The Miami Dolphins went into the offseason with a ton of work to do. General manager Chris Grier had a 53-man puzzle with holes and some pieces that didn’t fit.
The Dolphins lost a few homegrown cornerstone players, such as Christian Wilkins, Robert Hunt, and Xavien Howard, to start the offseason. Still, Grier put on his work boots, clocked in, and churned out another playoff-caliber roster.
What started as a “capacolypse,” turned into a place of prosperity with a pack of new faces
ready and eager to make an impact with the league’s most explosive team.
Fresh Face or New Place
As we know, the Dolphins were in disarray to start the offseason but quickly went to work to fill some holes left by key players and fix some of the problems that presented themselves down the stretch of the 2023 season.
The first impactful signing of the offseason was tight end Jonnu Smith. Smith made a name for himself with the Tennessee Titans and cashed in a 4-year, $50 million New England Patriots. Unfortunately, he could only cash in one touchdown in two years with the Patriots before being traded for a 7th round pick to the Atlanta Falcons.
While with the Falcons, Smith’s career got back on track, putting up his best numbers in three years and ranked third in yards after catch among tight ends in 2023 with 7.1. His physicality, speed, and underrated hands can flourish in this offense that’s begging for a receiving tight end that isn’t a liability in run blocking.
After releasing long-time linebacker Jerome Baker, the Dolphins had to find a replacement with a nose for the football and a ton of tackling fuel. With the signing of Jordyn Brooks, they did just that.
Brooks just finished his third season in a row with 100+ tackles, including 184 in 2021 and 161 in 2022. He should serve as an early-down linebacker because the one hole in his game has been as a cover linebacker. Luckily, that’s where the signing of Anthony Walker Jr. comes into play.
Although Walker Jr. only had 44 tackles in 2023, he is widely regarded as one of the best cover linebackers in the league. He will likely serve as a third-down linebacker matching up against the better tight ends in the league. Brooks and Walker Jr. could be a strong, interchangeable, duo alongside David Long Jr.
With a shift in defensive philosophy under new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, the Dolphins invested in the back half of their defense. They went out and signed one of the best corners on the market for a steal of a deal in Kendall Fuller.
He replaces one of the franchise’s best corners in Xavien Howard and does have big shoes to fill, but he’s two years younger and graded much better (83.1) than Howard (55.1) in 2023 per Pro Football Focus as the top corner on the Washington Commanders. As a number two corner behind Jalen Ramsey, the duo could pressure the other team’s offense and give more time for the Dolphins rushers to get home.
The last big piece that the Dolphins added on defense, at least in my eyes, was Jordan Poyer. He may be on the older side of 30, but he’s still got more than enough left in the tank and brings a leadership presence that the Dolphins have needed for years on the defensive side.
He’s a leader and a playmaker on the Buffalo Bills defense that has given the Dolphins problems for years. That playmaker now plays in Miami and knows Josh Allen, having practiced every day against him for several years. That could give the Dolphins an edge during those crucial division games against the Bills, and get them over the hump.
The highest profile signing of the offseason was Odell Beckham Jr. He brings a veteran presence among young receivers but has Super Bowl experience and played well through the Rams playoff run and into that Super Bowl. He makes plays when the lights are at their brightest, and the Dolphins can use all the help they can afford in those moments.
Beckham Jr. has been an injury liability the last handful of years, but with a decreased workload as the Dolphins WR3, he could bring some juice and make big plays when they’re needed. He still has some of the best hands in the league and is a man-breaker. Depth at receiver is crucial, especially when most of the receiving core is small and susceptible to injuries.
If Jaylen Waddle or Tyreek Hill get injured, Beckham Jr. filling in as a WR2 is not much of a gap like the case was in 2023. I see big plays coming from Beckham Jr. in 2024.
What About The Kids
I know that the draft isn’t considered a pickup like the title refers to, but I want to bring them in because they are new faces to the team, and there are almost a handful that could make an immediate impact.
Edge rushers in first-round pick Chop Robinson, who’s already showing flashes in camp, and fifth-round pick Mohamed Kamara will get plenty of snaps from the start. Robinson will be a starter alongside the returning Emmanuel Ogbah (who could also make an impact, so let’s not forget about him), and they are going to be who the Dolphins heavily rely on, with Kamara backing them up until Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips come back from their injuries.
On the offensive side, the rooks are just as exciting, but none are starting yet. Second-round pick Patrick Paul is the heir apparent to left tackle once Terron Armstead retires, but with no one locking up the right guard position, I could see Paul sliding over there and making an immediate impact. If there’s a hole at guard, and you have a guy who could play well in that spot, there’s no reason to have him warming the bench, especially if you already have a solid backup tackle in Kendall Lamm. He can learn the nuances of the tackle position from Armstead and play guard his first year, as many have done before.
Fourth-round pick Jaylen Wright and sixth-round pick Malik Washington are both down in the depth chart due to the depth of their positions. Players at those positions on the roster have had a history of injuries, and they could get time in 2023. Both players could make an impact if those positions weren’t so deep. Maybe we won’t see them early, but they could flash on your screen later in the year so be on the lookout for them.
The Dolphins went from a team most people thought would take a step back after their initial losses in free agency, but Grier and his team got after it and filled every need with fresh faces ready to step up.
My question is, which player will have the most impact in the upcoming season?
