaks to the hidden impact Delmas made beyond the numbers.

Watching film will show quite clearly that Delmas was a leader on the football field, consistently running up to the line of scrimmage to shout out something for the defensive line and linebackers to keep an eye on. He also was one of the leaders in the locker room as well, and his positive, fun-loving personality - not to mention his interesting tendency to start dancing whenever music he enjoyed came on - kept his teammates enjoying themselves.

Delmas was a key member of the Dolphins defense, even if it didn't always appear that way, and his recovery from his ACL injury is nothing short of miraculous. His teammates - cornerback Will Davis and left tackle Branden Albert - who suffered similar injuries before Delmas, have actually not yet been cleared to play. But somehow, Delmas has managed to come back after only five months of recovery.

"He is unbelievable," safety Jordan Kovacs said. "He's moving as well as I've ever seen him move, so that's very encouraging. But it's crazy."

Delmas and Jones made a very impressive duo when they were on the field together, and now it appears that duo is set to make a return this next season, and needless to say, Jones is excited about being able to play with his friend and teammate.

"I think we've got a good bond on and off the field," said Jones, "We talk a lot. He's one of my friends. I think [2015] will be fun and interesting."

I had said from the very beginning that the Dolphins should bring Delmas back, I had said that he would be ready to go when the season began, but even I never expected for him to be back to full strength this quickly. It's a miracle, it truly is, so maybe, just maybe, Delmas will be able to help the team create a miracle of its own...maybe...a playoff berth?

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @FLSportDebater

When I heard that the Miami Dolphins drafted University of Oklahoma defensive tackle Jordan Phillips with the 52nd overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, I did a back flip. I didn’t actually do a back-flip because even though I am a 5’11 and reasonably athletic and in shape (stop laughing if you know me), I would probably be typing this report from a hospital bed if I attempted. I bring this up because Phillips, a 6’5 and 350 pound man, is so athletic he can do a back-flip.  

Of course, the Dolphins did not draft Phillips because of his gymnastic prowess, but because he has the potential to be a beast in the middle of the defense for many years. He has the ability take on two blockers on run plays and crash the pocket on pass plays. I love the move because we invested a king’s ransom in Ndamukong Suh. This will give him a chance to draw a single blocker or make the other team pay for doubling him up. Pick your poison. Not only can Phillips and Suh wreak havoc, they will provide the linebacker core - especially the insider linebacker - a chance to play clean and run free. This will turn average linebacker play into at least above average.   

Now, you might be asking yourself why Phillips fell to the second round if he is this good. That's because there are concerns about effort, technique, and a back injury. Phillips’ effort level isn’t as poor as scouts say but he does need to work on technique. I really hope Suh can take him under his wing and teach him how to play like a professional.

I don’t really like to compare players with other players, but based only on game film, Phillips’ floor is Albert Haynesworth (on the field) and his ceiling is Dontari Poe. I can live with that range. I am excited to have him on the Dolphins as he adds valuable depth to a shallow position. Phillips has potential to be a wrecking ball to the opposing offenses. With great coaching and focus, he can be one of the steals of this draft.

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The NFL approved a rule change this week, moving the traditional Point After Touchdown (PAT) kick from the 2-yard line to the 15 yard line for the 2015 season. Two point attempts will remain at the 2-yard line, but defenses will now be allowed to return failed kicks or turnovers for an equal score (one point for a score on a failed kick, two points on a failed two point try).

So how will this affect the value of kickers?

Probably very little. The internet has been abuzz about the possibility of an explosion in two-point attempts after touchdowns, and bettors are worried about affected point spreads other than the traditional 3 and 7 point variations becoming the norm rather than the exception. But I can allay your fears with one sentence; NFL coaches are creatures of habit, and most won’t tread outside of their comfort zones very often, if at all.

Here’s the math. In the past five years, kickers have averaged a tick over 99% accuracy on PAT kick attempts. By comparison, kicks from the 22 or 23 yard lines (where the new PATs will be kicked) have seen better than 94% accuracy since 2012. While that does reflect a slight downtick in accuracy, we’re not talking about a lot of misses here. Last year, the top 10 kickers only missed three total PAT kicks in 461 attempts. In that same year kickers hit 96.7% of 33- and 34-yard field goals. As you can see, accuracy isn’t going to be a huge concern for most teams, and coaches are going to remain fairly confident in getting that extra point on almost 97% of kicks.

