TAKING STOCK: 2022 MIAMI DOLPHINS

BY ADAM GREENE

It’s been quite the offseason for the Miami Dolphins. They parted ways with Brian flores, a head coach that led the team to two consecutive winning seasons with a quarterback he apparently hated.

Of course, that’s led to all sorts of new problems for the NFL, with Flores filing a lawsuit that’s tangled up the New York Giants at the same time.

MIAMI DOLPHINS

2021-22 Record: 9-8, third place AFC East

Playoffs: N/A

NOW WHAT?

With Flores out the door, the Dolphins hired former San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. McDaniel helped Kyle Shanahan craft one of the most prolific rushing offenses in the league in his time in The Bay. He doesn’t have the same running back corps he had in San Fran, but that’s an easy fix. Low round draft picks and scrap heap guys turning into dominant backs were a staple of McDaniel’s offense with the 49ers.

It should be a boon for third year quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who found himself in Flores’ doghouse apparently by just not being Justin Herbert. But Tags us no bum and shouldn’t be given up on just yet. Plus, the Shanahan offense doesn’t need great QB play to succeed.

FREE AGENCY

Tight end Mike Gesicki needs to be a top priority to keep out of Miami’s pending free agents. If San Francisco’s offense is any indication, then TE is a super important piece of the puzzle and Gesicki is coming off two consecutive great years. Last season he caught a career high 73 passes for 780 yards and two touchdowns.

The Dolphins need another running back, if not two, and if they want to add a free agent, there are plenty of options. A guy like James Conner would blow an offense like this wide open.

To make that work, they need some offensive line upgrades, especially in the middle. This seems like the perfect time for McDaniel to rob his former team and sign Laken Tomlinson and maybe grab Ethan Pocic from the Seattle Seahawks and Austin Corbett from the Los Angeles Rams while he’s at it.

DRAFT

Miami traded what would turn into the No. 15 overall pick to the Philadelphia Eagles, but thanks to the McDaniel’s former team, the 49ers, they hold the No. 29 overall pick via the Trey Lance trade. In my mock draft, I had them selecting Jaxson Kirkland, offensive lineman out of Washington at No. 29. I can’t see any way McDaniel won’t load up his offense up front with his first and probably second rounders as well.

AFC EAST

The Buffalo Bills will probably have a stranglehold on the AFC East for the foreseeable future and the resurgence of the New England Patriots can’t make anyone feel great. Miami has managed to win 19 games over the last two seasons and should be able to build on that. The division title is probably out of reach, but the Dolphins were right in the Wild Card hunt until Christmas and could get over the hump if McDaniel can push Tagovailoa and the offense to the next level.

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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