{"id":19416,"date":"2020-04-22T17:51:57","date_gmt":"2020-04-22T21:51:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sharpfootballanalysis.com\/?p=19416"},"modified":"2020-04-22T18:00:54","modified_gmt":"2020-04-22T22:00:54","slug":"2020-draft-coverage-miami-dolphins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sharpfootballanalysis.com\/analysis\/2020-draft-coverage-miami-dolphins\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are The Miami Dolphins’ Team Needs In The 2020 NFL Draft?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 2020 NFL Draft starts on Thursday, April 23. As a lead up to the draft, we'll be giving a team-by-team breakdown for positional needs. For each team, we'll give an overview of each team's current depth chart and how big of a need each position in the upcoming draft. Find all teams and the rest of our draft content in our NFL Draft Hub<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Be sure to follow our\u00a0new<\/strong>\u00a0Twitter account\u00a0@SharpFBAnalysis<\/a> for additional content like this, plus in-season NFL analytics, betting insights, fantasy football analysis, and game picks & props.<\/em><\/p>\n

Miami Dolphins 2020 Draft Picks Overview<\/h1>\n

Round 1 (5)<\/span>
\n<\/span>Round 1 (18)<\/span>
\n<\/span>Round 1 (26)<\/span>
\n<\/span>Round 2 (39)<\/span>
\n<\/span>Round 2 (56)<\/span>
\n<\/span>Round 3 (70)<\/span>
\n<\/span>Round 4 (141)<\/span>
\n<\/span>Round 5 (153)<\/span>
\n<\/span>Round 5 (154)<\/span>
\n<\/span>Round 5 (173)<\/span>
\n<\/span>Round 6 (185)<\/span>
\n<\/span>Round 7 (227)<\/span>
\n<\/span>Round 7 (246)<\/span>
\n<\/span>Round 7 (251)<\/span><\/p>\n

Miami Dolphins Offense<\/h1>\n

by Rich Hribar<\/a><\/p>\n

2019 Miami Dolphins Offensive Ranks<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

*denotes new addition<\/p>\n

Quarterback<\/h2>\n

Ryan Fitzpatrick<\/b>
\n<\/b>Josh Rosen<\/b>
\n<\/b>Jake Rudock<\/b><\/p>\n

Fitzpatrick and Rosen competed last season with Fitzpatrick completely outplaying the second-year quarterback. Rosen hasn\u2019t been dealt great cards through two NFL seasons, but you also can\u2019t get mopped up by a 37-year-old journeyman, either. Miami has Fitzpatrick signed for this season and Rosen through 2021. The team can go in a lot of directions with their draft picks and attempt.<\/span><\/p>\n

They can try to kick the can one more season on the quarterback situation and acquire more surrounding talent, but there\u2019s no guarantee of having another opportunity in the future to acquire a potential franchise quarterback.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Running back<\/h2>\n

Jordan Howard*<\/b>
\n<\/b>Patrick Laird<\/b>
\n<\/b>Kalen Ballage<\/b>
\n<\/b>Myles Gaskin<\/b>
\n<\/b>De\u2019Lance Turner<\/b>
\n<\/b>Samaje Perine<\/b><\/p>\n

No team got less production from their backfield in 2019 than the Dolphins. Miami backs collectively ranked dead last in touches (22.9) and yards from scrimmage (89.4) per game while averaging 3.9 yards per touch and scoring five total touchdowns. The team added an early-down banger in Howard on a two-year deal, but should be expected to add another (if not multiple) backs in this class and likely one with one of their five picks in the top-60.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wide receiver<\/h2>\n

DeVante Parker<\/b>
\n<\/b>Preston Williams<\/b>
\n<\/b>Allen Hurns<\/b>
\n<\/b>Albert Wilson<\/b>
\n<\/b>Jakeem Grant<\/b>
\n<\/b>Isaiah Ford<\/b>
\n<\/b>Ricardo Louis<\/b>
\n<\/b>Mack Hollins*<\/b>
\n<\/b>Gary Jennings*<\/b><\/p>\n

Miami got a massive breakout from former 2015 first-round pick Parker (72-1,202-9). They rewarded his performance with a four-year extension with added insulation to be a 1-2 year deal with lowered dead cap hits afterwards should that breakout be fleeting. Miami also hit on undrafted rookie Preston Williams in 2019. Williams\u2019s season was cut short when he suffered a torn ACL the first week of November and may not be ready for the start of the 2020 season.<\/span><\/p>\n

Behind those two players, Grant is the only wideout here the team has under contract past 2021. With an absolute need for more playmakers \u2014 especially if a rookie passer is added \u2014 Miami should continue to add wide receivers to the roster via the draft.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tight End<\/h2>\n

Mike Gesicki<\/b>
\n<\/b>Durham Smythe<\/b>
\n<\/b>Chandler Cox<\/b>
\n<\/b>Michael Roberts<\/b>
\n<\/b>Chris Myarick<\/b><\/p>\n

With a slow start to his second season, Gesicki\u2019s development was in question. After a 15-153-0 line through seven games, Gesicki bounced back with a 36-417-5 to close the season. Entering the third season of his rookie deal, Miami will look for Gesicki to turn in a complete season. Behind Gesicki, the team doesn\u2019t have much and may look to add a better contributor in the run game since Gesicki was primarily used out of the slot (72% of his routes).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Offensive Line<\/h2>\n

