Prior to this month's draft, 1SBD's Mark Hogan takes an in-depth look into each team's current projected starters and identifies strengths and lingering team needs after the first waves of free agency.
Player stats collected from Pro Football Reference. Base salary information per Over The Cap.
TAKEAWAYS
PROS
- Releasing quarterback Ryan Tannehill finally allows Miami to take a step in a new direction. The quarterback was given one more chance to prove himself after a nasty 2017 knee injury but continued to underwhelm and bring attention to the team. Ryan Fitzpatrick isn't a long-term solution but will likely stay as the starter until the Dolphins can try to get Tua Tagovailoa in the 2020 Draft.
- The defensive backs are a relatively strong unit, boasting 2018 second team All-Pro cornerback Xavien Howard and last year's 11th overall pick Minkah Fitzpatrick at safety. Those two will need to carry an otherwise weak defense, discussed below.
CONS
- Despite having over $40 million in cap space heading into free agency, the Dolphins' only notable acquisitions were Fitzpatrick and cornerback Eric Rowe (as depth). Those signings are no where close to the adrenaline shot this team needs. The Dolphins' offense gained the second-fewest yards and seventh-fewest points in 2018. The defense gave up sixth-most points, fourth-most yards and recorded fourth-fewest sacks. Those numbers could be worse in 2019.
- 2017 first round pick Chris Harris needs to step up if the Dolphins are going to get any pressure in 2019. He and Kiko Alonso may be the only bright spots in Miami's front seven. It's completely unlikely the team wants Ndamukong Suh back but he's a difference-maker still on the open market and could be a worthwhile addition under new head coach Brian Flores.
- The offensive line is shaky. The loss of - temperamental - Ju'Wuan James may or may not have a big impact, but with question marks over projected starters Isaac Asiata and Zach Sterup, the team may wish they had held on to him.
Projected Starters
NOTE:
NAME, Draft Round.Overall Pick (TEAM, year). Starts/Games Played. Age. Cap Hit 2019
QB has an additional 'total yards, number of attempts (yards per attempt)' figure.
RB, WR and TE have an additional ‘total yards / number of touches (yards per touch)’ statistic
Age as of Sunday September 8, 2019 (Week 1)
QUARTERBACK
RYAN FITZPATRICK, 7.250 (LAR, 2005). 126/141. 29,357 yards/ 4,285 attempts (6.9 y/a). 36-years-old. $5,500,000
RUNNING BACK
KENYAN DRAKE, 3.73 (MIA, 2016). 14/48. 2,120 yards/ 380 touches (5.6). 25-years-old. $2,230,315
WIDE RECEIVER
DEVANTE PARKER, 1.14 (MIA, 2015). 31/54. 2,217 yards/ 163 touches (13.6). 26-years-old. $4,843,750
KENNY STILLS, 5.144 (NO, 2013). 72/94. 4,146 yards/ 263 touches (15.8). 27-years-old. $9,750,000
BRICE BUTLER, 7.209 (OAK, 2013). 8/69. 1,237 yards/ 79 touches (15.6). 29-years-old. $805,000
Average: 122nd overall pick. 111 starts/ 217 games played (51.6%). 5,393 yards/ 505 touches (10.7). 27.3-years-old. Total cap hit: $15.4M
TIGHT END
MIKE GESICKI, 2.42 (MIA, 2018). 7/16. 202 yards/ 22 touches (9.2). 23-years-old. $1,502,710
OFFENSIVE LINE
LAREMY TUNSIL, 1.13 (MIA, 2016). 44/44. 25-years-old. $3,963,798
ISAAC ASIATA, 5.164 (MIA, 2017). 0/2. 26-years-old. $645,000
DANIEL KILGORE, 5.163 (SF, 2011). 43/78. 31-years-old. $2,400,000
JESSE DAVIS, undrafted (MIA, 2017). 26/32. 27-years-old. $645,000
ZACH STERUP, undrafted (MIA, 2017). 2/12. 27-years-old. $645,000
Average: 170th overall pick. 115 starts/ 168 games played (68.5%). 27.2-years-old. Total cap hit: $8.3M
DEFENSIVE LINE
JONATHAN WOODARD, 7.226 (MIA, 2018). 0/6. 25-years-old. $645,000
DAVON GODCHAUX, 5.178 (MIA, 2017). 21/31. 24-years-old. $695,487
AKEEM SPENCE, 4.100 (TB, 2013). 57/88. 27-years-old. $3,250,000
CHARLES HARRIS, 1.22 (MIA, 2017). 3/27. 24-years-old. $2,957,448
Average: 132nd overall pick. 81 starts/ 152 games played (53.3%). 25-years-old. Total cap hit: $7.5M
LINEBACKERS
JEROME BAKER, 3.73 (MIA, 2018). 11/16. 22-years-old. $897,800
RAEKWON MCMILLAN, 2.54 (MIA, 2018). 16/16. 23-years-old. $1,281,146
KIKO ALONSO, 2.46 (BUF, 2013). 63/73. 29-years-old. $8,272,500
Average: 58th overall pick. 90 starts/ 105 games played (85.7%). 24.7-years-old. Total cap hit: $10.5M
CORNERBACK
BOBBY MCCAIN, 5.145 (MIA, 2015). 32/62. 26-years-old. $6,340,400
XAVIEN HOWARD, 2.38 (MIA, 2016). 34/35. 26-years-old. $1,949,830
Average: 92nd overall pick. 66 starts/ 97 games played (68.0%). 26-years-old. Total cap hit: $8.3M
SAFTEY
MINKAH FITZPATRICK, 1.11 (MIA, 2018). 11/16. 22-years-old. $3,738,12
TJ MCDONALD, 3.71 (LAR, 2013). 75/75. 28-years-old. $6,002,000
Average: 41st overall pick. 86 starts/ 91 games played (94.5%). 25-years-old. Total cap hit: $9.7M
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