How the Miami Dolphins should build their defense in 2019 and beyond
By Brian Miller
The Miami Dolphins have seven draft picks in this months draft and a lot of holes to fill on both sides of the ball. How they fill is important.
Earlier this week we looked at the offensive side of the ball for the Miami Dolphins and where they should look to fill their holes. Now we look at the defense.
Miami will enter the draft with needs at defensive tackle, linebacker, defensive end, and cornerback. With several offensive holes as well, filling those needs will not simply come from the draft. They will be filled by undrafted free agents, street veteran free agents, the draft, and the 2020 and 2021 draft.
How well Miami fills those needs will be the catalyst to sustained success but this is a rebuild and will take time.
Defensive end – draft now
The 2019 draft is loaded, especially at the top of the draft with quality blue-chip players that could make an immediate impact on the roster. The Dolphins need more than Davon Godchaux and Vincent Taylor. Players like Ed Oliver and Christian Wilkins could change the defensive front immediately and impact the team from the start.
Building the trenches is important and this year may give the Dolphins an opportunity to accelerate their rebuilding of the defense with players that can play immediately. A first round pick is not out of the question but if they view another player from another position as more important, the 2nd round is still deep with defensive front line talent.
Defensive end – draft now
The Dolphins will enter the draft with Charles Harris, Jonathan Woodard, and Tank Carradine as their three rotation DE’s. That is not enough and it isn’t very good. Miami can’t rely on Harris to make a jump that he hasn’t shown signs he can make yet.
The first round of the draft is a good situation for the Dolphins at 13 where several top edge rushers should be available. This probably should be the Dolphins top targets in round one. Finding the best player however is important. Miami thus far wasted a pick on Harris and they can’t afford to miss again on the edge. Finding a player here that can put pressure on opposing offensive systems is paramount to success.
If the Dolphins opt to not draft DE in round one, round two has some solid talent as well.
Linebacker – Mid-round 2019 or 2020
The Dolphins have a decent core of young linebackers with the only real question being Kiko Alonso. For all those down on Alonso however, he has been very good in Miami in most of his game. He has judgement and discipline issues and his coverage skills are not great but he has a motor that doesn’t stop and led the team in tackles last season.
Miami still needs to find a future star at the position. Alonso isn’t going to last another three years. Developing a linebacker from the mid-rounds is a good idea and the 2020 draft could provide a very good linebacker in round two. The Dolphins should focus on QB in 2020’s first round if not addressed this year.
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Cornerback – mid-round or undrafted free agent
Cornerbacks are hard to find. Really good ones anyways. The Dolphins under Flores and Patrick Graham who runs the defense will need more corners. They used a lot of them in New England and Miami is expected to bring a similar approach to the defense.
Miami has talent at the position but they lack depth to run what Flores may want so Miami is likely to add one in this years draft. Maybe as early as round three. If the Dolphins trade down in round one, it is not out of the question that Miami uses a first round pick if someone falls.