Everything is Going to be Alright - An Outlook to the Future

By: Jorge Hinojosa

Look, the Dolphins are in the midst of a playoff hunt, at 6-4 in year 2 of the rebuild and just snapped a 5-game winning streak that saw them go 3-0 v the NFC West, arguably the best division in football in that span. But now, after a cross-country defeat at the hands of the Denver Broncs the sky seems to be crashing down on the Dolphins. If you are looking for a doom and gloom outlook and for me to tell you these are the same ole’ Dolphins, then stop reading, that’s not what you’re getting from me today.
 
No, today I’m here to tell you why everything is okay right now, how everything this season will be fine and how the Dolphins are on the right path to be not only good, but very good next year and in the years to come.
 
Now, I want to make it very clear I do not attempt nor do I want to take away from what is being a great season and I do believe they’ll make a hell of a push for the playoffs and might get there, but this column is focused on the future. On the 2021 off-season, 2021 season and the ensuing years that are shaping up to be great for this franchise.
 
First of all, let’s identify the things the Dolphins have going for them:
 

• They have finally found a good leader in Brian Flores. Forget about the coaching up, teaching and all the intrinsic skills that come with the position. Yes, I know Flores has made mistakes and he will likely make more (the guy is after all, human), but the leadership qualities he possesses cannot be taught. Yes, we are in good hands and I will run through a wall for this man (not to mention bombard your mentions if you dare question his ability or worse, love for the game).

 

• A young, promising, and growing roster. The Dolphins have 3 rookie o-linemen that have contributed throughout the year, a rookie nose tackle that is growing with every game, a rookie QB who after not suiting up or playing in a year went into Arizona and beat the Murray-led Cardinals and only one player over 30 in the roster. Additionally, second year players like Andrew Van Ginkel, Christian Wilkins, Preston Williams have all improved from last year, Myles Gaskin was a great find for the running back room, how can we not be excited about what this staff can do with a full and normal off-season? This team will only get better.

 

• Resources. Yes this team has talent but it also has holes, good thing the Dolphins have 2 1st round and 2 2nd round picks in the upcoming draft, a GM who has shown that when he is driving the boat, it will make smart picks, and a better understanding of the needs that there are on the roster to bring out the best of others. Right now, a WR that can make big plays after the catch is probably the #1 need and a sold and consistent 3-down back, but after that? A pass rusher? Well you already have Ogbah creating havoc, a bruising LB? Elandon Roberts has filled in nicely, a slot CB? Nik Needham disagrees. Yes, there are holes but not nearly as many as some people would make you believe. This is not to say that the Dolphins cannot or should not upgrade at the position, of course they can and they will but think of where we were a year ago, and look at us now, the resources are there to be used and they will be, the team is in good hands.

 
Now, let me live out my dream-job fantasy and assume I get a call from Chris Grier informing me he is going off on a sabbatical to track the migrating patterns of the rare Böhms bee-eater (a small and lovely bird that is endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa but I digress). Mr. Grier calls me and asks me to take over the Dolphins Front office during the 2021 off-season: Free agency and Draft are now my responsibility. Well what do I do? Let’s look at who might leave the team next year (i.e. players on last year of their contracts):

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, RB Matt Breida, WR Mack Hollins, LB Kamu Grugier-Hill, C Ted Karras, T Julien Davenport, DT Davon Godchaux, OLB Vince Biegel, P Matt Haack, LB Elandon Roberts, T Adam Pankey, LB Calvin Munson, CB Jamal Perry, CB Nik Needham, S Kavon Frazier, RB DeAndre Washington and RB Salvon Ahmed.
 
Wow that’s a lot of names, see the team is going to have so many holes next year, right? No. From those let me tell you who I would absolutely sign back, who I would sign back for the right price, who I would sign back if it’s a team friendly contract and who I would let walk:
 
Sign back no matter what:

• Matt Haack, arguably the best punter in the AFC and a solid weapon to flip the field all year long, also has great rapport as Sanders’ holder and I am of the idea that you don’t mess with that).

• Nik Needham, has grown into a very solid slot CB option and has the ability to play outside as well. His growth not only from season to season but game to game tells me we are only scratching the surface of what he could do for this defense.

• Mack Hollins, Jamal Perry, Kavon Frazier and Kamu Grugier-Hill. This is the core of the Dolphins ST unit, and it’s been one of the best all season long. Give them all back to me. Also, highly doubt any of them are going to make any irrational demands.

