Who Will Replace Jason Taylor, Jason Ferguson, and Joey Porter on the Dolphins?

After letting Jason Taylor slip into enemy arms and cutting Joey Porter, the Dolphins have two huge holes on defense to fill. Not only do they need to replace their starting OLB's, they also need to replace the veteran leadership they brought to the young defense.

When the Dolphins kickoff the 2010-2011 NFL Season they will have many starters returning, but they will be missing a few key starters on defense. The Dolphins have done a nice job in their rebuilding process and getting a younger and more physical football team on the field.

A few names jump out at you when looking at the Dolphins defense from last year to this year. Jason Taylor, Joey Porter, Jason Ferguson, Gibril Wilson, even Phillip Merling will be missed. Although they have lost their veterans they have done a nice job replacing them: Koa Misi, Cameron Wake, Randy Starks, Jared Odrick, Charles Grant, Reshad Jones, Chris Clemons will all have important shoes to fill.

Late Wednesday night the Dolphins agreed to a contract with DE Charles Grant, former first round pick out of Georgia and picked by 2009-2010 Super Bowl Champions New Orleans Saints. The deal is rumored to be a two year deal worth $4.5 million. Grant will replace Ferguson's leadership on the D-line and will compete with first round pick Jared Odrick for a starting job.

The Dolphins have become one of the younger teams in the league by getting rid of their progress stoppers for the young players and having their acorns in place just in case a rookie needs time to develop into a star or impact contributor.

Dolphins Key losses: Jason Taylor, Jason Ferguson, Gibril Wilson, Joey Porter, Philip Merling(out for year: Injury)

Dolphins Key signings/draft/trades: Brandon Marshall , Jared Odrick , Karlos Dansby, Koa Misi, Reshad Jones, Charles Grant , John Jerry