The Dolphins voluntarily mini-camp has come to a close, and after Thursday's practice, reporters asked Miami running back Kalen Ballage a few questions about his rookie season and offseason. One of the big things that Ballage said was that he still keeps in contact with Frank Gore even though he signed with Buffalo this past offseason.

“A whole bunch. I’ve been talking to Frank almost every day.”

Gore was one of the first people Ballage met when he was drafted by the Dolphins last year.

Throughout his rookie year, Ballage went to Gore for advice and the two even warmed up together before every game as Ballage looked for ways to improve himself.

“Yeah. Obviously I’m not a guy that’s ever satisfied, really. I always want more out of everything so there were some things that I could have done better. I’ll have a chance to make it right this season.”

Just like most of the Miami Dolphins, Ballage looks to impress the new coaching staff enough to get more touches this season. He flashed potential multiple times last season and with only a handful of running backs on the roster, Ballage feels like his time is now. He's had his fill of fame from his 75-yard run against the Minnesota Vikings, and wants to focus on new challenges.

“I’m tired of that run – honestly – to be 100 percent honest." He said. I just want to move forward. I don’t necessarily want to go back to last season because we have new opportunities moving forward. I don’t want to dwell on that stuff but I’m excited about what’s going to happen moving forward.”

As OTAs get ready to start in May, how Ballage progresses and develops will definitely be a storyline to check in as we approach training camp.

This story was written by Tanner Elliott. Follow him on Twitter: @Elliott302Tj

Mark your calendars, Dolphins fans. The 2019 regular season schedule was officially released Wednesday night, and the Brian Flores era will open September 8th versus the Baltimore Ravens.

​Here is a complete breakdown of Miami’s 16-game slate:

The Brian Flores era will officially kick off versus Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. This is a homecoming game for Jackson, who grew up in Pompano Beach. Jackson is expected to have many friends and families in attendance. 

The Miami Miracle feels so long ago, but the Dolphins will welcome Tom Brady and company to Hard Rock Stadium once again in Week 2 of 2019. In recent memory, Miami has given the Patriots a headache in South Beach, as New England has only won one contest there from 2013-2018.

The big speculation was the Dolphins would travel to AT&T Stadium on Thanksgiving Day, but instead, Miami’s first road contest of 2019 is against a tough Dallas squad, featuring Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper and tight end, Jason Witten, who came out of retirement to sign a one-year deal in March.

Miami will not see the Los Angeles Rams in 2019, but future Hall of Famer Philip Rivers will pay a visit to Hard Rock Stadium. The Dolphins knocked off Los Angeles to begin the 2017 season, after Chargers’ Young-Ho Koo missed a potential game-winner. 

​Miami will look at all NFC East teams in 2019, the first being the Redskins. Miami last defeated Washington in 2015, 17-10, but that specific quarterback matchup? Ryan Tannehill Vs. Kirk Cousins. Man, how times have changed. Now, Ryan Fitzpatrick will be facing off against Case Keenum, who was traded from the Broncos this offseason...unless, of course, they find a young QB this year.

​The Dolphins usually perform poorly at New Era Field. New Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick makes his ultimate return to Bills Mafia.

Miami’s lone primetime appearance is against a new-look Pittsburgh Steelers squad. Gone are Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell, but the explosive JuJu Smith-Schuster can hurt any football team, and he will do so against the Dolphins. Fun fact: Miami and Pittsburgh squared off in 2007 on Monday Night Football. The final score? 3-0, Steelers.

Hey, Adam Gase, welcome back! The former Dolphins head coach makes his anticipated return to Hard Rock Stadium. A Miami victory would be nice. I am excited for Adam Gase’s post-game press conference, too.

​This was a game Miami should have won in 2018, ultimately dooming playoff chances. The Dolphins, leading 27-17 in the fourth quarter, were not able to stop Andrew Luck and the high-octane offense of the Colts late in the game. Miami lost this contest on a game-winning Adam Vinatieri field goal, 27-24.

​Bills quarterback, Josh Allen, ran all over the football field last season during the December meeting at Hard Rock Stadium. The hope is Miami’s defense can contain the former Wyoming product. Oh, welcome home, Frank Gore!

​Remember when the Browns finished 1-15 in 2016 and 0-16 in 2017? Time flies. Paced by Baker Mayfield, Jarvis Landry, Kareem Hunt, who will be back from his eight-game ban, and newly acquired Odell Beckham Jr., Miami will have their numbers stacked against them by a mile. Also, Cleveland in November is brutal, weather-wise. Happy Thanksgiving week!

Miami will begin the December portion of the schedule versus the Eagles and quarterback, Carson Wentz. The Dolphins upset Philadelphia in 2015 on the road, 20-19. Former Dolphins WR Jarvis Landry made a spectacular grab in the endzone. I am really upset Nick Foles will not be in attendance, however.

​MetLife takeover will have to wait until the final month of the regular season. Miami will take on second-year man, Sam Darnold, and the New York Jets. Maybe there will be some snow. Maybe Fireman Ed will show up. Maybe Adam Gase’s group will score a ton of points on his former ballclub. Who knows?

​Hey, does this mean the Dolphins will get to stay in New York for an extra week? Miami, for possibly the final time, will match up against Peyton Manning’s brother, Eli. Another cold game in December. No bueno!

​Add this to the “Miami should have won this football game in 2018” category. Miami, ahead 17-3 in the final quarter, was outscored, 24-0 by the end of the game. By this time of year, we will either be talking playoffs, miraculously, or the 2020 NFL Draft prospects.

​What better way to close out the beginning of the Brian Flores era than a date with Bill Belichick? New England’s former defensive coordinator will pay a visit to a place where the Miami Dolphins have not walked out with a victory since… September 21, 2008. In simpler terms, when Ronnie Brown was tossing touchdowns to Anthony Fasano.  

When Miami Dolphins fans hear about a player gaining weight in the offseason, they can be forgiven for thinking, “Oh no, did he eat cake at Ryan Fitzpatrick’s kid’s birthday parties, too?”

Luckily that’s not the case with second-year tight end Mike Gesicki. While the new 88 on his jersey may look more slimming, Gesicki is reportedly up to 253 pounds after playing last year at around 240 pounds. Gesicki dedicated himself to getting better this offseason, especially in the oft-criticized area of blocking. And he found a secret way to add those pounds.

“Eat. Workout. The natural ways to do it,” he said dryly. “You don’t have to cover the Dolphins to know who Mike Gesicki is, he’s still working on blocking, he’s going to focus on the technique, all of that stuff. And obviously continue to refine his route-running and all of that kind of stuff.”

With the Dolphins bringing in offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea and tight ends coach George Godsey, both of whom spent time coming up in the ranks with the New England Patriots, the Dolphins offense could feature the tight end heavy formations that New England incorporates. Adding former Patriots blocking tight end Dwayne Allen adds to that plausibility.

“He’s awesome,” Gesicki said of Allen. “He’s an unbelievable guy, really natural leader. He does a great job vocally. He’s kind of like a second coach, honestly. If Coach Godsey is busy, I feel like I can go up to Dwayne and I can be like, ‘Did you see that route? What did you think? Did you see that front? Was that the right guy?’ All of that kind of stuff. He just grabbed me when we were walking off the field and still gave me coaching points. It’s cool to have that presence.”

Gesicki knows he has room to improve after catching just 22 passes last year for 202 yards and no touchdowns. And he also alluded to perhaps not being utilized to his abilities last year with what could be seen as a sly dig at the former coaching staff.

“I saw a lot of good and a lot of bad,” He said of last season. “A lot of stuff to improve on, and a lot of stuff that I can take in and bring into my game this year as well. But that was expected. I was 22 years old, playing my first year in the NFL, learning on the fly, and doing some things I’ve never been asked to do before. I’m somebody that can be my biggest critic. I was able to go back to the film and learn what I need to.”

