How Can the Dolphins Address Major Holes at Cornerback Position?

The Miami Dolphins sent one cornerback to the Pro Bowl in 2014. Their other cover men are a far cry from being voted to the NFL's all-star game.

And now, with the release of cornerback Cortland Finnegan, the Dolphins have created a massive hole at cornerback—although they would have had one whether or not they kept Finnegan.

Fortunately, the Dolphins still have a full offseason ahead of them to determine who will line up opposite Pro Bowler Brent Grimes next season; unfortunately, that player is probably not on the roster.

Young cornerbacks Jamar Taylor, Will Davis and Walt Aikens all have the potential to contribute to the defense, but none looks like a surefire starter as we speak. Here are a few names the Dolphins could have on the back of their mind as they search for the next big thing at cornerback. 

Brandon Flowers, San Diego Chargers

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If the Dolphins want to find an instant starter but don't want to pay top dollar, San Diego Chargers cornerback Brandon Flowers could be just the man for the job. The 5'9", 187-pound cornerback isn't quite the physical presence most teams want lining up for them on the outside, but he has the skill set to play in either man or zone coverage, and he'll need to do both as a member of the Dolphins. 

Flowers' first year in San Diego was a success, as the cornerback allowed completions on only 56 percent of the throws into his coverage with a passer rating of 84.2—nearly three full points below the league average of 87.1, according to Pro Football Focus.

At 29 years old, Flowers is no longer a spring chicken but is not yet showing signs of aging. Acquiring him may only be a stopgap solution to the real problem: finding a prospect to develop at cornerback.

Kareem Jackson, Houston Texans

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If the Dolphins want size at cornerback, they should not look to Houston Texans cornerback Kareem Jackson. At 5'10" and 190 pounds, he isn't going to be confused for a dominant, physical man-cover cornerback.

If the Dolphins want a player who has honed his craft and has developed into a solid starter, Jackson could be a fit at the right price. The veteran has been up and down in his five-year career, but he comes from the George Costanza School of Leaving (on a high note) and enters the open market coming off a season in which he allowed 59.1 percent completions and a 74.1 passer rating into his  coverage, according to Pro Football Focus.

Jackson may not possess the ideal frame, but the Dolphins see what an undersized cornerback can do every time Grimes takes the field. If the Dolphins had two fiery competitors like Grimes and Jackson playing at opposite ends of the field, they would be a lot closer to completing their secondary.

Antonio Cromartie, Arizona Cardinals

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It only took one season in Arizona for cornerback Antonio Cromartie to kick off a career renaissance. After a turbulent 2013 season in which he dealt with a nagging hip injury all season long, Cromartie immediately turned it around by earning a Pro Bowl bid with the Cardinals playing opposite Patrick Peterson—even upstaging the young stud at times.

Cromartie played nearly every snap in 2014, and allowed only two touchdowns. He intercepted four passes and broke up seven more, yielding a 74.9 passer rating into his coverage, according to Pro Football Focus. 

At 6'2" and 203 pounds, Cromartie has the length to dominate at the line of scrimmage in press-man coverage. The only concern was whether he could stay close to receivers once they got into their routes. Time and time again, he proved up to the task in 2014, and now, some team will pay him well for his services.

Cromartie's free-agent buzz starts and stops in New York with the Jets, but if the Dolphins can make him a competing offer, he could line up next to another Pro Bowl cornerback in Brent Grimes.

Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State

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If it can't be Antonio Cromartie, maybe it can be Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes, whose size (6'1", 186 pounds, 31" arms) and skill set (long speed with a 4.31-second 40-yard dash at the combine, bump-and-run ability with 19 bench-press reps) have earned him comparisons to Cromartie.

NFL.com's Lance Zierlein says Waynes is "a bump-and-run cornerback with the length, deep speed and confidence to handle himself down the field against speed," and that he "plays too handsy for NFL officials and that could show up on Sundays due to his lack of great feet and suddenness. He needs technique work and could be inconsistent early on, but he has a very high floor."

Waynes isn't necessarily a ball hawk, but he has recorded three interceptions in each of the past two seasons and has only allowed two touchdowns into his coverage in that time. 

The Dolphins may need to spend time training Waynes to not grab, and he may not be as successful against shifty receivers or when he's asked to play off the line in zone coverage, but his upside is undeniable. A shutdown tandem of Waynes and Grimes could be a nightmare for opposing offenses. 

Jalen Collins, LSU

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At 6'1" and 203 pounds with 32 ½" arms, LSU cornerback Jalen Collins has the prototype build to match up with the prototype No. 1 wide receivers he'll see at the NFL level. 

Waynes and Collins are similar in that way, but where Waynes just needs some tweaks, Collins still needs some major adjustments. That's because Collins started only 10 career games at LSU, according to NFL.com's Lance Zierlein. He'll need to work on his technique in press-man coverage, where he can sometimes give an easy release off the line or whiff on his jam altogether.  

"They all have holes, but Collins is what you are looking for in an NFL cornerback with his length and speed," an NFC personnel director told Zierlein. "He isn't there yet, but he has the traits and ability to become a high-end starter and maybe the best cornerback from this draft."

Waynes is more of an immediate starter, while Collins is a developmental prospect. The Dolphins would be wise to pick up Collins if they think they can get by with the talent they have on their roster for now, whereas Waynes would be the appropriate pick if they want to plug someone in right away. 

Unless otherwise noted: all salary cap and contract information provided by OverTheCap.com; all scouting combine information and draft notes provided by NFL.com and CBSSports.com; all advanced stats provided by ProFootballFocus.com.