Even with the flurry of activity the Dolphins have had this free-agency period, they appear to have the same needs on their roster as they did prior to free-agency. Cornerback and Guard still have question marks over them, and the loss of contributors has added new holes on the roster like Running Back and Defensive End. With the loss of every top Free Agent Miami had, choosing other teams players over in-house talent has been the model for this years approach, but will it be effective?
The trade for Byron Maxwell and Kiko Alonso came about by swapping first round picks with the Eagles. Two compounding consequences were that Brent Grimes, their best corner, was expendable so not only do they no longer have his services, but dropping back to the 13th pick, they might have put themselves out of range of selecting CB Vernon Hargreaves and OLB Myles Jack who might have made it to #8. Certainly they are out of range of have a top talent sliding to them. This puts serious onus on Maxwell panning out in order to justify Grimes departure and the extra pressure to make the 1st round pick be a good one.
Maxwell under-performed for being paid as a true shut down corner. However I will say, for as much as he struggled last season, he only allowed 2 touchdowns all season, and both were in the season opener against Julio Jones, who most sports gambling fans would say is the best receiver in the NFL. Miami will be using a zone coverage scheme, something Maxwell excelled at in Seattle, so clearly Miami is banking on him having a bounce back year, by playing in a more familiar scheme. Yet, even if Maxwell plays better next season, the Dolphins still have a hole on the other side of the field, because this was basically a swapping of players and expensive contracts of Maxwell and Grimes.
Alonso a player with a ton of talent but has only played 11 games in his last two years due to injuries. In addition, in the 11 games that he played last season, he did not play very well at all. In 11 games last year with the Eagles he only had 43 tackles and 1 interception, which was a far cry from his outstanding 2013 season of 159 tackles, sacks, 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries, and 4 interceptions. Sadly most would say that Alonso is not the same player as he was in his rookie season. On a good note, the Dolphin only have to pay him roughly $1 million for 2016, which helps with their approach of cap responsibility.They recently doubled down on Alonso by extending his contract for an additional year, which will pay him $2.8 mill for two years.
This was merely their first move this off season, but the approach of letting go of their own talent and acquiring unfamiliar and risky laden talent has been the mode of operation. Caution should be taken at early evaluation. It could pan out. Miami could have gained two starters for simply moving back 5 spot in the 1st. Could is a dangerous work, especially with Miami’s history of incompetence. Tannenbaum has taken the high risk / reward road, a road that paves over many incompetents with great disaster, where only a few of the brilliant manage to make it to the promise land! Go Fins!!!