Miami Dolphins may have changes ahead but likely not what you think

What should actually happen at season’s end

When the Dolphins wrap up their season next week Stephen Ross will need to make a decision or a series of decisions. There is only one person he should be talking to and that is Tom Garfinkel. Garfinkel is the best of what Miami has at the executive level and should be the ear and right hand for Ross. In fact, it should be Garfinkel that Ross is relying on to take care of things and not Mike Tannenbaum. This off-season should begin with a sit down between the owner and the CEO.

So in my opinion this is what Ross should do as it makes the most sense with little downside for 2019.

1: Fire Mike Tannenbaum – Tannenbaum is holding a position that can easily be handled by one person, the general manager. He has not advanced the team since arriving and there are simply too many questions surrounding the contracts he has worked out and the talent that has been brought in.

2: Fire Chris Grier – Grier is well-respected in the Dolphins offices and in the NFL but here is the issue, if you keep him on for another year you miss an opportunity to have another general manager make proper evaluations through the 2019 season and if you end up firing Grier and the head coach after 2019 you are setting yourself back another year or two, maybe more. Is Grier the right GM for the Dolphins? Hard to say but the talent being brought in is not a ringing endorsement. If you keep Grier then you give him complete control from top to bottom including the future of Adam Gase.

3: Hire a new GM – Finding a good solid general manager is key. Forget this “football czar” thing and just hire a general manager. George Paton of the Vikings could be a really good candidate and there are a lot of people ready for Louis Riddick to get back into an executive role.

4: Keep Adam Gase – Gase should get another year if the above three happens. The new GM gets a full season to evaluate him and Gase hopefully gets a better talent evaluator. If after 2019 there are still issues, the GM can find and hire his own choice at head coach but doing so knowing that he had a good read on Gase before moving on.

5: Fire Matt Burke – It should be made clear that Gase must fire Burke or he too will be fired.

6: Keep Ryan Tannehill – Frankly there is very little other options out there. Joe Flacco for one year? An Eli Manning perhaps for one season? Nick Foles will want more than one year and more than $10 – $15 million. Tannehill is not a good quarterback but he is about as good as the others who might hit free agency. The draft this year is weak but could be bolstered by early entries from underclassmen.

7: Draft a QB – If not this year then make it happen next year in 2020. If the above happens the new GM should make his own call on the QB situation as it relates to the 2019 draft if there is a guy he wants above all others then he has to be willing to take the risk and go get him. If no QB is drafted this year then the Dolphins can address it in 2020 when the draft pool might be far better.