Finsmob Unleashed

Since the Miami Dolphins own the #3 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, a lot of speculation has the Dolphins selecting Alabama WR Devonta Smith to add an important offensive weapon to help speed up the success of QB Tua Tagovailoa. While this is certainly possible, let’s take a look at who’s actually on the roster at this time and under contract in 2021.

DeVante Parker, Jakeem Grant, Preston Williams, Lynn Bowden and Malcolm Perry will all be returning players from this year’s roster. Two players who opted out due to COVID-19 are set to return, Albert Wilson and Allen Hurns. We sure could have used these guys this season. I’d be willing to bet that if we had Albert Wilson, the Lynn Bowden trade never happens. In any case, it’s good to have a young player like Bowden and I think he showed us some potential as well as some limitations. Allen Hurns is a solid possession type receiver who benefited greatly when paired with superstar WR Allen Robinson in JAX. Neither Wilson or Hurns are guaranteed a spot on this time, especially with the current youth movement, and although like I said, if Wilson was here, Bowden probably wouldn’t be here, he is, and now he threatens the possibility of Wilson coming back.

Let’s look at what our WR’s did this season statistically . . .

DeVante Parker – 63 / 793 4 TD’s 12.3 YPR

Jakeem Grant – 36 / 373 1 TD 10.4 YPR

Lynn Bowden Jr. – 28 / 211 0 TD 7.5 YPR

Preston Williams – 18 / 288 4 TD’s 16.0 YPR

Malcolm Perry – 9 / 92 1 TD 10.2 YPR

Isaiah Ford before and after he was a Patriot totaled 28 receptions for 276 yards and Mack Hollins had 16 catches for 176 yards, none bigger than the 41 yard completion from a twisting Ryan Fitzpatrick. As per the norm over DeVante Parker’s career as a Miami Dolphins, nagging injuries hampered him most of the season and as per usual, when healthy, he showed us just how good and dominant he can be. Just look at the numbers there and tell me we don’t need to make a serious investment at the WR position. Once again, we do have Wilson and Hurns potentially coming back next season but both are stopgap guys, and are not here for the long term. There’s not one player on this team at the moment that can be counted on for significant production. That’s a problem.

Devonta Smith, Ja’Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle, Chris Olave, Rashod Bateman, Kadarius Toney and some other WR’s, we will be selecting at least one or maybe 2 in this draft. We also may look to FA which would then almost guarantee that at least one of the 2 returning WR’s from the COVID opt out won’t be back. We need playmakers, and my guess is we will be seeking a RB who can do that as well, but right now we’re discussing WR’s.

In the 2021 Free Agency class, the list is headed by guys we won’t be looking at. A.J. Green, Allen Robinson, Larry Fitzgerald, T.Y. Hilton etc. We’re not going to pay that kind of money but a guy like WR Marvin Jones who played for the Lions and is 31 and should come in under $10M might be a target. He’s been good for 60-70 receptions and in the neighborhood of 700-1000 yards a season and close to 10 TD’s. I think we need consistency and Marvin Jones is that guy. There are a lot of other talented and younger WR’s available, like JuJu Smith Schuster but the cost will prohibit us from looking at them. A lot of who we look at will depend upon who is hired to be our new OC in 2021 as former OC Chan Gailey decided he’s had enough.

I’ll be looking at different segments of our roster each week, I just felt that Wide Receiver was so hot right now I may as well run with that. I suppose fro some of you readers I should be looking at QB’s next but sorry, not going there! I’ll probably look at RB’s next. After all, this is about getting Tua weapons to succeed, so the team succeeds, right?

GO DOLPHINS 2021!!!