No more excuses Dolphins OL must be great
By Dan Heaning
The Miami Dolphins used three first rounds picks on offensive linemen in the last six drafts. With that kind of investment, it’s time to expect more.
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Last night the Miami Dolphins used yet another first round draft pick on an offensive lineman. The OT Laremy Tunsil selection is one of tremendous value as he was the consensus number one pick a few months ago.
Yet, with this pick the Dolphins offensive line has run out of excuses. The front five protecting Ryan Tannehill and making holes for Jay Ajayi (and whoever else may be a running back next season) can’t just improve or simply get better. The Dolphins offensive line must be great.
Their greatness must come despite the fact the Branden Albert, Ja’Wuan James, Jermon Bushrod and Tunsil are all tackles, but two will have to shift to guard. Bushrod has previously said a shift to guard won’t be too tricky.
Despite early speculation, it won’t be Albert or James moving inside along with Bushrod. The Dolphins have reportedly assured Albert he will remain at left tackle and Tunsil will be playing left guard.
The Dolphins called Branden Albert last night immediately after drafting Tunsil to tell him Tunsil would be playing LG, per @TonyPauline
— Matt Infante (@MattyInfante) April 29, 2016
The expectation for excellence should not be a pipedream for Dolphins fans.
Consider that four of the five linemen for Miami are all mid-first round draft selections. Miami picked three of the players themselves. Mike Pouncey went 15th overall in the 2011 NFL Entry Draft, Ja’Wuan James was selected 19th in the 2014 NFL Entry Draft with Tunsil going 13th overall in the 2016 draft.
Miami signed a first rounder when they picked up Albert. The Kansas City Chiefs took him with the 15th selection in the 2008 NFL Entry Draft, the same year Miami selected Jake Long with the first pick.
The Dolphins have also sunk a lot of money into this offensive line. Both Pouncey and Albert have a salary cap value of slightly over $10 million for the 2016 season.
Tack on James’ $2.2 million with Dallas Thomas’ and Bushrod’s values of $1.8 million and about $1.4 million respectively and Miami has the seventh most expensive front five in football without having signed Tunsil yet, according to Spotrac.
The entire offensive line eats up about 18.5 percentage of the team’s total salary cap.
Last season, the Dolphins had the eighth most expensive line but finished 28th in run blocking with 3.45 adjusted line yards and 24th in pass protection with a 7.5 percent sack rate. Only the Cleveland Browns, of course, paid more for worse, according to Football Outsiders.
This upcoming season, that must change. With the influx of three former Pro Bowlers (Pouncey, Albert, Bushrod), four first round picks, and $28.7 million (without a Tunsil contract) devoted to the offensive line, the Miami upper brass and Dolphins fans themselves must not only expect, but demand, one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.
Anything else will be a failure.