Miami Dolphins improve running back situation by doing little

The Miami Dolphins did not make the NFL Draft a focus point for fixing their thin running back group but they did a lot with a little.

With only seven picks in the NFL Draft last weekend, the Miami Dolphins did  not have enough ammunition to draft all of their needs and that included the depth at running back. Early in the draft the Dolphins focuse their attention on defense and the offensive line.

Despite the lack of draft picks, the Dolphins helped themselves late on day three when they used their final two draft picks on two running backs that could have big impacts on the roster. In the end they didn’t need to use mid-round or early round selections to fill a hole that some didn’t see as existing.

Seventh round draft picks are hard to predict when it comes to successful NFL careers but for the Dolphins, the running back situation was needing depth and the 7th round was the perfect place to find that depth.

Clicking on the Miami Dolphins roster you will see that only three runners are listed. Kenyan Drake, Kalen Ballage, and Kenneth Farrow. The two new runners have yet to be signed. There is an obvious depth issue and this is where Myles Gaskin comes in.

The quick runner should have gone much higher in the draft. Some speculated as high as the 5th round. His falling was nothing more than teams lack of need at running back and some minor hiccups in his game. Gaskin tends to jump around too much before hitting the holes but he doesn’t fumble often and is really good creating space once he is through the line.

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While not a traditional running back, Chandler Cox will assume the role of fullback. A position the Dolphins have not had in a long time. Cox is a bruising front line blocker who can also pick up the tough yards. Think of Lousaka Polite with a little more polish.

The drafting of Cox is probably the first real sign of what the Dolphins want to be on offense. He will fill a similar role as Patriots fullback James Devlin. Chad O’Shea is installing a similar style of offense and Cox could have a big role in 2018.

Overall the Dolphins didn’t have to do much to fix the depth issues at running back. Spending two late round draft picks on Cox and Gaskin was a high reward low risk option that presents with a lot of possibilities.