On the other hand, two point conversions were successful on only 47.5% of attempts last season. No team had more than five two-point attempts on the season (CHI and AZ both had 5 attempts), and a fourth of the league (TB, HOU, SF, SD, OAK, DAL, PHI, and NYG) didn’t attempt any (and notice at least 5 of those teams had very capable running games).

NFL coaches will almost always take the safe play, simply because if they take the safe play and it fails, the blame is deflected to the players; if a coach attempts a risky decision and fails, the blame falls on the coach (yep, coaching is a self-preservation game, wouldn’t you know it?). And having a 97% chance of making a kick will outweigh the odds of that 47.5% chance at two points. Some will argue that if a team tries two-point attempts, the odds are they convert half of them. But most coaches will take the odds of making one point 97% of the time versus needing two chances to hit two points.

I have no doubts that there will be a slight uptick in two-point attempts this season. But it will be a very slight uptick. Overall I feel that most NFL teams have a kicker they consider reliable enough to try PAT kicks at roughly the same rate as in past years. Two point attempts at the end of closely-contested games will also happen at pretty much the same rate as in years past. The situations where I see two-point attempts happening most often are on teams that don’t have a lot of confidence in their kicker, and if a kicker misses two kicks early in a game, a coach may try to make up lost ground and attempt two-point tries the rest of the way.

So do kickers become more valuable now? In the grand scheme of the game, I don’t think they do. In fact, I would argue that they actually become less valuable, simply because of that slight downtick in attempted kicks coupled with the miniscule uptick in missed attempts. So as you watch games this Fall, feel free to hate your team’s kicker just as much as you always have!

This story was written by Eldon Jenson. Follow him on Twitter @EJFootball. 

One of the best ways to predict a “breakout player” in sports is to look for those that are coming into contract years. It never seems to fail that when a player’s contract is about to expire, they magically seem have some of their best years. Call it what you want, but the motivation of the dollar sign can take players to the next level, and in fantasy football, that makes them players to target in your drafts.

Last year we saw several guys who, in contract years, took their games to the next level. Jeremy Maclin, Mark Ingram, and Demarco Murray managed to stay healthy and produce great numbers, and in return were rewarded with contracts this off-season. Randall Cobb, Dez Bryant, and Demaryius Thomas all continued to play well, and put up eye popping numbers for fantasy purposes as they work towards future big pay days. Justin Forsett seized his opportunity and played at the highest level of his career, and got a new contract to match.

Now just because a player is in his contract year does not make them an immediate fantasy star, nor is he someone that you necessarily have to draft, but it does make them players that you should keep an eye on. At your draft, the fact that a player is coming into a contract year can help you if you are trying to decide between two players to draft. Not all of the following guys will have great seasons, but they should all be playing with the next contract in mind, and they should all be motivated to take their games to the next level. To the savvy fantasy owner, these are guys that you keep tabs on and take a chance on, as they are all playing for their own personal pay days.

Here is a list of players that will likely become free agents and are heading into contract years in 2015:

Alfred Morris - RB, Washington Redskins
Doug Martin - RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Michael Floyd - WR, Arizona Cardinals
Rueben Randle - WR, New York Giants
Mohammad Sanu - WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Dwayne Allen - TE. Indianapolis Colts
Vernon Davis - TE, San Francisco 49ers
Coby Fleener - TE, Indianapolis Colts

Players that COULD hit free agency, depending on situation:

Eli Manning - QB, New York Giants
Phillip Rivers - QB, San Diego Chargers
Sam Bradford - QB, Philadelphia Eagles
Lamar Miller - RB, Miami Dolphins
Matt Forte - RB, Chicago Bears

Players that WILL NOT hit free agency, but are still playing for a long term contract, and will be motivated to put up monster numbers to guarantee that contract:

Ryan Tannehill - QB, Miami Dolphins (Signed this week)
Cam Newton - QB, Carolina Panthers
Andrew Luck - QB, Indianapolis Colts
Russell Wilson - QB, Seattle Seahawks
Demaryius Thomas - WR, Denver Broncos
Dez Bryant - WR, Dallas Cowboys
AJ Green - WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Julio Jones - WR, Atlanta Falcons
TY Hilton - WR, Indianapolis Colts
Alshon Jeffery - WR, Chicago Bears

This article was written by Ryan Thyer. Follow him on Twitter @bignoahd05.