And Gesicki certainly likes what he sees in mini camps so far.

“I love the coaching staff, love the attitude they’re bringing in. Everything that’s been going on these last three weeks I’m excited about. I’m thrilled to have (Godsey) as our tight ends coach. I’ve learned a ton even these past three days out here on the field with him. He has some great coaching experience, and to bring that in here and help not only myself but the rest of the tight end group has been very productive.

“I’ve been training each and every day with the mindset that I have to come out here and be the best version of myself, I think I’ve put myself in a position to not only be effective in the passing game, but also in the running game. I feel like I’m in much better shape than I was at this time last year. I think that’s when I’ll be at my best - when I play fast. I think last year, especially when I got here, the heat took me by surprise and I wasn’t in great conditioning shape. My thing is I need to go run fast, and run by people, and make plays in the passing game. So, it took a while to get into that shape to get there. I feel pretty good.

“If somebody has something positive to say to me and something that’s going to help me, I’ll take it.”

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

Hold onto your horses, folks. Training camp month is not here quite yet. However, the Miami Dolphins began voluntary mini-camp workouts on Tuesday morning, and one specific player did not participate: safety Reshad Jones.

Jones, who is currently Miami’s highest paid player on the roster, is due a base salary of $13,015,000 heading into the 2019 season. I want to clarify one thing to Dolphins fans and football fans across America: Reshad Jones does not want to be traded. During a press conference Wednesday afternoon, general manager Chris Grier stated he fully expects Jones to arrive when things become mandatory.

“I haven’t given him (Jones) permission to seek a trade." Grier said. "He doesn’t want a trade, at least he has not informed me. Reshad is going to be here. I’ve known Reshad as long as anybody here. I ended up going up before the draft and ended up spending a full day with him trying to get to know him … I ended up spending a lot of time getting to know him and trying to figure out who he was as a person. I like Reshad a lot.

"This is a voluntary camp. He chose not to be here. We’d love to have him here. He’s a Miami Dolphin, but he’s earned the right to do it. He’s not the only guy in the league doing it. It’s voluntary and we know how this game is for these guys. No, we have not given him permission and he has not asked.”

On Tuesday, head coach Brian Flores explained Reshad Jones wanted to train with his own personal trainer, as Jones is in the process of recovering from offseason right shoulder surgery. The Dolphins have made numerous moves already this offseason, shipping Cameron Wake and Ryan Tannehill to the Tennessee Titans, letting Ja’Wuan James sign with the Denver Broncos, releasing Danny Amendola who went to the Detroit Lions and trading Robert Quinn to the Dallas Cowboys.

Trading away Reshad Jones would be disastrous for the Dolphins, but would also result in extra playing time for two former Ohio State products: LBs Raekwon McMillan and Jerome Baker, as well as safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, who was coached by Nick Saban at Alabama.

Jones, a former 2010 fifth round draft selection out of the University of Georgia, started in thirteen of a possible sixteen games in 2018, producing 57 solo tackles, three interceptions, and playing in 89% of total team defensive snaps. As of right now, Reshad Jones’ primary focus for 2019 remains building a stronger body to prepare for OTA’s in early and mid-May, Training Camp in mid-July, preseason in early-August, and the regular season in early-September.

This story was written by Brandon Liguori. Follow him on Twitter: @BrandonRLigurori

The NFL draft is officially a little over a week away, we can almost hear the clock ticking away as teams scramble to make their selections. The Miami Dolphins have the 13th pick of the draft and there are multiple avenues they could take, they could trade up or trade down, draft an offensive or defensive player, or possibly select the future franchise quarterback.

​Below are the selections made by the PhinManiacs writers, do you agree or disagree with our selections?

With Kyler Murray, Dwayne Haskins, and Drew Lock all off the board in the top 10, the Miami Dolphins explore trading down, and find a willing partner in the Oakland Raiders. Dropping eleven slots to the 24th overall pick brings Miami an additional 3rd round (#66) and 6th round (#184) picks this year, plus a coveted second round pick in 2020. The Dolphins then take defensive lineman Christian Wilkins, a 6’4’’ behemoth from Clemson.

- Eldon Jenson (@EJFootball)

Christian Wilkins has the size and athleticism to line up at multiple positions along the defensive line. Scheme versatility is coveted in today’s NFL. With head coach Brian Flores’s background, he will love to have this guy’s set of skills to confuse opposing offenses.

- Steven Paulsen (@SarcasticPhin)

The Pittsburgh Steelers are still in search of someone in the linebacker corps to truly replace Ryan Shazier, someone who can cover, blitz, and run sideline to sideline, an all-around stud. There's a linebacker available in the first round who can do all of that well, and that's Michigan's Devin Bush. But the likelihood is that Bush won't be there for the Steelers to draft by the time they're on the clock at 20, and the linebacker depth in this draft is not exactly deep.

​So, the Steelers trade up with the Dolphins to get to 13 and draft Bush, which allows Miami to get their hands on an extra third rounder and maybe a pick for 2020. With their new 20th overall pick, the Dolphins select Greedy Williams out of LSU. Xavien Howard continues to negotiate with the team for a long-term contract, and Miami needs someone to be the Patrick Surtain to Howard's Sam Madison.

Williams is the favorite corner in the draft by some analysts, while other have the likes of Byron Murphy or Deandre Baker above him. Nevertheless, Williams is a solid choice, and he (or one of the other two aforementioned corners) is likely to be available after a trade down. With the depth in the draft in the trenches, spending a 1st rounder on a corner still leaves plenty of talent available for later picks on the lines.

- Luis D. Sung (@LuisDSung)

None of the QBs in this draft are worth a 1st round pick, so, instead, Miami needs a CB opposite of Xavien Howard, and the focus shifts to Greedy Williams. At 6’3’’ tall, 184 pounds, Williams has the size to be an excellent corner in the NFL.

He’s shown a knack for getting to the ball with eight interceptions in two years and 19 pass deflections. He also recorded 71 total tackles in two years showing he’s not afraid to make a tackle when needed.

- Dakota Gabel (@DakotasForrest)

Clelin Ferrell would make a great replacement for Robert Quinn and he can even be used as a Trey Flowers type of player in Miami's new defensive scheme. Ferrell is good against the run and pass, he will immediately boost the Dolphins defensive line.

- Tanner Elliott (@Elliott​302Tj)

​With the 13th pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins will be trading down in order to accumulate additional picks. We could see any of the later round teams trying to improve their draft position and give up picks to trade with the Dolphins.

Then, later in the first round, the Dolphins will address their defensive line by selecting Rashan Gary, an edge rusher out of Michigan. He probably won’t last too far into the 20s range of the 1st round, but the Dolphins will effectively fill a need right from the start.

- Ian Berger (@ian693)

By now, most Miami Dolphins fans have seen all the memes and jokes about quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick’s offseason weight gain. He readily admits he loves eating cake at his kid’s birthday parties. And he has a lot of kids, so the parties (and pounds) add up, and he’s now in what he tongue-in-cheek (or is that cake-in-cheek) describes as “peak off-season form.”

But that’s not all he had to say when he spoke during voluntary mini-camp this week. Fitzpatrick is a well-traveled QB with a head (and glorious full beard) on his shoulders, but he’s also well-spoken and smart in his approach to all thing’s football.

(Oh hey, speaking of that, did you know Fitzpatrick went to Harvard?)

And as he begins his first week of practices with his new team, Fitzpatrick is excited to get on the same page as his new teammates.

“We’ve got to learn to walk before we can start running,” He said. “It’s nice to get this extra work out here and start installing the very basics of our offense and our defense and our special teams stuff. We’ve got a long way to go, obviously. But in terms of the attention to detail right now, and the effort, all of that is good. But it’s always good on day one. We’ve just got to continue to stay with it and continue to get better with it each day.”

