Here’s the latest installment of our Miami Dolphins Q&A, where South Florida Sun Sentinel writers David Furones and Chris Perkins answer questions from readers.
Q: Do you guys think we need to trade back from 21 to pick up more picks? Draft cupboard is bare from last couple of years so need to build that young depth. — Peter McDowell on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
I’d strongly consider trading out of the first round. Also, trading down from the No. 21 pick in the first round isn’t a bad idea for the Dolphins.
Miami currently has six picks — one in the first round (No. 21), one in the second (No. 55), one in the fifth, two in the sixth and one in the seventh. One reason to trade down is getting more picks.
If the Dolphins trade back in the first round they can collect a third-round pick, giving them first-, second-, and third-round picks.
If the Dolphins trade out of the first round they can get a high second- and high third-round pick, likely giving them three picks among the first 55 selections.
The draft is full of top talent at numerous positions. If the Dolphins can’t find the players they want in the first round, trading down or trading out of the first round both make sense.
Q: Am I the only one with concern that Wilkins “disappeared” in big games other than 1 play vs Buffalo? — 1eyedjk233 on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
No one on the Dolphins was consistently good against good teams last season, and coach Mike McDaniel said Tuesday at the NFL scouting combine that he’d “love” to have defensive lineman Christian Wilkins back.
Wilkins, who had a career-best 9.0 sacks one season after having a career-best 98 tackles, was fairly steady throughout the 2023 season. He had at least a half-sack in 10 games and at least three tackles in 14 games.
Wilkins was a high-quality player on the field and a good leader off the field.
Plus, the Dolphins need Wilkins to team with fellow inside defensive lineman Zach Sieler to make the front four fearsome until edge rushers Bradley Chubb (knee) and Jaelan Phillips (Achilles) get to 100%.
Q: Tua has improved every year. It would be stupid to get rid of him. — Manof1005holds on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa isn’t going anywhere in 2024. McDaniel spoke highly of Tagovailoa at the combine on Tuesday and seemed to say they’re making progress on a contract extension.
The big question with Tagovailoa isn’t this year, it’s beyond.
At worst, he’d play 2024 on his fifth-year extension (roughly $23.1 million).
However, a multi-year extension allows the Dolphins to significantly lower his 2024 salary and salary cap number. The obvious problem is you’re committed to Tagovailoa for another three years or so.
My thing with Tagovailoa is if the 2024 Dolphins don’t win a playoff game, and I’m Dolphins owner Steve Ross, I’m considering changes that include general manager Chris Grier and McDaniel. And I wouldn’t want to saddle a new GM and coach with a quarterback they didn’t choose. So, that’s one reason I wouldn’t sign Tagovailoa to a multi-year deal.
Q: Miami needs a better well rounded TE like George Kittle. — JS1115 on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
This has been a central issue with me since McDaniel’s arrival, especially considering McDaniel coached San Francisco’s Kittle when he was with the 49ers (2017-21).
The Dolphins have had tight ends Mike Gesicki and Durham Smythe, but they need more. The Dolphins need a tight end that’s a receiving and scoring threat — forget the blocking. They have Smythe and Julian Hill to do the blocking. Miami’s offense needs a receiving tight end badly. To me, that’s non-negotiable.
Tagovailoa, and, by extension, the offense, needs a No. 3 receiving option beyond wide receiver Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. It could be a tight end, slot receiver or running back, but most likely a tight end would be most user-friendly for Tagovailoa and the offense.
Q: McDaniel gets too pass happy. — Josh on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
McDaniel relies on the pass too much at times, yes.
However, he utilized the run better this past season. In 2022, Miami was No. 31 in rushing attempts and in 2023 the Dolphins improved to No. 15. The problem was McDaniel seemed to abandon the run too quickly once again last season. It leads me to think he knows there’s a vulnerability/weakness of some sort. Otherwise, why not stick with the run game?
One thing that I consider is although running back Raheem Mostert had a franchise-record 18 rushing touchdowns last season, only one came against a playoff team. Mostert played five games against playoff teams. Miami played seven games against playoff teams (going 1-6) and rushed for more than 100 yards in four of those games and lost them all.
The run game was largely irrelevant last season.
Q: Need to know how Tua forcing it to Hill into triple coverage is on McDaniel. This is on Tua 100% for throwing to the first read which was Hill. …There has to be someone else open he can throw to — Ronnie PI on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
McDaniel is the architect of the offense.
Part of the problem is defenses know if they cover Hill, and keep Waddle covered for, say, 2.8 seconds, Tagovailoa’s best option is forcing the ball to Hill.
Miami needs a better No. 3 receiver, and it needs a run game that can punish an opponent for focusing so heavily on Hill. Both of those are on McDaniel.
Tagovailoa shares some blame, too.
He’s the quarterback, the guy who makes the ultimate decision.
But give him better options, and create better throwing situations by utilizing the run game more frequently and in different situations.
Q: When it works, you get praise, when it doesn’t, you get criticism. That’s how it works. — Jason Meyers on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
Yeah, that’s largely true for McDaniel, Tagovailoa, Grier, everyone in the NFL, and almost everyone in the workplace. But let’s drill down on the Dolphins.
Some of the criticism comes because they haven’t made the necessary changes to be successful.
Changes (receiving tight end, power run game, No. 3 receiver, getting plays to huddle faster, etc.) needed to be made last season and they weren’t.
Speaking for myself, some of the criticism isn’t solely results-based, it’s because they haven’t learned lessons or they’ve been too stubborn to change.
So, often when I criticize the offense for its performance against a playoff team it’s not only that the Dolphins didn’t produce touchdowns, it’s also that they didn’t give themselves the necessary tools (tight end, power run game, plays to the huddle faster, etc.) to win the game.
Q: We have fast WRs and fast RBs might as well get a fast TE to match. — Ryan AP on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
Agree. Really, I’d say just acquire a receiving tight end and utilize him in multiple situations — first down, third down, short yardage, red zone, goal line.
A receiving tight end is almost a necessity in the NFL, and it’s been that way for the last decade or so.
I don’t understand why this hasn’t been a priority with the Dolphins.