 
Want back at the right price:

• Ted Karras. I am a big Karras fan and I think he would be a solid starting option if my #2 objective in the draft (Creed Humphrey) is gone by the time the Dolphins pick for the 2nd time in the 1st round. And even then, it never hurts to have a solid, experienced backup center.

• Davon Godchaux. It was incredibly unfortunate for him to get injured in a contract year, that being said there have been some signs that this particular front is not built for him. But the hunger, energy and leadership he brings cannot be questioned, for the right price I’d love to have him back.

• Vince Biegel. A player who this Dolphins defense has missed despite Van Ginkel’s growth. Biegel could be an excellent complementary role player for this unit.
  

• Salvon Ahmed. Fast, decisive and yet patient. He has all the skills you want in your running back, I would not bring him back as a starter but definitely as a solid piece in a stable of running backs.
  

• Ryan Fitzpatrick. Smart, experienced and team first kind of guy. If he is happy to sign a 1-year contract and be Tua’s backup, why wouldn’t we want him back?

 
Who I’m letting walk:

• DeAndre Washington, Matt Breida, Julien Davenport, Adam Pankey, Calvin Munson. Nothing personal guys I just don’t see how we can’t get an upgrade over them in the draft or free agency.

 
Now that we have settled who’s coming back let’s talk about what we need and what we want:
 
Needs: WR and RB.

Wants: LB, NT, OL, backup QB and some additional depth at DE and Safety.
 
Now, let’ see how many of those holes I can fill-in with free agency. 
 
My number one priority is giving ourselves as much flexibility come draft time as possible and not having to reach out of a desperate need to fill a hole.
 
So without further ado here are my targets by position in free agency:
 
WR: Cordarrelle Patterson, Juju Smith-Schuster, Allen Robinson and John Ross. I would need to sign at least one, but two would be ideal.
 
RB: Phillip Lindsay, Malcolm Brown James White, Mike Davis. Mike Davis and Lindsay coming in as relief? What a great 1-2, something that the Dolphins have missed terribly this season.
 
LB: Matt Milano, Lavonte David or Mark Barron. Honestly not great depth at the position which make signing one of them key for me. They fill different roles, yes, but either would help solidify an already strong unit.
 
NT: No one really, that I’m crazy about in Free agency.
 
OL: Evan Boehm (only if Karras is not resigned).
 
S: Justin Simmons. Hard to get, and will probably be too expensive, but would check it out and if it doesn’t break the bank then I might consider it, it would allow Flores to use more of a 3-safety set.
 
Now for the draft, I used a mock draft tool from a free website and this is what I got for the Dolphins. This was done with the assumption that the Dolphins had already signed from the list above, at least 1 WR, 1 RB, 1 LB. I  also takes into consideration that Fitzpatrick stayed with the team, as well as Karras and Biegel.
 
So with this draft Miami would get in the top 3 rounds:

1st (9) Jaylen Waddle, WR (17) Creed Humphrey, C
2nd (40) Alex Leatherwood, OT (53) Rakeem Boyd, RB
3rd (80) Tyler Shelvin, NT
 
So, let’s look at what that potential 2021 starting lineup would look like, shall we:
 
QB: Tua
RB: Mike Davis, Rakeem Boyd
FB: Chandler Cox
WR: Juju, Devante Parker, Waddle, Albert Wilson, Grant, Preston Williams
TE: Gesicki
LT: Jackson/Leatherwood
LG: Flowers
C: Humphrey
RG: Kindley
RT: Hunt/Davis/Leatherwood
 
DE: Ogbah
NT: Davis
DT: Wilkins
Edge: Lawson Biegel/AVG
LB: Baker
LB: Van Noy
LB: David
CB: Howard,
CB: Jones
S: Rowe
S: McCain
Nickel*: Needham.
 
Now look at that and tell me ti doesn’t seem exciting. This is just one possibility with the resources and talent this team already has! Yes losing sucks, but the sky is not falling. I have also seen several people ask for the head of Chan Gailey. Now, I’ve been critical and praising of Gaily at different times this season but here is the thing: He might not excite you with the play calling but he is a great teacher and is going to be fundamental for Tua to learn from him the fundamentals. I also don’t believe he was ever appointed as a long-term option but as a bridge OC and I for one, trust Flores to make the right call, after all look at what Boyer has done with that defense!
 
Dolfans, the team is 6-4 a year after being 2-9. Great strides were made this year but no one expected us to be a top-10 team this year and yet they are on the brink. Let’s trust the process, let’s enjoy the grind, let’s cheer for them every week knowing that the future is bright for our franchise.

Please welcome Jorge Hinojosa to the PhinManiacs team!  Please follow him on Twitter @FranciscoHinoPe