Fitzpatrick knows there is a lot to learn, and while he’s spent most of his career learning new offenses each year (The Dolphins are his eighth NFL team), he knows that getting everyone up to speed takes time and commitment.

“It’s so early in the process,” He said. “It’s offseason. I’m out here just trying to learn how to call a play in the huddle, and trying to get the guys lined up. And like I said, walking before we can run. There’s a lot of stuff going on right now on both sides of the ball where we’re really focused in trying to learn how to do our jobs the best way we can.”

For a guy heading into his 15th NFL season. Fitzpatrick has the enthusiasm for the game of a player much younger. And he’s learned a thing or two along the way, most importantly how to handle adversity when things don’t go as swimmingly as expected. Fitzpatrick has a reputation of being a hot and cold quarterback, and his career is defined by stretches of play when he rivals the best in the league, only to revert to stretches of polar opposite play. Yet he rises back up to fight another day each time.

“I love a lot of things about football,” Fitzpatrick said. “One of the things I love most is the adversity and having things not necessarily go your way, but leaning on your teammates and making sure that you’re the same guy in the building every day, the same guy in the huddle on every play, and going from there. That’s something I pride myself on. Last year, especially at the beginning of the year, it was nice for me to go out there and have some of that (early) success, but that was last year. I love being out there. I love being in the huddle with the guys and hopefully they’ll get a chance to feel that, and see that with me, and they’ll think the same way.

“I think in the last four or five years, I’ve really gotten better every year. And I think as funny as it sounds, I think my best football is still ahead of me, and that’s why I’m still playing.”

​However, Fitzpatrick is well-aware that the Dolphins are in rebuilding mode with an eye towards a future young quarterback coming in and manning the position. So he realizes his job isn’t a long term gig.

“I’ve been at this thing for going on 15 years,” notes Fitzpatrick. “I know the way the league works. I know for me, I put my focus and energy on doing the best that I can, and being the best player I can be. Things have tended to work out if I did that. That’s what I do. I put my energy in getting myself better and getting my teammates better. That’s all I focus on.”

He continued, “My whole career - and I think for everybody, not just here, but around the league - you can’t take anything for granted. You just have to go out and work as hard as you can. That’s what I’m here to do: put my head down, ignore any and everything that goes on outside of this building, and see if I can be the best player I can be, and make the guys around me better.”

And the grizzled veteran is ready to jump into the fray and help make this team better.

“I think every situation is different. We are going into this year with a fresh start, a fresh approach, and a lot of new faces, whether it’s coaches, or players, or people around the building. I think the one thing … that we stress and preach every day is we’re here to win. Everybody in this building, whatever it takes to get this team to win, that’s what you have to be willing to do. We’re making sure that everybody is on the same page with that. Winning is the most important thing.”

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

The countdown is officially on target, as the Arizona Cardinals are just days away from being on the clock as the first overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft. Below are the future potential NFL stars who have met with the Miami Dolphins so far, who hold the 13th overall pick in the first round:

• Corrion Ballard (Safety, Utah)
• Ben Banogu (Defensive End, TCU)
• Nick Bosa (Defensive End, Ohio State)
• Venzell Boulware (Guard, Miami)
• Jordan Brailford (Defensive End, Oklahoma State)
• Blace Brown (Cornerback, Troy)
• Marquise Brown (Wide Receiver, Oklahoma)
• Yodny Cajuste (Offensive Tackle, West Virginia)
• L.J. Collier (Defensive End, TCU)
• Te’Von Coney (Outside Linebacker, Notre Dame)
• Maxx Crosby (Defensive End, Eastern Michigan)
• Jamel Dean (Cornerback, Auburn)
• Jhavonta Dean (Cornerback, Miami)
• Andre Dillard (Offensive Tackle, Washington State)
• Joe Dineen Jr. (Inside Linebacker, Kansas)
• Johnny Dixon (Wide Receiver, Ohio State)
• Nick Easley (Wide Receiver, Iowa)
• Kaden Elliss (Inside Linebacker, Idaho)
• Jaylon Ferguson (Defensive End, Louisiana Tech)
• Tyler Gauthier (Center, Miami)
• Emanuel Hall (Wide Receiver, Missouri)
• Terrill Hanks (Outside Linebacker, New Mexico State)
• Dwayne Haskins (Quarterback, Ohio State)
• Justin Hollins (Outside Linebacker, Oregon)
• Ka’dar Hollman (Cornerback, Toledo)
• Tyree Horton (Inside Linebacker, Grand Valley State)
• Alec Ingold (Fullback, Wisconsin)
• Trenton Irwin (Wide Receiver, Stanford)
• Tyree Jackson (Quarterback, Buffalo)
• Jalen Jelks (Defensive End, Oregon)
• Gary Jennings (Wide Receiver, West Virginia)
• Daniel Jones (Quarterback, Duke)
• Fred Jones (Defensive Tackle, Florida State)
• Tyree Kinnel (Safety, Michigan)
• Dexter Lawrence (Defensive Tackle, Clemson)
• Drew Lock (Quarterback, Missouri)
• Koda Martin (Offensive Tackle, Syracuse)
• Patrick Mekari (Guard, California)
• Aaron Monteiro (Offensive Tackle, Boston College)
• Jimmy Moreland (Cornerback, James Madison)
• Trayvon Mullen (Cornerback, Clemson)
• Byron Murphy (Cornerback, Washington)
• Kyler Murray (Quarterback, Oklahoma)
• Nyquan Murray (Wide Receiver, Florida State)
• Ed Oliver (Defensive Tackle, Houston)
• Charles Omenihu (Defensive End, Texas)
• Ravian Pierce (Tight End, Syracuse)
• Jachai Polite (Defensive End, Florida)
• Riley Ridley (Wide Receiver, Georgia)
• Brett Rypien (Quarterback, Boise State)
• Jeffery Simmons (Defensive Tackle, Mississippi State)
• Mike Smith (Inside Linebacker, Miami)
• Ty Summers (Inside Linebacker, TCU)
• Montez Sweat (Defensive End, Mississippi State)
• Sione Takitaki (Outside Linebacker, BYU)
• Jawaan Taylor (Offensive Tackle, Florida)
• Derrek Thomas (Baylor)
• Kahale Warring (Tight End, San Diego State)
• Tre Watson (Inside Linebacker, Maryland)
• Armon Watts (Defensive End, Arkansas)
• Greedy Williams (Cornerback, LSU)
• Quinnen Williams (Defensive Tackle, Alabama)
• Chase Winovich (Defensive End, Michigan)
• Oshane Ximines (Defensive End, Old Dominion)
• Devin Bush (Linebacker, Michigan)
  
  

This story was written by Brandon Liguori. Follow him on Twitter: @BrandonRLiguori

I know what every Miami Dolphins fan is used to in free agency: The BIG splash, the I-don’t-care-how-much-he-costs player, or the headline of “the Miami Dolphins have won free agency”. Clearly, looking back at how the Miami Dolphins have performed over the past 5 years, the shelling out of high dollars for expensive players has not worked for the team.  But, instead of spending big bucks on expensive players, the Dolphins have taken a very different approach to the 2019 offseason. That’s why the Miami Dolphins deserve an “A” grade for this year’s NFL free agency period.

