I like the fact that the Miami Dolphins remain “all-in” in 2024, meaning they’re trying to win a Super Bowl instead of building toward winning a Super Bowl.
I’m 100% on-board for a 2024 Dolphins Super Bowl sprint.
I still like that way of thinking.
In light of that, here are some of the moves and principles I’d have in three areas — scheme/philosophy, free agency and the NFL draft — to get the Dolphins closer to a Super Bowl.
(By the way, this isn’t a response to Dave Hyde’s offseason plan).
You already know some of the major tentpoles of my Dolphins offseason and regular season.
I wouldn’t extend quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s contract just yet.
I’d keep defensive lineman Christian Wilkins.
I would have kept cornerback Xavien Howard (but that’s not happening).
New defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver should fully utilize cornerback Jalen Ramsey, which he said he’ll do.
Coach Mike McDaniel must make the game easier for Tagovailoa.
Here are some of my other thoughts.
Scheme and philosophy
Speed and pre-snap motion remain among Miami’s biggest offensive advantages. But you want to be able to score touchdowns in many ways, not just via the big play.
The offense needs a receiving tight end and a power running game, especially for third-down and short-yardage situations. This is non-negotiable.
The offense needs a strong/significant No. 3 receiver whether it’s a tight end, slot receiver or running back.
Make the offense easier/friendlier for Tagovailoa, certainly by getting plays to the huddle faster, and possibly by reducing the pre-snap motion so he has more time to scan the defense before the play starts.
Defensively, Miami needs to add aggressive-minded players, guys with some nastiness and attitude.
Without knowing many specifics about Weaver’s system, generally speaking the Dolphins need defensive backs capable of playing man-to-man and a front seven that can get after the quarterback in a variety of ways (inside rush, edge rush, blitz).
This defense needs toughness and attitude. It must establish a hardhat-and-lunch pail tone. The defense must have a 180-degree different feel than the big play offense.
Free agency
The big picture here is adding missing elements, not specific players. Offensively, that means a receiving tight end and power running back; defensively, that means toughness.
Weaver, who comes from the rugged Baltimore Ravens, should know what he wants when it comes to toughness.
Because Miami’s in “win-now” mode and won’t have much money to spend, most of its free agent signees should be veterans on one-year deals. The Dolphins will probably have enough money for one significant free agent signee.
As for my moves:
— I’d re-sign center Connor Williams;
— Regrettably, I’d allow right guard Rob Hunt, one of my favorite players on the team, to depart via free agency. You hate to lose high-quality homegrown players, but he’s so good that he’s too expensive. It’s business, not personal;
— I’d re-sign safety DeShon Elliott;
— I’d re-sign edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel;
— I’d re-sign cornerbacks Eli Apple and Nik Needham;
— I’d re-sign safety Brandon Jones;
— I’d bring back guard Robert Jones and safety Elijah Campbell;
— I’d sign or draft a backup left tackle who is capable of starting. The latter likely means a second-round pick while the former means a veteran along the lines of Kendall Lamm or Brandon Shell;
— I’d give second-year cornerback Cam Smith a fair chance but he’d get no guarantee to start or play over Kader Kohou, Apple or Needham;
— I’d look at Baltimore wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.;
— I’d kick the tires on Houston tight end Dalton Schultz;
— I’d show interest in Cincinnati slot receiver Tyler Boyd;
— I’d explore bringing safety Eddie Jackson (Chicago) home. He attended Boyd Anderson High School in Lauderdale Lakes.
Others that pique my curiosity are Washington cornerback Kendall Fuller, Tennessee running back Derrick Henry, New England edge Josh Uche, Kansas City linebacker Drue Tranquill, New York Giants cornerback Adoree Jackson, Detroit safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Buffalo edge A.J. Epenesa, Green Bay running back A.J. Dillon, and New York Jets defensive tackle Solomon Thomas.
Draft
The Dolphins have six picks — one in the first round, one in the second, one in the fifth, two in the sixth and one in the seventh.
The thought here is one starter and one key reserve between the first- and second-round picks.
Trading out of the first round is an option, if workable. The Dolphins, according to draft charts, would get a high second- and high third-round pick, meaning they’d have two second-round picks and a third-round pick among their first three selections.
Trading down in the first round, according to draft charts, could fetch a third-round pick, meaning the Dolphins would have a low first-round pick as well as a second- and third-round pick among their first three selections.
If the fifth-, sixth- or seventh-round picks contribute from scrimmage, that’s a bonus.
First round (No. 21) could go in many directions:
— Center (perhaps Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson);
— Safety (UM’s Kamren Kinchens);
— Cornerback (Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell);
— Edge rusher (UCLA’s Laiatu Latu).
Second round (No. 55) also has many options:
— Left tackle (Houston’s Patrick Paul);
— Tight end (Texas’ Ja’Tavion Sanders);
— Wide receiver (Georgia’s Ladd McConkey);
— Center (Duke’s Graham Barton);
— Guard (Michigan’s Zak Zinter);
— Safety (Washington State’s Jaden Hicks);
— Edge rusher (Penn State’s Adisa Isaac);
— Interior defensive line (Texas’ T’Vondre Sweat).
Fifth round: Interior OL? Inside linebacker?
Sixth round (two picks): Defensive back? Offensive line?
Seventh round: Wide receiver? Tight end?
Those are my thoughts for the 2024 Miami Dolphins.
The names in free agency and the draft might change, but the philosophies and schematic changes remain.