Phin Phanatic
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Dolphins vs. Jets is an audition for free agent QBs

By Neil Patrick Healy

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 09: Myles Gaskin #3 of the Miami Dolphins is tackled by Michael Carter II #30 of the New York Jets during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium on October 09, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 09: Myles Gaskin #3 of the Miami Dolphins is tackled by Michael Carter II #30 of the New York Jets during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium on October 09, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 06: Laken Tomlinson #78 of the New York Jets looks while a Skycam is repaired in the second half of a game against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium on November 06, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 06: Laken Tomlinson #78 of the New York Jets looks while a Skycam is repaired in the second half of a game against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium on November 06, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

Offensive line: Jets

Both the Dolphins and the Jets lack that elite offensive line quarterbacks look for. Entering Week 18, Pro Football Focus ranks both lines in the bottom 10 in the league, with Miami coming in at No. 22 and New York at No. 31. Despite investing plenty of resources into them, neither team’s offensive line has performed at an elite level.

For the Jets, the offensive line has been an issue the front office has been trying to fix in the draft and free agency with mixed results. With the 11th pick in the 2020 draft, the Jets selected Louisville tackle Mekhi Becton as the future on the left side of the line. Instead, he’s been a bust thus far, playing in only 15 games in three seasons and missed all of this year with a knee injury suffered in training camp. Becton’s injuries and his struggles to keep his weight under control for the entire stint with the Jets put his career in doubt moving forward. To rub salt in the wound, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took Pro Bowl tackle Tristan Wirfs from Iowa two picks later.

In free agency, the Jets lured Laken Tomlinson away from the 49ers with a three-year, $40,000,000 contract with $27,000,000 guaranteed. So far, he’s been a disappointment. PFF ranks Tomlinson as the 58th-best guard in the league with an overall grade of 56.8. He’s been fine in the passing game, earning a grade of 70.8, but he hasn’t been able to make a difference in the running game. This season, his run-blocking grade of 46.6 is 89th in the league among guards. Not the kind of production you want from a big free-agent signing.

The one bright spot seems to be second-year guard Alijah Vera-Tucker. Despite starting the season at right guard, he played snaps all along the offensive line due to injuries before tearing his triceps in Week 7 and being placed on injured reserve.

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