First, in order to truly understand how much the Dolphins free agency decisions of the past were bad decisions, you have to look at some of the highest price tags and some of the ages of the free agents that the Dolphins picked up:

• 2015 - Ndamukong Suh – 6 year, $114 million with $60 million guaranteed
• 2013 - Mike Wallace – 5 year, $60 million with $30 million guaranteed
• 2014 Brandon Albert – (30 years old) - 5 year, $47 million with $25 million guaranteed
• 2013 Dannell Ellerbe – 5 year, $35 million with $14 million guaranteed
• 2013 Philip Wheeler – 5 year, $25 million with $13 million guaranteed
• 2017 Lawrence “AWOL” Timmons – (31 years old) 2 year, $20 million with $11 million guaranteed
• 2018 Josh Sitton (31 years old) – 2 year, $18 million
• 2016 Mario Williams – (31 years old) 2 year, $17 million with $11.9 million guaranteed
• 2017 Jay Cutler (34 years old) – 1 year, $10 million

In total, the top earning free agents that the Dolphins picked up from 2013-2018 totaled $346 million with a guarantee of $193 million.  And, collectively, the Miami Dolphins record during that period was 45-51 with one playoff appearance. Its safe to say that the Dolphins didn’t get the return on investments that they were hoping for.
​
In addition to looking at the most expensive players, by reviewing the Top 100 free agent lists, as stated by ESPN, it illustrates that the Miami Dolphins loved to make splashy free agent players selections from the Top 100 list (not including the free agents that were re-signed with the Dolphins):

• Prior to the 2014 season, the Miami Dolphins picked up the 7th ranked free agent in Brandon Albert
• Prior to the 2015 season, the Miami Dolphins picked up the top ranked free agent in Ndamukong Suh, and the 28th ranked free agent in TE Jordan Cameron
• Prior to the 2016 season, the Miami Dolphins picked up the 7th ranked free agent in Mario Williams and the 30th ranked free agent in Arian Foster
• Prior to the 2017 season, the Miami Dolphins picked up the 18th ranked free agent in T.J. McDonald, the 35th ranked player in Jay Cutler, and the 51st ranked free agent in Lawrence Timmons
• Prior to the 2018 season, the Miami Dolphins picked up the 54th ranked free agent in Josh Sitton, the 67th ranked free agent in William Hayes, and the 88th ranked free agent in Danny Amendola

The Miami Dolphins made it a habit of picking up players that were successful with other teams. However, the majority of those players never made an impact with the Dolphins to match their lofty paychecks. Part of the problem was that the players were just older and their skills and abilities were on the decline. However, the other part of the problem was that the coaching team did not utilize the players to put those players in the best position to succeed, which is part of the reason that the Dolphins coaching staff has been a revolving door for the so long.

And this brings us to the 2019 Free Agent signings. To date, guess how many Top 100 free agents the Miami Dolphins have signed during the offseason?  None. . zero. . nada. For a franchise that has always been a Breaking News top sports story for their free agent signings in the past, the Miami Dolphins have been one of the quietest teams in the NFL when it comes to signing high priced players.  

The Dolphins most lucrative offseason signing went to Ryan Fitzpatrick, who signed a two-year $11 million deal.  When looking at the mega contracts that the Dolphins have paid out in the most recent years, this top signing is at a fraction of the cost of prior year players.  Then the next largest free agent signing was TE Dwayne Allen for a two-year $6.5 million deal, followed by CB Eric Rowe for a one-year deal at $3.5 million and most recently G Chris Reed for two years at $3 million.  What a difference a year makes!

The new Miami Dolphins free agent philosophy doesn’t mean that the Dolphins are going to be playoff contenders in the upcoming season. But what it does mean is that the Dolphins organization is changing their strategy from spending exorbitant amounts of money for older talent to bringing in specific pieces at decent prices and then drafting and planning to develop their own players. What it means is that the Dolphins, if they do it right, can develop their young talent and then be able to afford to retain that talent once the players have been developed. And what it also means is that the Miami Dolphins have decided that what they’ve been doing in the past has not been working and its finally time to do something different. And that, my friends, is why the Miami Dolphins deserve an A in free agency.

And maybe making changes to their free agent philosophy is just a start to what the Miami Dolphins needed in order to shift the team culture to that of a winning organization. Only time will tell.

This article was written by Ian Berger. Follow him on Twitter: @ian693

With the AAF collapsing earlier this month, former AAF players are now starting to sign with NFL teams. One of the most active teams in signing those AAF players are the Miami Dolphins.

The Dolphins have signed seven former AAF players, Michael Dunn, Jayrone Elliott, Kenneth Farrow, Jaryd Jones-Smith, Tyrone Homes, Reece Horn, and Joey Mbu.

​
​These moves come as very surprising to Dolphins fans since Miami has been relatively quiet in free agency so far. The reason why Miami signed these seven players compared to any big name free agents is because the Dolphins are having a true culture change. Miami is no longer looking to break the bank on high profile players because they want players who will be good scheme fits and good in the locker room.

These seven AAF players have a chip on their shoulder and are willing to do anything to succeed in the NFL. Signing these AAF players is also like signing undrafted free agents after the draft since all of these players have potential and raw talent.

The Dolphins are staying true to building this team the right way and they have showed the fans that with this free agency. The AAF players they signed will compete for a starting spot and push the returning players to do even better. These AAF signings are just the beginning of the new culture of Miami.

This shows the Dolphins no longer want to be known as the laughing stock of the NFL or even the place where people only go there for the big contracts or no income tax. Miami has started to change not only their culture but also their image around the NFL.

This story was written by Tanner Elliott. Follow him on Twitter: @Elliott302Tj

When the Alliance of American Football shuttered its doors unexpectedly, its season unfinished, and without an official champion crowned, several of the top players started drawing interest from NFL teams. And the Miami Dolphins have managed to sign one of the best of the bunch.

Jayrone Elliott, a defensive end who led the upstart league with 7.5 sacks playing for the San Antonio Commanders, was rumored to have drawn interest from at least four NFL teams, including the Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, Arizona Cardinals, and the Oakland Raiders.

It won’t be Elliott’s first shot at the big league, as he played in four games over three NFL seasons for the Green Bay Packers from 2014-16. He was cut in preseason by the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints in the past two seasons.

Elliott is 27 years old, stands 6'3”, and weighs 255 pounds. He played collegiately for Toledo. In addition to his sack total, he also forced four fumbles in his stint with the Commanders. If he proves himself, he could find playing time with the Dolphins, as the defensive line is sorely lacking as the NFL draft approaches.

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

The Miami Dolphins added depth to the wide receiver position on Monday morning, signing former Cleveland Browns WR Ricardo Louis to a one-year-deal, according to sources.

​Louis, a Miami native, attended Miami Beach Senior High School, prior to playing collegiate football at Auburn University, decommitting from Florida State. Cleveland selected Louis in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, hoping to provide stability and positive results. Louis started in 12 of a possible 32 career games with Cleveland in 2016 and 2017, missing the entire 2018 season due to a neck injury.

During his Browns career, Louis caught 45 passes for 562 yards. Cleveland released Louis on April 1st, due in large part to the Browns making a huge splash in the offseason, acquiring former New York Giants’ star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who is now paired on opposite sides of the field with former LSU teammate, Jarvis Landry.

Louis is set to join a Dolphins wide receiver unit, which includes Kenny Stills, Jakeem Grant, Albert Wilson, DeVante Parker, Brice Butler and Isaiah Ford, that is extremely explosive and can give defensive coordinators a migraine.

This story was written by Brandon Liguori. Follow him on Twitter: @BrandonRLiguori

You've seen this story written several times over the course of this site's existence. The Miami Dolphins annually host the largest fundraiser in the entire NFL, the Dolphins Cancer Challenge, to help battle against the scourge that is cancer.

You've seen how people feel about this event, how they personally are touched by the event and the pain that the disease itself has caused them and their loved ones.

​You've heard from Michael Mandich, the son of Jim "Mad Dog" Mandich for whom the challenge was founded, you've heard from Mark Duper, who fought and won his own bout with cancer. And this year, we got the opportunity to hear from new head coach Brian Flores, who shared his own story about his mother's passing at the hands of cancer just five weeks earlier.

​Each year the event grows more and more, featuring more riders, more runners, and more money raised to put an end to cancer once and for all.

