Finsmob Unleashed

Like any NFL Free Agency period, there are gains and losses. To start off our Free Agency we took two major losses, despite the die hard Dolphins who keep their chins up and confidence in Grier even higher. I’ve said it, not going to dwell on it, but losing Christian Wilkins was a major failure. Besides, some of you are oohing and aahing at every free agent we sign, because they played in the NFL last season. Did you think we were going to bring in ballerinas? We’ve already brought in 3 DT’s and if I told you last season that any of the 3, Neville Gallimore, Jonathan Harris or Benito Jones was going to replace Christian Wilkins, you’d probably lose your mind. These guys are depth guys, not starters, which leads to me believe that our first pick is looking a lot like it’s going to be DT. None of the DT’s are even in the stratosphere of Christian Wilkins and while Wilkins played 894 snaps last season, Benito Jones played 567, Jonathan Harris 529 and Neville Gallimore 288. We also brought back former Dolphins DT Da’Shawn Hand. Like I said, all depth guys, so you could just about pencil in DT. Then again, the only OL we brought in was former Titans C Aaron Brewer who struggles in the pass blocking department, so I suppose JPJ (Jackson Powers-Johnson) still remains a possibility.

On the positive side, the Dolphins signed Free Agent CB Kendall Fuller from the Washington Commanders. Fuller was a 3rd RD pick by the Redskins in 2016. He’s a legit starting corner, so the void left by the departure of CB Xavien Howard has been filled, and Howard’s proclamation that “the door is closed” is probably accurate from both sides now. CB Cam Smith may still end up being a factor at some point, but we don’t need to foolishly rely on the 2nd year player who couldn’t get on the field while DC Vic Fangio was here. We also have CB Kader Kohou and we recently re-signed one of my faves Nik Needham. We’re looking pretty solid all of a sudden at CB.

At safety, we recently signed former Bills standout S Jordan Poyer. I still recall our favorite Pig begging the Dolphins to draft Poyer so many years ago, actually, it was 11 years ago, and unfortunately, he’s not the same player. I still like the signing, but he will be 33 at season’s start. S DeShon Elliott is now gone, he signed with the Steelers. We also signed ST’s gunner Siran Neal from the Bills, and that one is a big gain for us, and big loss for the Bills. S Brandon Jones also left the Dolphins and now will be playing in Mile High for the Broncos. We signed ILB Jordyn Brooks, formerly of the Seattle Seahawks to replace Jerome Baker. The Dolphins desperate for help at OLB signed long time veteran Shaq Barrett formerly of the Buccaneers. Barrett is now 31, but until either or both of Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb are healthy, we’re going to need pass rushers. That brings me to the sad news of losing OLB Andrew Van Ginkel. AVG will now be toiling in Minnesota for the Vikings and DC Brian Flores. Honestly, I think he looks good as a Viking, but man I’ll miss him. NT Raekwon Davis is also gone now signing a modest contract with the Indianapolis Colts.

Our offense potentially got a nice jolt with the signing of FA TE Jonnu Smith. Smith had his best season last year in Atlanta with 50 catches for 582 yards with a nice 11.6 YPR and 3 TD’s. BTW, the 3 TD’s Jonnu Smith caught last season is 3 more TD’s than the entire Dolphins TE depth chart. That’s disturbing! Slot receiver Hunter Renfro formerly of the Las Vegas Raiders was released by said team and he could be a possibility here in Miami. While Jonnu Smith showed excellent run after catch abilities, Renfrow knows how to get open. 2nd year WR Erik Ezukanma will get a chance, but I wouldn’t be adverse to bringing in Renfro. I expected a lot more from Braxton Berrios last season.

As we head into the draft with a modest arsenal of draft picks, we must hit on some if not all of our picks. It’s imperative we find starters that contribute day one with our first 2 picks for sure. With the departures of DT Christian Wilkins and OG Robert Hunt, it’s safe to think the first 2 picks, #21 and #55, unless we move back, or up, are used on the trenches, O-line and D-line. Jackson Powers-Johnson, Graham Barton and Cooper Beebe are potential OC’s or OG’s that could be in play. On the D-line, T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy are early pick DT candidates. It’s not impossible we go with an OLB like Penn State LB Chop Robinson. Other DT’s that may get consideration are Jer’Zhan Newton and Braden Fiske, both athletic, active, disruptive defenders. I’m hoping we hit on this, it’s quite necessary.

GO DOLPHINS!!!