All 32 of the NFL owners are gathered in San Francisco at the spring league meeting and on Tuesday afternoon, they voted to change the NFL extra point conversion system. The new rule states that the ball will be snapped at the 15-yard line for a 33-yard field goal for those teams wishing to kick for the extra point. If a team wants to try for a two-point conversion, the ball will still be snapped at the two-yard line. Additionally, the defense can return the ball if they gain possession of it during the play.

There were two other similar proposals that were on the table. One of them was exactly the same as above but the defense wouldn't have an opportunity to return the ball. Another one was the same as above with the exception that the two-point conversion would be snapped from the one-yard line. In the end, it looks like a combination was used to form the rule for the 2015 season. It is not yet known if this is a permanent change or a trial basis for 2015.

In 2014, NFL kickers made 272 of 302 field goals between 30 and 39 yards. Miami Dolphins kicker Caleb Sturgis was 7-8 on the season between those yard lines, with his only miss coming against the Chicago Bears. That was a 37-yard field goal attempt that was blocked.

This rule change will certainly encourage teams to go for more two-point conversions, especially if they can't trust their kicker. In addition, it will continue to put a premium on special teams, especially the field goal unit. This will add a whole new element of strategy to the game and it will certainly be fun to watch during the 2015 season.

This story was written by Matthew Cannata. Follow him on Twitter: @PhinManiacs.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Miami Dolphins held a press conference with Ryan Tannehill in regards to his contract extension. In attendance were general manager Dennis Hickey, head coach Joe Philbin and of course quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Here is the complete summary in chronological order.

• Hickey started it off by welcoming everyone to the press conference. He also welcomed the Tannehill family, who flew in from Texas for the occasion. 
  

• Hickey thanked Stephen Ross for the commitment he has made and for allocating the resources that were needed to lock up Tannehill for the long term. He also thanked Tannehill's agent, Pat Dye for working with Mike Tannenbaum and Dawn Aponte, who handled the bulk of the contract negotiations.
  

• Hickey said that in the end, Tannehill wanted to remain a member of the Dolphins and they wanted him to stay in Miami as a member of the Dolphins. That's why they got to work and got the contract extended.
  

• Hickey said that Tannehill brings a lot of qualities off the field and is the perfect example of a leader. He said that he has all the qualities you want in someone on the team and a lot of the young guys look up to him.
  

• Tannehill thanked God for making this possible. He thanked Ross for believing in him along with Tannenbaum and Hickey. He also thanked everyone else - his agent, Philbin, the coaching staff, his teammates, the support staff and basically everyone in the organization who has a daily impact on the organization.
  

• Tannehill said his parents never let him be content and always pushed him to be the best. He thanked his wife Lauren for helping him stay focused and on track every day throughout the year, which allows him to focus solely on football.
  

• Tannehill said he is so excited to remain in South Florida for the next several years. They have spent a lot of time building relationships and working in the community and is glad they can continue with that.
  

• Tannehill believes that they have all the pieces in place for a successful run in 2015. He said that he's seen a lot of improvement in individual players thus far and can't wait to see what it turns into on the field.
  

• In regards to the contract, Tannehill said he wasn't really thinking about the extension because he had two years left on the deal but when they approached him about it, he was all for it.
  

• Playing football is a dream job for Tannehill and he said that is blessed to be in the position he's in. He noted that he's here to win and to help make it happen on the field.
  

• Philbin said he has seen a period of development over the past three years and has confidence that he's going to get better and better and better as he moves forward. 
  

• Philbin said that Tannehill is the ultimate professional both on and off the field and has all the qualities you want in a quarterback.
  

• In regards to the offensive system, Tannehill gives a lot of credit to it and said it's a natural progression as you get more and more used to the system that you're in.
  

• Tannehill said that his approach isn't going to change just because he's getting paid more. He's always taken it very seriously and he's going to continue to do so.
  

• Tannehill said that he believes he's already a leader and just because he got paid doesn't mean anything is going to change, although he did say that a lot more eyes will be on him and it will be up to him to rise to the occasion.
  

• Tannehill is excited about the wide receiver corps and said they have a lot of natural pass catching ability. He noted that he thinks opposing defenses will have trouble covering everyone on the field.
  