"This is our biggest year yet, we're going to have over 5,000 participants and volunteers ... we're really grateful and proud of the community of Miami and Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach that come out year after year and support this." said Jennifer Jehn, the Senior Vice President of the Miami Dolphins Foundation and Dolphins Cancer Challenge. "100 percent of the funds we raise go directly to Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Research is expensive, research saves lives, and we're committed to giving patients their life back."

Last time we had a definitive count on how much money had been raised, it was over $27.5 million dollars given to the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

This year, enough money was raised to make that number seem small in comparison.

In less than ten years, the Dolphins Cancer Challenge has raised over $38 million dollars for cancer research, and this is no doubt a result of the fact that people of every walk of life come to support the cause. It doesn't matter whether participants are Republican, Democrat, straight, gay, or even if they're from another planet (this is a joke, ladies and gentlemen), there is no one you can talk to who will suggest that cancer is not a concern.

It's that rare sense of unity that allows the event to gain so much support year after year; Dolphins alumni come out in force to show their support. Even former cornerback Don McNeal, who for the past several years has battled multiple sclerosis, showed his support by being there, pulled by another biker at the 14-mile ride from the training facility to the stadium.

Current players like Raekwon McMillan, Walt Aikens, Zach Sterup and Kenny Stills threw their helmets into the ring, wanting to give more to the event than just their physical presence; they wanted to actually be a part of it.

"I wanted to do more than stand at the finish line and congratulate people." Stills said. "I wanted to be a part, so I was able to do both: ride, and then talk to people at the end and congratulate them and give them medals ... It's pretty special what we do here as an organization, with all of our events honestly."

Even now, funds are still being collected until May 7, 2019, so even the massive number we have on record may still not be the final one for this year alone.

Lives are being changed through the research being done at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, and for the Miami Dolphins to be at the forefront of those changes, even as the football side of the organization goes through a massive change of its own, once again speaks volumes to the dedication the franchise - and those affiliated with it - have to making the world a better place.

The story isn't new, but the impact of the event doesn't fade, it just gets stronger, larger, and breaks records on the way to finding an ultimate cure to cancer.

“Throughout the entire 100 mile ride, I observed the dedication of so many people working to make this happen. The incredible support from the Miami Dolphins Foundation, the thousands of DCC participants, and donations from many generous contributors have such a significant impact on the patient-focused research we conduct,” Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center Director Stephen D. Nimer, M.D., said. “Having a record number of cancer survivors participating speaks to the important progress we are making treating cancer. It all starts with research.”

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

The Miami Dolphins have recently signed Ryan Fitzpatrick to a two-year, $11 million deal. The Dolphins signed Fitzpatrick to be their starting quarterback for the 2019-2020 season, unless something dramatic happens in the draft. As we all know from last season, Fitzpatrick wowed the world at times and at others just looked like the player he has always been.

With all of the reports saying Miami is drafting a quarterback in the 2020 draft, Miami is likely hoping Fitzpatrick just plays like his normal self this year. If this does happen, Miami will be in prime position to draft a top tier quarterback next year such as Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, or Jake Fromm. This scenario is the best one for Miami and their fans since they will be drafting their new franchise quarterback and having Fitzpatrick taking him under his wing.

Although that is what we all expect to happen, it is not the only possibility. If Fitzpatrick plays like he did last season when everyone was impressed by him, the Dolphins could challenge the Patriots for the division title. Fitzpatrick played so well at times last season, he was given the nickname Fitzmagic. During that time, the Buccaneers were competing with some of the best teams in the NFL such as the Saints.

"He’s a leader first and foremost." Dolphins head coach Brian Flores said last week. "I’ve watched Ryan for a long time. I played against him, coached against him. Well, I didn’t play against him, but he was at Harvard when I was at Boston College. I’ve known about him for a long time. The one thing you hear over and over and over again is his ability to connect with players offensively, defensively, and lead. I think he’s a great fit for us. We’re excited to have him. Again, I’m just excited to have him.”

During the first three weeks last season, Fitzpatrick threw for 1,230 yards, 11 touchdowns, and four interceptions, with a 72% completion percentage. The last three games he played was a different story; he had 816 yards, four touchdowns, seven interceptions, with a 64% completion percentage. Even though he was inconsistent last season, Fitzpatrick does have the talent to lead the Dolphins to a good record if he plays well.

Miami might be “tanking” this year, but if Fitzpatrick plays like Fitzmagic, Miami might have a better record than people think.

This story was written by Tanner Elliott. Follow him on Twitter: @Elliott302Tj

Defensive end Charles Harris, a Missouri product, was a first round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft. The Miami Dolphins were hoping Harris could take his college style of football to the professional ranks. As a rookie in 2017, Harris struggled, starting in two games and producing only two sacks.

This past season, Adam Gase’s final season as head coach, Harris’ game did not impress many, managing just one sack. Now that the page has turned, new head coach Brian Flores, who originally saw Harris twice a season during his New England Patriots tenure, gave Harris high praise during the NFL annual meetings in Phoenix, Arizona.

“I’ve watched a lot of tape on all of our players. Charles, he’s got size, he’s got speed, he’s got athleticism. He plays hard and does a lot of things we like as a staff." Flores said. "When you talk about patience, I think he’s an interesting player on our team. I’m excited to see him on April 1st when the team reports.”

Harris missed five games this past season due to a calf injury, as the Dolphins compiled a disappointing 7-9 campaign. The Miami front seven is expected to look unique in 2019, with the departure of Cameron Wake (Tennessee Titans) the release of Andre Branch, and the recent trade of Robert Quinn. With Harris entering his third season under his rookie contract, the former Missouri product hopes to quiet the experts across the football world.   ​

This story was written by Brandon Liguori. Follow him on Twitter: @BrandonRLiguori

​With the scouting combine over and free agency winding down, we look at the potential prospects that could be drafted in the first round this upcoming April. 

Ever since Murray weighed in at the Combine, he has almost been a lock to go first overall. The only question is which team drafts Murray. Here, the Cardinals keep the first overall pick and draft their new quarterback.

​New head coach Kliff Kingsbury has not been quiet about how much he loves Murray and drafting him would make Cardinals fans excited about the future. The only way I see the Cardinals moving from the pick or not drafting Murray is if an offer they cannot refuse comes up or if something unknown about Murray comes up. 

The 49ers would be drafting Nick Bosa if they were drafting off potential, but since it seems like the 49ers want to win now, they draft Williams. Williams is probably the most NFL ready player in this draft and it also fills a need for the 49ers.

​Dee Ford was recently traded to the 49ers which means that interior line is a bigger need than edge rusher for them. The addition of both Williams and Ford could make players such as Solomon Thomas and DeForest Buckner better or make them better. 

With this pick the Jets draft a player that many people consider to be the best in this class. Nick is Joey Bosa's younger brother and many people, even older brother Joey, think that Nick is the better brother. If that is the case, the Jets would get a steal here.

​Bosa is a terrific pass rusher and has a terrific build to be a great player. Bosa has few flaws but one big thing that sticks out to people is that he missed all last season with a core injury. If this injury is only a one-time thing and Bosa can stay healthy then the 49ers and Cardinals might regret passing on him. 

The luck of the Raiders continues with this pick when they draft Josh Allen, another player that is first overall pick worthy. Allen would be a great fit with the Raiders because they are desperately looking for a pass rusher since they traded Khalil Mack. Allen has the ability to rush the passer as well as drop back in coverage if needed.

Allen has the same skill set as another former Raider in Bruce Irvin. Allen has the speed to chase down quarterbacks or to drop back in zone and cover the nearest tight end or running back. Allen will be a great addition to the Raiders' already young defensive line, and can hopefully give them all the spark they need. 

Sweat blew people away at the NFL combine, which is why he is here at the fifth pick. There were reports out that Sweat has a heart condition. This condition is not supposed to scare teams away since he was cleared to participate in the Combine and Senior Bowl.

