It looks like the Miami Dolphins are set to jump right into free agency to fill needs on the offensive side of the ball. According to thephinsider.com, Miami has interest in both quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and tight end Trey Burton as the team tries to reach the playoffs in 2018.
Bridgewater may be a “low-risk, high reward” type of player, coming off a major knee injury that limited him to a few games last season. The former 2014 first-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings out of Louisville, could battle Ryan Tannehill and Jay Cutler for the starting position. Cutler was signed to replace Tannehill before the season when the former Texas A&M signal caller went down with a knee injury.
“Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald has reported that Miami is interested in free agent tight ends Trey Burton and Ed Dickson, as well as free agent tackle Chris Hubbard,” Justin Hier writes.
There have been some rumors the team may be willing to part with Ndamukong Suh, but there has been confirmation of that type of move. The Dolphins need to solve their issues at quarterback and need help on defense. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com has Miami grabbing Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith with the 11th overall pick. There are some mock drafts that link FSU safety Derwin James to the Dolphins.
The most far-fetched of these rumors is obviously Bridgewater, as Miami would likely only be interested in bringing in the Miami native as a backup quarterback,” writes Hier. “Most executives around the league believe that Bridgewater will get a shot as a starter on a short-term “prove it” contract, a path he’ll likely prefer over being a backup on a team with a solid starter that may be drafting a quarterback in the first round.”
There could still be plenty of signal callers for the Miami Dolphins to choose from in the first round. There are still options to trade up or down in the first round if a quarterback is still on the board the team falls in love with.
At the tight end position, Dickson may be the more logical selection, given the team’s need.
“Dickson, a 30-year old veteran, could be the more logical (and cheaper) option. The former Carolina Panther was given the opportunity to start 12 games this past season due to injuries sustained by starter Greg Olsen,” Hier said. “Dickson graded out as the league’s best pass blocking tight end according to Pro Football Focus and was a solid run blocker as well, not to mention he’s a threat catching the ball over the middle of the field.”
The notion the team may look at Hubbard is interesting because right tackle Ja’Wuan James is still under contract under the 5th-year option and the Dolphins have yet to rescind the option, meaning the team could still choose to retain him.