• Despite the injuries, Tannehill said that there are no excuses and that everyone will look to the quarterback. He said that it's up to him to step up and perform at the level that's needed to win games.
  

• Tannehill said that they need to learn how to win games in the fourth quarter and sustain drives in order to close the game out on the offensive side of the ball. He also said they need to finish out their season stronger. Instead of falling, they need to be climbing and rising up to the top.
  

• Tannehill said that they are working with various methods of sports science to figure out every edge possible so they can win games when they matter most in the second half of the season.
  

• Tannehill said that a lot of things contribute to sacks - whether it's him holding onto the ball for too long, an offensive lineman getting beat, it could be a coverage sack or more. He believes that having Branden Albert back in action will be huge for the offensive line and the rest of the team.
  

• Growing up in Texas, Tannehill said he was always playing some type of sport and noted that he never had a real job. He was always working hard at getting better and to be in the position he's in, it's something special.
  

• Tannehill said that the ultimate dream is to win a championship and to be on the field holding the trophy while celebrating with his teammates.
  

• Tannehill said that he doesn't compare himself to other quarterbacks. Instead, he said that it's the media's job to make comparisons, although he doesn't mean that in a negative light. He noted that whatever is said about him outside the building has no impact on him and the way he goes about his business.
  

• Hickey said the steady and gradual improvement that Tannehill showed over the past three years allowed them to take the next step and extend him.
  

• Tannehill said that the only reason why he's here is to win a championship and he believes he is capable of bringing a trophy back to Miami.
  

• Tannehill said he doesn't measure himself up against Dan Marino but ultimately, if he has a career like him, he's going to be very happy about it.

This story was written by Matthew Cannata. Follow him on Twitter: @PhinManiacs

After a "hard day" at the golf course (please notice the quotations), nothing's more relaxing than a lazy day at sea, and that's exactly what the Miami Dolphins organization did as they concluded their 19th Annual Fins Weekend with a fishing tournament that had everyone expressing their confidence in their chances at winning, at least when their comrades weren't around to hear it.

"They're alright," said linebacker Chris McCain about his competition. "I don't really feel like it's gonna be too challenging."

McCain was actually unable to participate in the event during his rookie season, so this was his first time being able to take part in the biggest Dolphins event of the year.

"We got something else to be proud for," McCain said. "Now we can just challenge each other and try to weigh-in the best fish. I feel like this is basically us coming together and being a family."

Another individual who liked his chances of winning was former Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder, who strongly suggested that he felt he had the best chance to win.

"I make a big catch about two or three times a month," said Crowder, "I'm a fisherman, a real fisherman, so I would favor myself today."

Crowder jokingly favored himself as having two to one odds to win the tournament due to his fishing background, and he has several photos on his Twitter account that show him holding several impressive fish that indicate his seriousness regarding his fishing prowess.

"There's talk, and then there's action." Crowder said regarding his competitors' confidence, "I really fish, I know what to do, I know where they're at. These people are just riding around on a cruise."

Naturally the trash-talking was all good-natured in spirit as friends and family came together to laugh and enjoy the day with each other. The event has done a lot for the organization over the years, and it's done a lot for the people participating in it ever since it's creation nineteen years ago.

"It was benefitting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation," said Jeff Peck, the chairman for Fins Weekend. "There was a young gentleman that worked in the Miami Dolphins office who had Cystic Fibrosis, and it was his dream to do a fishing tournament. His name was Scott Chate."

And although now the event is considered even by the organization as its biggest charitable effort of the year, that was not always the case.

"It had a tough start." said Peck. "The Dolphins didn't know anything about fishing tournaments so they weren't sure if they wanted to do it, but Ray Huizenga - Wayne Huizenga's son who was the owner at the time - went to Jimmy Johnson and said 'Hey Jimmy, what do you think of a fishing tournament?', and Jimmy said 'Heck yeah!' and we were on."

The event has raised millions of dollars over the years, and everyone who was talked to couldn't say enough about the significance of its impact in their lives for various reasons.

"Seeing guys that I've played with or seeing guys that I've been around when I was a player, just to feel that camaraderie, that's the best part about it." said former Dolphins fullback Lousaka Polite.

Fins Weekend finds a way to make an impact of the lives of people in the community and those involved with the Dolphins organization in more effective ways year after year. With next season being the 20th birthday of the weekend long get-together, Lord only knows what they'll come up with to take the next step.