Sweat was very dominant in college but his recent performances in the Senior Bowl and the Combine has boosted his stock and put him in the top 5 discussion. Sweat ran a 4.41 forty and him being 6’6” and 260 pounds, with that combination of size and speed, Sweat will be a force on an already talented Buccaneers defensive line.

Gary would be a great pick for the Giants, especially since they traded away Olivier Vernon and Damon Harrison. He has the ability to play anywhere on the defensive line, but he is best on the edge. Gary impressed everyone at the combine when he ran a 4.58 in the 40-yard dash which shows he does have some speed.

​Even though Gary ran that impressive 40 he does not use his speed in his game. He is very good at setting the edge when needed, so he is good against the run. The only move that he seems to use to rush the passer is his bull or power rush, but after this, the Giants might try to turn him into a more complete pass rusher.   

After signing Nick Foles to a monster contract this free agency, the Jaguars use this pick to protect him. Williams is a top tackle in this draft but what makes him unique is that he can play either side. There have been some concerns about Williams' size and how he is not big enough to play tackle in the NFL.

At 6’4” and 308 pounds, Williams is not the biggest player on the field but he beats players with his technique. Williams has great technique which helps him win battles that some people do not expect. If Williams can get stronger then he can possibly turn into the next Joe Thomas. 

The Lions have many needs and corner is one of them. They already have an elite corner in Darius Slay, and with drafting Greedy Williams they will have two lockdown corners. The Lions could draft a defensive lineman here but due to the position being very deep, they take Williams. Williams is by far the best cover corner in this draft and has perfect size to go along with it at 6’2”.

He does have some concerns about his effort on run plays, as he does not try to get off blockers or does not try to tackle the running back. Other than his lack of effort in the run game, Williams is an almost flawless corner and would give a much needed boost to the Lions defense. 

The Bills addressed the receiver position in free agency so they draft Taylor to help protect quarterback Josh Allen. The Bills already have a respectable defense and offensive line is one of their biggest needs.

​Taylor is a fantastic run blocker, especially for the tackle position. He is a very aggressive blocker and is very athletic. Taylor showed in college that he can block any type of move that a defender will use, such as a spin move. 

Denver needs to find a good linebacker that they can build around and White fits that description perfectly. White is a sideline to sideline player and was a prototypical middle linebacker in college.

​He is good against both the run and pass which is crucial with the Broncos being in the AFC West. White does have some issues with his instincts but when he starts to get used to NFL speed he will be the anchor of Denver’s defense for years to come. 

Tight end is not a huge need for the Bengals but it is a position they would like more consistency in. Tyler Eifert was just re-signed by the Bengals on a one year deal, but knowing his history he will more than likely get hurt. Hockenson would be the player they thought they were getting when Eifert got drafted.

Hockenson is the best all around tight end in the draft and one of the most pro-ready players in this draft. Hockenson would be a huge help in the run game as he can block both defensive lineman and linebackers. He would also give Andy Dalton another big target outside of A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd.

After signing two edge rushers in free agency, the Packers boost their interior line by drafting Oliver. Oliver is a very versatile player, as he can play any position and there are even rumors that he can play linebacker in the NFL.

​Oliver is not as highly touted as he was in his earlier college career but he is still a dominant player. People have concerns that Oliver's pass rush has not developed as fast as they wanted but with NFL coaching, Oliver can develop his play more. 

The Dolphins could easily trade this pick so a team could draft Haskins or Miami themselves could draft Haskins. Instead Miami looks to keep rebuilding their team and draft a defensive end to replace Cameron Wake and Robert Quinn. Ferrell would be an excellent pick for Miami since he has some of the same measurables as Trey Flowers.

​That is key because new Dolphins coach Brian Flores is from New England and tried to sign Flowers this past offseason. Ferrell would give Miami another defensive player to build around. Ferrell is very good against the pass and even jamming tight ends off the line of scrimmage. 

Wilkins is another Clemson defensive lineman who is expected to go in the first round of the NFL draft. Wilkins has a good size and speed at 6’3” and 315 pounds and ran a 5.03 in the forty. The thing that makes Wilkins so great is that he is a great leader on and off the field. Many of his former players and coaches praised his character which is always a good thing.

​As for his play, he is very effective at the line of scrimmage and keep leverage while being engaged with blockers. If Wilkins can play at the level he played at in college he will be one of the NFL’s favorite players. 

The biggest question of this draft is, where will Dwayne Haskins go? People have said Haskins can go top 5, while others say the will fall out of the top 10. Here, Washington picks him up with the 15th pick. Even though they traded for Case Keenum earlier this offseason, Haskins would be a great fit in Jay Gruden’s system and could possibly start day one for Washington.

​Haskins has rivaled Kyler Murray for the top quarterback in the draft even through the two are completely different. Haskins is everything Gruden would want in a quarterback and then some, making him an excellent pick for Washington. 

Cam Newton has been subject to injuries his whole career. Now whether that is his fault or because he gets hit every play is the question. It is about time the Panthers get Newton some protection. Dillard was a four year starter for a pretty good offense and is a very athletic blocker.

​He is an all around good blocker in both the run and pass. He can drive defenders on run plays and can protect your quarterback in the pass game. Dillard will give the Panthers offensive line a very much needed boost.

After the Giants pass on Haskins with the sixth pick they pick their franchise quarterback in Daniel Jones. There have been reports that the Giants do not like Haskins at all and other reports saying they love him. If they are not interested in Haskins, Jones makes the most sense.

Jones has been compared to current Giants quarterback, Eli Manning and because of that the Giants might be interested in drafting him. Jones has also worked out with the coach that coached the Manning brothers. If the Giants are serious about keeping Manning as their quarterback, and keeping their scheme the same, Jones would be the smartest pick.   

After Anthony Barr had a change of heart and re-signed with the Vikings, they need to address the offensive line position instead. Ford is very athletic for his 6’4” and 329 pound frame.

​He also has experience to play both guard and tackle which is very beneficial. Ford never gives up on a play and is very aggressive. His pass blocking is not the best but he should still be a day one starter so he can progress through the season. 

Corey Davis did not turn out to be the player the Titans hoped for when they drafted him. Metcalf on the other hand is one of the most explosive receivers to come into the draft in recent memory.

​At 6’3” and 228 pounds, he ran a 4.33 forty and it blew people away. Due to Metcalf’s size and speed combination corners are going to have a tough time covering him. Hopefully with the addition of Metcalf, Davis can turn into the player everyone projected him to be. 

The Steelers defense was the reason they lost games last year. The addition of Murphy will boost both their run and pass defense. Murphy had seven interception and 20 pass breakups on only 87 targets in his college career.

​For a corner he is very aggressive and can be a hard hitter. He is the perfect size for a slot corner but he can play outside due to his aggressiveness. Murphy would also be a great compliment with Joe Haden. 

The Seahawks offensive line got progressively better as the season went on last year. That is why the Seahawks draft one of the most exciting players in this year's draft. Fant had one of the most impressive combines and was already considered to be a first round pick.

​At 6’4”and 250 pounds he is big enough to block edge rushers but running a 4.5 in the forty he is fast enough to outrun linebackers. The only issue with Fant is that he is not aggressive enough with blocking or when running routes. Once he realizes how to use his body better those weaknesses should go away. 

With the loss of C.J. Mosley, the Ravens are now looking for a new middle linebacker. Bush would immediately fill the void left by Mosley and is exactly the type of player the Ravens look for. Bush is the prototype of a modern middle linebacker although he is a bit undersized.

Bush has the ability to cover sideline to sideline and is not scared to stick his nose in the run game. The only negative with Bush is that since he is a bit undersized, he can easily be bullied by guards. If Bush can find a way to get off blocks from bigger guys and improve his reaction time, the Ravens will have another star linebacker on their hands. 

