Miami Dolphins: What Talent Overhaul Means for 2015

The Miami Dolphins began their 2015 offseason with the biggest bang possible, landing the game's best free agent, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.  Miami's vice president of football operations, Mike Tannenbaum, and its general manager, Dennis Hickey, have been aggressive in their attempt to build an instant contender, and 2015's overhaul will be massive, starting with the addition of the run-stuffing ex-Cornhusker.  

The Dolphins need to replace 10 of their 2014 starters, five on defense (defensive tackles Jared Odrick and Randy Starks, linebackers Dannell Ellerbe and Philip Wheeler, cornerback Cortland Finnegan) and five on offense (wide receivers Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson, tight end Charles Clay, guard Shelley Smith).  

Can Miami use free agency and the NFL draft to break through to the playoffs after consecutive 8-8 seasons?  I will examine the areas affected by movement in the free-agency period and decide whether there has been improvement or decline, to date.

DEFENSIVE TACKLES

Coming into the offseason, the Miami Dolphins' biggest need was to improve their run defense, and with the addition of Suh, they accomplished this and then some.  In 2014, the Dolphins ranked 24th in the NFL defending the run, yielding 121.1 yards a game, while Suh and the Detroit Lions were the top team in the league, allowing only 69.3 rushing yards a game.

According to ProFootballFocus.com, Suh's rating against the run (18.1) was second only to Buffalo's Marcell Dareus (20.7) among defensive tackles who played at least 25 percent of their team's snaps in 2014.  Not surprisingly,  in the same 2014 PFF rankings, Miami's pair of Jared Odrick and Randy Starks ranked 30th (1.0) and 72nd (minus-9.5), respectively.

Odrick signed with Jacksonville Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent, and Starks signed with the Cleveland Browns after being released by Miami.

Not only can Suh stuff the run, but SI.com's Peter King described him as "the game's best interior pocket-collapser."  As a pass-rusher, Suh had eight sacks in 2014, while Starks had five and Odrick only had one.

ESPN.com's James Walker claimed Suh is "worth every penny" and described him as "the type of elite player who can turn Miami's run of 8-8 seasons into 10-6."  Suh will be paired up with Earl Mitchell on the Dolphins' interior.  In a video available on Sun-Sentinel.com, Hickey claims that he likes the potential in Miami's young reserve defensive tackles such as A.J. Francis, Anthony Johnson and Kamal Johnson.

Losses: Jared Odrick, Randy Starks

Addition: Ndamukong Suh

Verdict: Major Improvement

WIDE RECEIVERS

Coming into the offseason, wide receiver was expected to be a position of need for Miami because of potential releases.  Mike Wallace had a huge 2015 salary-cap number ($9.9 mil) and was in Miami's doghouse.  

In the 2014 regular-season finale, there was speculation that Wallace refused to play in the second half because of an argument with coaches.  This was later confirmed by the Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, who stated that Wallace apologized to Hickey and Tannenbaum for the final game's incident.

Despite his remorse, Wallace was shipped to Minnesota, along with a seventh-round pick, in exchange for a fifth-round pick.

Wallace's replacement is Kenny Stills, who was acquired from the New Orleans Saints for Dannell Ellerbe and a third-round pick.  Stills is very young (22), a blazer (4.38 40-yard dash) and due only $585,000 in 2015.  Wallace and Stills are both 6'0" in height and weigh approximately the same.  

According to PFF, among receivers that played 25 percent of their team's snaps in 2014, Stills' rating ranked 23rd (5.2), while Wallace's score ranked 53rd (minus-.9).  Still's rating was assisted by the fact that 78.8 percent of the time that Drew Brees threw the ball to him in 2014, he made the reception.  

According to PFF, only three receivers had a better "Percentage Caught," and one of them was Miami's 2014 second-round selection, Jarvis Landry (80.0 percent).

Jarvis Landry was arguably the Dolphins' best receiver last year, and he earned that nod from PFF, which gave him a rating of 7.2, ranking him 16th among all eligible receivers.  Landry's emergence, their poor play and their bloated 2015 salary-cap numbers, made Brian Hartline ($7.35 mil) and Brandon Gibson ($4.26 mil) expendable.  

Hartline (No. 103) and Gibson (No. 100) were among the league's worst receivers, according to PFF.  After being released by Miami, Hartline signed with the Browns and Gibson with the New England Patriots.

The present receiving group of Stills, Landry, Rishard Matthews and Matt Hazel can be as productive as Wallace, Landry, Hartline and Gibson, but the Dolphins are actively looking to improve their pass-catching corps.  

Miami has expressed interest in veterans Michael Crabtree and Greg Jennings, according to Omar Kelly of the Sun-Sentinel. Kelly believes a veteran receiver will be signed but not necessarily before the draft.  Even with the intention of signing a free-agent receiver, Miami could draft one of the top collegiate pass-catchers with their first-round selection (No. 14).  

Amari Cooper, Kevin White and DeVante Parker are certainly worthy of a high pick and would catapult the quality of Ryan Tannehill's receiving squad.

