5 positions of need for Miami Dolphins in 2016

Aug 22, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; The Miami Dolphins offensive line prepares to snap the ball during the first half of the game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

Offensive line

Billy Turner, Dallas Thomas, Jamil Douglas, and Jonathan Martin have all been drafted to shore up the offensive line and none of them have done so. Ja’Wuan James is the best offensive lineman drafted since Mike Pouncey. Martin is long gone. Douglas still has a chance to develop into a very good lineman but the team can’t rely on their hopes for him working out. The same can be said about Billy Turner and Dallas Thomas.

When it comes to the offensive line only the center and right tackle position is secured with players. Branden Albert is very good at left tackle, when he is healthy but his health is a major concern. What Miami needs to do is draft his replacement sooner rather than later. The best option would be to draft a top offensive player who can play both guard and tackle allowing the team to use him at guard until they are ready to replace Albert. This would also give the team more time develop Douglas and see what Thomas and Turner will develop into.

Miami can’t wait for this and unless they find a free agent guard/tackle they will enter the draft needing not one but two offensive lineman. Miami’s inability to solve the offensive line problems has been a major hinderance in the development of Ryan Tannehill and has stifled the running game as well. What makes this even more of a head scratcher is the fact that the last two head coaches, Joe Philbin and Tony Sparano got their NFL coaching starts as offensive line coaches and were highly regarded at that position. Yet neither of them could fix the problems that exist.

Entering the 2016 off-season, the Dolphins must finally find a solution for this problem. If they don’t, 2016 will have as many questions as 2015 does.

Next: Quarterback