Abram would replace Tyrann Mathieu who left in free agency. Abram is one of those safeties that can play as an extra linebacker. He is very aggressive and a hard hitter who is great in the run game.

​He is better against the run compared to the pass so he might get moved to linebacker later down the road. His hip movements are not the best so in order for him to be a great safety they will need to improve. 

The Raiders double down on edge rushers with their first two picks. Burns was very impressive during the combine and pairing him with Josh Allen would be deadly. The Raiders are only lacking edge rushers on their defensive line since they already have Johnathan Hankins and Maurice Hurst in the interior.

​Running a very impressive 4.53 forty will give the Raiders the ability to send Burns off the edge and he has the speed to chase down running backs. Burns is very athletic which makes it easy for him to get off or go around blockers. If Burns can set his frame and not give away his position when approaching blockers he can be a very good player. 

The Eagles running back position has been very inconsistent over the years. With Jacobs they get a dependable guy who can do it all. Jacobs has been praised by his coaches for his work effort. He is a traditional runner since he does not have breakaway speed but he makes good use of his blockers.

​Jacobs is also very good out of the backfield which is a crucial part of the Eagles offense. The best part about Jacobs' game is that he is very patient with his blocks and attacks the hole at the right time. Hopefully Jacobs will be the player the Eagles need to fix their running back woes. 

The Colts are one of the NFL’s most interesting teams. They are very young and they have a lot of cap space to grow. By drafting Ya-Sin the Colts boost their young defense and give much needed help to their secondary.

​Coaches love him and that shows that Ya-Sin is both coachable and a great player. Ya-Sin is great in coverage and can break on the ball at any given moment. He also is not scared to stick his nose in the run game which will help the Colts out as well. 

Jared Cook was arguably Derek Carr’s favorite weapon this past year. He has left in free agency and the Raiders find his replacement in Smith. Even though the Raiders got plenty of weapons in free agency, the way Carr used Cook last year should be a reason why they draft Smith.

Smith is more of a receiving tight end but he can block if needed. His blocking is a bit inconsistent but if he gains more weight and more coaching he will get better. He is not the biggest at 6’2” but he does have a little speed on him with a 4.62 forty. He has strong hands so he has the ability to be a red zone threat as well. 

​The Chargers are one of the most complete teams in the NFL. The only position they really need help with is offensive line. McGary is a very good player but he has a lot of issues that just need to be worked out over time.

​He is a very effective blocker but he is not always consistent. He has potential to be a franchise tackle and with that the Chargers will be picking best player available based off of need. 

The Chiefs need all the defensive help they can get, especially since they traded away Dee Ford and released Justin Houston. Lawrence improved every year that he was in college. He is also very althletic and has great size at 6’4” and 342 pounds.

​The Chiefs have been looking for a new defensive tackle ever since Dontari Poe left and Lawrence could be that guy. Since the Chiefs do not have many defensive pieces, they could start to build their new defense around Lawrence. 

The Packers do not have many receivers outside of Davante Adams. Brown would give Aaron Rodgers a new weapon to play with. With Brown’s explosive speed Aaron Rodgers will have a lot of fun with him.

​Brown is the best route runner in this year's draft and with his speed, he should make an impact day one. He does have some recent injury concerns but teams should not worry about that since he did not participate in the combine to stay healthy. 

The Rams are a very complete team but the offensive line is a huge need. Bradbury is the best interior lineman in the draft and would become an instant starter for the Rams. He has great hand placement and once he is locked onto a defender he stays locked on.

​Bradbury is a bit undersized and uses the same blocking moves every time, making him predictable. Bradbury’s size is not that big of a concern since he very technical but with NFL coaching he will start to use different blocking moves, which will only improve his game.  

All throughout the combine, scouts said that Allen plays and acts like a Patriot. He is very coachable and does whatever he is told. The Patriots draft Allen to replace Trey Flowers who they just lost in free agency. At 6’4” and 280 pounds, Allen can rush the passer and set the edge.

Allen also has incredible football IQ which is something the Patriots look for in players. He does not have great length so he may be on blocks longer than scouts like but Allen always keeps his eyes in the backfield to know where the ball is going. It seems like Allen is a player that the Patriots will love to have and also need.

This story was written by Tanner Elliott. Follow him on Twitter: @Elliott302Tj

With the scouting combine over and free agency winding down, we look at the potential prospects the Miami Dolphins could draft this upcoming April. ​

If the Miami Dolphins want to boost their pass rush, then Ferrell will be an excellent pick. Ferrell played in a 4-3 scheme in college but should have no problem adjusting to a 3-4 or a hybrid since he is so athletic. Ferrell is very explosive off the ball and uses his long arms to his advantage whenever he is engaged with a blocker.

Although Ferrell does use his long arms to his advantage, he is not the best at getting off of blocks. This could be an issue early in his career, but once he starts to adjust to the NFL and learns how to use his body he will turn into a great pass rusher. Brain Flores could use Ferrell as his new Trey Flowers since they both have similar measurables.

Both players are 265 pounds but Ferrell is two inches taller. Having a player that could act like a Trey Flowers would be a big addition to Miami’s defense in the long run.

The Miami Dolphins double down on defensive linemen with this pick. After getting an edge rusher at 13 the Dolphins get a player to boost the middle of their defense. Simmons was a projected top 10 pick in this draft before he tore his ACL last month, training for the combine.

Simmons will immediately boost this defensive line as he was a force in college, especially in the run game. His junior year alone he had 63 tackles, 18 of those being a tackle for a loss, two sacks, and four passes deflected and one forced fumble. Due to his injury, Simmons will more than likely be out all of the 2019 season but drafting a player of his potential and skill set at this pick would be a steal, especially with Miami's rebuilding mindset.

Pipkins is a very small school prospect but he turned some heads at the Senior Bowl. Since the Senior Bowl teams have been doing some research on him and realized he could be a diamond in the rough. At 6’6” and 309 pounds he has perfect size to play tackle in the NFL.

​Teams have seen that he is very athletic and has potential to get stronger, so he has potential to be a starter in a year or two. Pipkins is a better pass blocker compared to run blocking but if he gets stronger and improves his technique, him and Tunsil can be one of the best young tackle duos in the league. 

Dean turned some heads at the combine when he ran a 4.3 in the forty-yard dash and at 6’1”, with very long arms, he has potential to be a lockdown corner. Dean had 28 tackles, a sack, and two interceptions this past season. Dean is not the most polished corner but has shown flashes of great play. Based off of his size, and speed alone, Dean could turn into a Jalen Ramsey type player.

​Dean does have a medical history having three knee surgeries since high school, so that could be why the Dolphins pass on him. Although Dean does have an injury history, if he can break some bad habits he has and turn them into good habits, the Dolphins could have a very scary secondary. 

I had Allen going to Miami in the sixth round but due to his poor combine, Allen falls to the Dolphins in the seventh round. Allen has potential to be a great pick for them but will need time to develop. Allen has been praised by many of his coaches because he is a team player and is a very coachable player.

He is also a good tackler so whenever Allen has someone wrapped up then you know the ball carrier will go down. Allen does have some issues reading plays and over-committing on plays but this can all be changed with good coaching. 

​Dolegala was not even projected to be drafted until he worked out at University of Buffalo’s pro day. After the pro day, many teams wondered who he was and now there are rumblings that he could be drafted. Playing at a small school, many teams will wonder how he plays against NFL competition.

Even playing at the level he is, he did not put up spectacular numbers. Last season he had a 52.9% completion percentage, 1,953 yards, 13 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.

​Scouts are just interested in what he has to offer as a quarterback and it would be smart of Miami to draft him to see what he can do. At 6’6” he has NFL height but more than likely will be a practice squad player so he can develop.

This story was written by Tanner Elliott. Follow him on Twitter: @​Elliott302Tj

“To stay or not to stay, that is the question.”

