Phin Phanatic
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Target areas for the Miami Dolphins in the 2019 NFL Draft

By Brian Miller

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: Minkah Fitzpatrick of Alabama poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked #11 overall by the Miami Dolphins during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: Minkah Fitzpatrick of Alabama poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked #11 overall by the Miami Dolphins during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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DE’s Cameron Wake and William Hayes talk at training camp practice – image courtesy of MiamiDolphins.com
DE’s Cameron Wake and William Hayes talk at training camp practice – image courtesy of MiamiDolphins.com /

Defensive ends and defensive tackles

The Miami Dolphins will play the Oakland Raiders this weekend and head coach Jon Gruden has taken a lot of flack for his comments about how hard it is to find a good pass rusher. This coming only a couple of weeks after trading arguably one of the best, Khalil Mack, in the league.

The Dolphins are pretty stacked at defensive end. Charles Harris was the teams first round pick only two drafts ago and while he is frustrated for his lack of sacks, he simply is stuck behind two very good edge rushers in Cameron Wake and Robert Quinn. Add William Hayes to the mix and there is little room for Harris to get reps.

Miami will likely move on from Andre Branch at the end of the year if he is still on the team. His snap counts are in the mid-20’s through two weeks of play and that isn’t a lot for a guy who is being paid $10 million for this season.

When the 2019 draft arrives I suspect that defensive end will be a top priority for the Dolphins. They could lose both Branch and Hayes this off-season and Wake is not getting any younger despite playing like he is in his 20’s. Miami should forward think this position and they could opt for an edge rusher early.

Along the defensive line Jordan Phillips is seeing Davon Godchaux taking more reps alongside Akeem Spence. The Dolphins defensive front was supposed to be a problem and through two weeks it has been the opposite but make no mistake the Dolphins will look at the draft as a way to bolster the front. Perhaps as early as the first round. They like to rotate their lineman and even adding a top blue-chip prospect won’t change that.

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