Why the Dolphins Look Most Ready to Challenge Patriots in the AFC East

The Miami Dolphins have added some big names to their roster this offseason, but they've also had some addition by subtraction. 

The New England Patriots were able to hang onto some of the big names that were headed to free agency, but they suffered some straight-up subtraction of their own. 

For years, fans of rival AFC East teams have wondered when, if and who would challenge the Patriots for the crown in the division. This year, that team could be the Dolphins.

Position	Additions	Subtractions
DT	Ndamukong Suh	Randy Starks, Jared Odrick
WR	Kenny Stills	Mike Wallace, Brandon Gibson, Brian Hartline
CB	Brice McCain	Cortland Finnegan
LB	N/A	Dannell Ellerbe, Philip Wheeler

One by one, the Dolphins blew up or shipped off their big-buck contracts from 2013, cutting linebacker Philip Wheeler and trading linebacker Dannell Ellerbe and wide receiver Mike Wallace—the former was placed on injured reserve, the latter was a known problem in Miami.

Not only did they clear a significant chunk of salary cap space in the process ($7.8 million, according to numbers obtained from Spotrac.com), they also picked up wide receiver Kenny Stills and were able to use the salary cap freedom to budget out for Ndamukong Suh's massive contract (six years, $114 million, $60 million guaranteed). 

Stills is the perfect replacement for Wallace—younger, cheaper, bigger bodied and a similar skill set—and should be an even better fit for Bill Lazor's offense than Wallace was.

Dolphins executive vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum said at the NFL owners' meeting, via Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald:

"

Mike [Wallace] contributed the last few years. We felt once we had Kenny Stills, it was a good opportunity for [Wallace] in Minnesota. They were interested in him a couple of years ago when he was a free agent. It was good for him and we felt it was good for us. It gives him a chance to get a fresh start and for us with Kenny Stills in our offense and where we project him with Jarvis Landry we just thought it was the right fit to do that now.

"

At worst, subtracting Wallace and adding Stills will at least provide some stability in the locker room while creating some more flexibility for the Dolphins to make some splashes. At best, the moves could set the stage for a brighter long-term future for the Dolphins offense.

The theme of the Dolphins' offseason has been all about starting over. The defensive line is one spot in particular, with the subtractions of Jared Odrick and Randy Starks along with the addition of Suh making for a revamped front. Adding Suh could be a difference maker against the Patriots, whose interior pass protection may be weaker if guard Dan Connolly is not re-signed, and whose quarterback is extremely affected by interior pressure such as that from Suh. 

Year	Comp	Att	Comp %	Yds	YPA	TD	INT	Rate
2012	282	484	58.3	3294	6.8	12	13	76.1
2013	355	588	60.4	3913	6.7	24	17	81.7
2014	392	590	66.4	4045	6.9	27	12	92.8
Career	1029	1662	61.9	11252	6.8	63	42	84

But neither Suh nor Stills, or any of the Dolphins' other offseason additions, will get the team to the Super Bowl on their own. If one thing is going to do that, it will be quarterback Ryan Tannehill taking a step forward as a passer in 2015. The Dolphins don't even get to wait to see if he does so before they have to decide on whether or not to exercise the fifth-year option in his contract.

According to Armando Salguero, the Dolphins are still weighing their options:

The Dolphins' fate in the 2015 season could ultimately determine whether or not they view Tannehill as the face of the franchise at quarterback. For now, it appears they do. If head coach Joe Philbin is not brought back for a return tour in 2016, though, their views could change. 

Over the years, Tannehill's steady progression (as outlined in the chart above) has given promise to his status as the quarterback of the future. This year, though, it may be about whether or not he's the quarterback of the present. 

Make no mistake, there is a distinct difference between challenging for the throne and actually dethroning the Patriots. The quarterback position could be that difference. But the Dolphins' other moves suggest they are in win-now mode, and if Tannehill and Philbin don't win now, they could be on their way out later.

Bill Belichick's team suffers attrition every year, and it still soars high each year despite consternation that the sky is falling. But if one AFC East team has the potential to finish with a close record to the Patriots, and potentially even make the playoffs, the Dolphins are it. 

Unless otherwise noted, all salary cap and contract information obtained via Spotrac.com.