A Jimmy Johnson figure appeared in my dream and wouldn’t stop talking about this top-secret Draft Pick Value Chart he made. Then we popped a beer and caught one heck of a Sailfish! Catch and Release of course, we aren’t a-holes.

Then I woke up and realized I just left the NFL Network on when I passed out. But the question remains.

Do the Dolphins trade up, down or stay?

Well, since I have zero influence on the top brass I’m going to assume they won’t be trading up or down and they stay put. Which for the purpose of this article I’m actually quite excited about. There is some great depth that should fall just about perfectly to Miami that will provide a Pro Bowl upside and fill a need. That’s a combination I can get behind.

Every year there is a QB feeding frenzy and this year won’t be different. It’s highly probable that three guys get over drafted much like the year the Dolphins selected Ryan Tannehill. Remember Brandon Weeden? Yeah, he went 22nd that year with talk he might have actually gone third. But I digress, these three guys are excellent additions should they fall to Miami. 

I’ve seen Oliver fall to middle of the first round or as early as the top ten in every mock draft. If he were to slide to Miami, Oliver would have the upside of Warren Sapp. Great feet and very technical. He’s got all the pieces to anchor that line and retire a Miami Dolphin.

I love the small school guy who grows up in college even if he was slightly overlooked in the college recruiting process. You can call it “playing with a chip” if you want to, but this guy has a great skill set.

I don’t think Clelin Ferrell will be there, but honestly, I would take either of the premier guys from Clemson. I prefer the size and scheme versatility of Wilkins a shade more.

6’4” and 310 pounds that has a well-coached game that complements his big man athleticism is irreplaceable. Many guys are saying that Geno Atkins is his comparison but I think a slightly shorter Richard Seymour is more suitable.

With the loss of Ja’Wuan James at RT, Ford has the athleticism to play either tackle spot. The jury is still out on Laremy Tunsil - though things are trending up - and one thing we do know is that left guard is a position that Tunsil can excel at. Left tackle we will see how that unfolds but I think having a little left tackle insurance in Cody Ford makes all the sense in the world.

​Bottom line, we know that the trenches need the most work for the Miami Dolphins. They have lost all sorts of talent there and this is a priority. They can pick up a center and guard in later rounds. There is always talent to be had later. Finding first round talent at tackle or the defensive line provides the ability to lock a great player up for four years before the big salary cap busting contract comes which many times comes in free agency.

This story was written by Steven Paulsen. Follow him on Twitter: @SarcasticPhin

Education has been a key focus for the Miami Dolphins for decades, and never has it been more important for kids to get the proper education they need in school than right now, in a world where lack of knowledge leads to extreme struggles later in life.

That's why early Monday morning, the Nat Moore Foundation - which now resides under the umbrella of the Miami Dolphins Foundation, and is the pillar of the foundation's education fund - gathered at Turnberry Isle to host their annual golf classic for the Nat Moore Endowment Fund.

"We started probably 25-26 years ago, we're raising money to send kids to college or to continue their education even through vocational trade public service." said Nat Moore. "One of the things I was challenged with by Steve Ross and Stuart Miller and some of the guys that have supported us dearly was, how do we help the most kids graduating from high school, get certified to go to work? So two years ago, we involved the vocation and trade, as well as scholarships."

Up until about two years ago, the event was hosted as an independent event by the Nat Moore Foundation, but now it enjoys the benefits of being a part of the Miami Dolphins Foundation, which gives them a little extra boost to help even more kids throughout Miami Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe counties.

Jennifer Jehn, who is the senior vice president of the Miami Dolphins Foundation as well as the Dolphins Cancer Challenge, credits teamwork for the events being able to come together so seamlessly in spite of everything else they have on their plate already.

"Well it all starts with a really good team," said Jehn. "One of our values at the Miami Dolphins is teamwork. Teamwork at work is really our community initiative, and we're committed to leveling the playing field through the power of teamwork to inspire a healthier, more educated, united South Florida."

And to become more educated, it has to be a priority, and the Dolphins see it as such which is why they have a hand in so many of their alumni charities dedicated to helping the youth of South Florida. Nat Moore's Endowment Fund helps the high school graduates, the Jason Taylor Foundation's entire goal is empowering youth, and that's not even counting the things the franchise does of their own volition.

There's no question it's a priority, and everyone involved recognizes that.

"You have to change with the times," said former Dolphins fullback Keith Byars. "As long as you're well-educated, you can be adaptive ... you're giving kids an opportunity to get involved, through their education, with whatever field of technology, whatever what have you; you're gonna be prepared."

"One of the groundsmen, he was like, 'Sam, oh my God, I remember you coming to Nat Moore's tournament, he gave me a scholarship!' And now he's working for the Dolphins, having an opportunity to be a groundsman there." said former Dolphins cornerback and current Chiefs defensive backs coach Sam Madison. "Just one of those things, and there's many other stories in itself that we can go into, but those are the types of things where you go, you come back, see these kids that you had an opportunity to help hands-on, and then they're being successful."

Breaks aren't easy to find in this world, and so it's telling that the Miami Dolphins are attempting to lead the way in the NFL to try and give students in need of a little boost, just what they need to potentially find success. Sometimes, a chance is all that's needed, and the Dolphins embrace that and make dreams come true in ways that often gets overlooked.

Yes, they spent the day playing golf, someone even went home with a new car thanks to getting a hole in one...but the intention is unmistakable, and the success stories attached to it is undeniable. Lives are being changed thanks to the Miami Dolphins franchise, and there's no telling how the world could change thanks to the contributions made by folks who show they care, just by swinging a club on a Monday morning.

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

The Miami Dolphins have re-signed wide receiver DeVante Parker to a 2-year for $11.2 million. When Dolphins fans saw that, they all had the same reaction.

“Why?”

All Parker has done as a Miami Dolphin since he was drafted with the 14th pick in the 2015 draft is get hurt, hear about how this year was the year he would break out, and flash his potential. It seems like at least one game a year, Parker shows the fans how good of a player he can be. For example, this past year, Parker had six catches for 134 yards against the Texans; in 2017, Parker had a couple of average games such as four catches for 85 yards against the Chargers, five catches for 76 yards against the Raiders, and six catches for 89 yards against the Bills.

In 2016, Parker had two games that stood out, when he had eight catches for 106 yards against the Patriots and when he had five catches for 103 yards against the Chargers. His rookie season, Parker ended the season on a three game stretch where he had 13 catches, 286 yards, and a touchdown. After these games people started asking questions.

“Is he finally breaking out?”

“Should we keep him for just one more year?”

“Where has this been his whole career?”

Well thanks to Brian Flores and Chris Grier, we will have at least one more season with Parker to find out whether or not Parker will be a part of the rebuild. The reason why Parker was re-signed is because he accepted a team friendly deal that can only be beneficial to the Dolphins.

Throughout the deal, Parker has incentives if he plays in X-amount of games. That incentive is due to his injury history which we all know is a problem. The second year of the contract is also a team option meaning it will be Miami’s choice if Parker stays a Dolphin after the 2019 season. The team option in this deal is the best part of this deal. Let's say Parker does happen to breakout this season and impresses the new coaching staff, Miami can then pick up his team option and keep him for another year.

On the other hand, if Parker just breaks our hearts again then Miami can decline the team option and leave Parker a free agent and not pay him a penny for the 2020 season. It seems like Flores and company have faith that Parker can turn into the player we all expected him too or at least see the potential we all see at least once a year.

Due to this, Parker will be a Dolphin another year but with a new coaching staff, meaning he has a clean slate. If Flores can turn Parker into a star receiver then all Dolphin fans will be pleasantly surprised, but if not then that would be another wasted pick from the Philbin era.

This story was written by Tanner Elliott. Follow him on Twitter: @Elliott302Tj