5 positions of need for Miami Dolphins in 2016
By Brian Miller
Dec 7, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins cornerback Brent Grimes (21) tackles Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Kamar Aiken (11) short of the end zone in the first half of a game at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports
Cornerback
Brent Grimes is still as good as he was two years ago but he isn’t getting any younger and his cap number for 2016 will be $9.5 million. The problem is Miami has no one else on the roster ready or remotely ready to take over for Grimes. If Grimes is injured the Dolphins will have a major problem on their hands. Compounding the issue is that Jamar Taylor barely has a hold on the other cornerback position and that has created a depth problem. The Dolphins traded Will Davis to the Ravens and he looked far better there than he did in Miami before tearing his ACL.
The Dolphins problems at the position can be dated to the trade of Vontae Davis and the decision not to re-sign Sean Smith. Davis hurt more than Smith and he has been much better for the Colts than Smith has been for the Chiefs. The Dolphins chose to trade Davis because, among other things, Joe Philbin questioned his desire and his conditioning. He was traded in 2012 during training camp.
Since 2012 the Dolphins have drafted five defensive backs and none of them but Taylor have made even a small impact. With the age and likely deterioration in Grimes’ play on the field Cornerback is one of the most needed positions for the Dolphins. Miami has to make a move to fix their corner problems and relying on the defensive line to mask their deficiences at the position is no longer working.
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