LT: Julie\u2019n Davenport<\/b>
\n<\/b>LG: Ereck Flowers*\/Deion Calhoun\/Adam Pankey<\/b>
\n<\/b>C: Ted Karras*<\/b>
\n<\/b>RG: Michael Deiter\/Danny Isidora\/Keaton Sutherland<\/b>
\n<\/b>RT: Jesse Davis<\/b><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the biggest offensive problem for the Dolphins outside of long-term quarterback. The offensive line was a travesty last season, ranking 32nd in ESPN\u2019s Pass Block Win Rate, 28th in adjusted sack rate, and 32nd in adjusted line yards created per Football Outsiders.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The team added Ereck Flowers, who saved his career moving to guard from offensive tackle, and Ted Karras, who started 15 games for the Patriots last year. Miami selected Michael Dieter in the third round (78th overall) last season and the rookie struggled heavily, allowing a league-high 14 quarterback hits among guards last season. Both offensive tackle positions are a major issue that need to be addressed early in this draft. If Miami doesn\u2019t take a quarterback at No. 5 overall, there are high odds they are selecting an offensive tackle as an alternative.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Miami Dolphins Defense<\/h1>\n

by Dan Pizzuta<\/a><\/p>\n

2019 Miami Dolphins Defensive Ranks<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

interior defensive line<\/span><\/h2>\n

Christian Wilkins<\/b>
\n<\/b>Davon Godchaux<\/b>
\n<\/b>Zach Sieler<\/b><\/p>\n

Christian Wilkins was a first-round pick last season and was a decent disruptor up the middle. Among 97 defensive tackles with at least 100 pass rush snaps, Wilkins ranked 16th in pressure rate last season per SIS. Those pressures weren\u2019t converted into sacks, but that\u2019s something that can regress from year-to-year. Davon Godchaux was the nose tackle and he also found his way into the backfield with seven quarterback hits (though he ranked 67th in pressure rate). Depth is nonexistent after the starters.<\/span><\/p>\n

EDGE<\/span><\/h2>\n

Charles Harris<\/b>
\n<\/b>Kyle Van Noy*<\/b>
\n<\/b>Shaq Lawson*<\/b>
\n<\/b>Emmanuel Ogbah*<\/b>
\n<\/b>Vince Biegel
\n<\/b>Taco Charlton<\/b>
\n<\/b>James Crawford<\/b>
\n<\/b>Avery Moss<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

If Miami is going run with the \u201cpositionless\u201d thing on defense, they\u2019re going all-in with this edge group. Charles Harris hasn\u2019t come close to living up to his first-round status; he has 3.5 sacks through three seasons. Because of that, the Dolphins added Shaq Lawson, Emmanuel Ogbah, and Kyle Van Noy. Van Noy is listed as an edge but he\u2019s a versatile player who can fill many roles on the defense.<\/span><\/p>\n

With no interior depth, bigger backups like Taco Charlton and Avery Moss (both listed at 270 pounds) could see some more time inside on lighter fronts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Off-ball Linebacker<\/span><\/h2>\n

Elandon Roberts*<\/b>
\n<\/b>Raekwon McMillan<\/b>
\n<\/b>Jerome Baker<\/b>
\n<\/b>Kamu Grugier-Hill*<\/b>
\n<\/b>Andrew Van Ginkel<\/b>
\n<\/b>Calvin Munson<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

After being a starter in 2017 and 2018, Elandon Roberts lost his role and was downgraded to just 20% of the New England defensive snaps last season. He\u2019s likely to jump back into a starter role for the Dolphins. Raekwon McMillan has been an old school run-stuffing linebacker with little in the way of coverage ability. Jerome Baker has taken most of the coverage responsibility as an athletic linebacker who can move into the slot when needed.<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s some solid depth here with Kamu Grugier-Hill, who was a below-average starter but a fine fill-in, and Andrew Van Ginkel who was a heavy blitzer both in college and during his rookie season (though to little success last year).<\/span><\/p>\n

Cornerback<\/span><\/h2>\n

Byron Jones*<\/b>
\n<\/b>Xavien Howard<\/b>
\n<\/b>Nik Needham<\/b>
\n<\/b>Jamal Perry<\/b>
\n<\/b>Tae Hayes<\/b>
\n<\/b>Ken Webster<\/b>
\n<\/b>Nate Brooks<\/b>
\n<\/b>Montre Hartage<\/b>
\n<\/b>Ryan Lewis<\/b><\/p>\n

Miami made the effort to improve its outside coverage this offseason and brought in Byron Jones. Paired with Xavien Howard, who missed most of last season with a knee injury, the Dolphins have one of the better outside corner duos in the league. There\u2019s some question of nickel corner, though. Rookie undrafted free agent Nik Needham filled in admirably last season and spent some time in the slot. That role could also go to Bobby McCain who had been a nickel corner before playing free safety for the Dolphins last season.<\/span><\/p>\n

Safety<\/span><\/h2>\n

Eric Rowe<\/b>
\n<\/b>Bobby McCain<\/b>
\n<\/b>Adrian Colbert<\/b>
\n<\/b>Clayton Fejedelem*<\/b>
\n<\/b>Steven Parker<\/b><\/p>\n

The Dolphins struggled some at safety last season, one of the reasons McCain was needed to convert from the slot. He\u2019s better suited there and a move back would open up another hole at the position. Eric Rowe spent a lot of time bouncing from the box to the slot to deep and wasn\u2019t really great at any of those places.<\/span><\/p>\n

Miami could definitely use a safety in the draft, either with their late first-round pick or early in the second when the value should match the need.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The 2020 NFL Draft starts on Thursday, April 23. As […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1024,"featured_media":8365,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"Learn about the top positional team needs for the Miami Dolphins in the 2020 NFL 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