Losses: Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline, Brandon Gibson

Addition: Kenny Stills

Verdict: Even 

TIGHT END

The Dolphins's transition tag on Charles Clay ($7.071 mil) was supposed to scare teams away.  It was not intended to be a starting point for negotiations.  If Miami would have made a multiyear offer to Clay, it would have been for less than $7 million a year.  

The Buffalo Bills swooped down and offered a ridiculous $38 million for 5 years, with $20 million guaranteed.  Andrew Abramson of the Palm Beach Post claimed that not even Clay's agent expected such a generous offer from any team.  The Dolphins did not match Buffalo's offer, and Clay is a Bill.

Miami prepared for the worst on the Clay front by signing Jordan Cameron to a two-year deal worth $15 million with $5 million guaranteed.  Jordan is taller (6'5") and faster (4.59 40-yard dash) than Clay but has been slowed down by concussions in his first four NFL seasons.  After being a Pro Bowler in 2013, Cameron missed six games in 2014.  

Based on 2014, PFF ranked Cameron as the 15th-best receiving tight end (2.0), six slots behind the 9th-rated Clay (4.0).  In Cameron's defense, Cleveland had one of the worst quarterback situations in the league in his four seasons, featuring Colt McCoy, Seneca Wallace, Brandon Weeden, Jason Campbell, Brian Hoyer and Johnny Manziel.  

If Cameron can avoid another concussion, a return to the Pro Bowl is a realistic outcome.

Loss: Charles Clay

Addition: Jordan Cameron

Verdict: Even

LINEBACKERS

Tannenbaum and Hickey were itching to unload two of Jeff Ireland's mistakes, linebackers Dannell Ellerbe and Philip Wheeler.  Ellerbe was sent to New Orleans, along with a third-round pick, in a trade that surprisingly netted Kenny Stills.  Wheeler was released.  

Koa Misi was the bright spot among Miami's linebackers, playing on the inside for the first time.  Despite missing five games, PFF ranked Misi 12th (8.9) among inside linebackers who played at least 25 percent  of their team's snaps.  Miami will keep Misi in the middle for 2015, and further improvement can be expected, especially with Suh swallowing linemen.

Jelani Jenkins played 912 snaps last year and was very average, earning a 1.1 rating from PFF.  Jenkins is currently one of Miami's starting outside linebackers.  The second starting outside linebacker position is open to Kelvin Sheppard, Jordan Tripp or Chris McCain.  Miami's linebackers were a cumulative weakness last year, and they will continue to be if no talent is added.  

The good news is that they're no worse than they were last year.  Expect the Dolphins to improve their linebackers in free agency and the draft.

Losses: Dannell Ellerbe, Philip Wheeler, Jonathan Freeney, Jason Trusnick

Additions: None

Verdict: Even

GUARDS

Miami's guard play was atrocious last year.  According to PFF, among the 78 guards who played at least 25 percent of their team's snaps, Shelley Smith ranked 54th (minus-10.1), Dallas Thomas ranked 58th (minus-12.5), Mike Pouncey ranked 69th (minus-17.6) and Daryn Colledge ranked 74th (minus-22.8).  

Smith was released, and Colledge will likely not be re-signed.  Thomas has shown the Dolphins nothing in two seasons, and Pouncey will be returned to his comfort zone, at center.

As of now, Miami's starting guards are last year's third-round pick Billy Turner and Thomas, a 2013 third-round selection.  Miami will draft or sign a starting-caliber guard and will hope that Turner beats Thomas for the other spot.  Like Miami's linebackers, 2015's guards only have room for improvement.

LOSSES: Shelley Smith, Daryn Colledge, Nate Garner

ADDITIONS: None

VERDICT: Even

CORNERBACKS

Pro Bowl cornerback Brent Grimes could really use some help.  In his only year with the Dolphins, Cortland Finnegan was hampered by injuries.  Couple that with subpar play, and Miami's decision to release Finnegan was an easy one.  

The Dolphins' 2013 second-round pick, Jamar Taylor, and one of their 2013 third-round selections, Will Davis, have not risen to the occasion in two seasons.  Last year, Davis missed six games, and Taylor missed four.

Surprisingly, the Dolphins defense ranked sixth in the NFL against the pass in 2014, only allowing 222.3 yards per game.  A strong factor for this apparent success is that teams chose to run the ball against Miami.  Regardless, Miami has a gaping hole on the opposite side of Grimes that must be filled. Miami added Brice McCain in free agency, but he will likely battle Taylor and Davis to start as the slot corner.

LOSSES: Cortland Finnegan, Jimmy Wilson

ADDITION: Brice McCain

VERDICT: Even

OVERALL

The Miami Dolphins may have lost a multitude of players this offseason, but only Jared Odrick, Mike Wallace and Charles Clay had the potential to be difference-makers.  These three players were replaced by Ndamukong Suh, Kenny Stills and Jordan Cameron.  

The Dolphins basically rid themselves of "a lot of 8-8," as I like to call it, and have actually improved their roster.  As is, the Miami Dolphins are a better team than in 2014, mainly because of Suh.  With free agency still open and the 2015 NFL draft on the horizon, Miami can truly bolster their roster.  

Unless Tannenbaum and Hickey completely whiff, the Miami Dolphins will be a playoff team in 2015.

All contract numbers were acquired from Spotrac.com