Insights and analysis on our division rivals: the Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins are about to control the 2020 NFL Draft — how will their decisions impact the team’s fortunes in the fall?

With the New England Patriots about to embark on their first season since 1999 without Tom Brady on the roster, it’s a perfect time to reset and take stock of the situation — both around the team and around the NFL at large.

Where better to look first than within the AFC East?

The Miami Dolphins have been a thorn in the Patriots’ side for many seasons now. It always seems like regardless of where the Fins finish in their final win/loss standings, they somehow manage to deal the Patriots a demoralizing defeat that adversely affects New England’s playoff positioning.

Namely, there was the Miami Miracle in 2018, and then this past season, the Dolphins upset the Patriots on the road in Week 17 to force New England into playing (and losing) on Wild Card weekend for the first time in 10 years.

We caught up with PhinPhanatic‘s Brian Miller to get a sense of where the Dolphins are at these days with the NFL Draft less than two weeks away.

Do you think the Dolphins have seen enough of Josh Rosen at this point, and if so, do you expect them to try and move him before the new season begins?

Josh Rosen is a big question. I’m not sure that sending a second round draft pick for him makes him expendable a year later. I think with his contract being cheap and with him still having a few years left on his deal, he is a good backup and camp competition.

I would think we will see more of him this year rather than last year, but if you made me pick a side, I think his future in the NFL will be somewhere else when all is said and done. He isn’t the Dolphins’ future.

As for trading him? He really doesn’t have much value right now.

Who will the Dolphins take with the fifth overall pick this year — a quarterback or another position?

I think quarterback is who the Dolphins will draft, but there is a lot of speculation on who that will be. Many believe that Miami should trade up and get Tua Tagovailoa, while others think they should stay at No. 5 and not move up.

I’m on the latter wagon. While the Dolphins could go with another position — maybe Isaiah Simmons, for example — Miami also didn’t just gut their roster for a hybrid LB/DE.

With a whopping 14 picks in this year’s draft — three of which are in the first round — what are some of the top areas of need you see Miami addressing?

The Dolphins have a lot of holes. Offensive line, safety, and defensive end are the most glaring.

O-line is a major priority, as they simply don’t have tackles, guards, or centers … even after signing Ereck Flowers in free agency. It has to be a focus early.

Miami also needs a running back and defensive line help. Remember last year they gutted the roster, so now it’s time to fill it in.

Still, I will be surprised if by the end of the draft they have taken more than nine or 10 players.

Do you think Brian Flores is the long-term answer at head coach for this team?

Miami fans have watched Jimmy Johnson, Dave Wannstedt, Nick Saban, Cam Cameron, Tony Sparano, Joe Philbin, and Adam Gase take the reins previously .. and frankly, they all had their issues.

I like what I have seen in Flores and he has impressed me in that one year, but it is just one season. Gase and Sparano both took the Dolphins to the playoffs in their first year and we know how that worked out.

I’m excited to see what Flores can do with the team once it has talent, but I’m also keeping that excitement tempered.

Where do you see the Dolphins finishing this season in terms of the standings?

Hard to believe that Miami could get out of the basement this year, but we have seen the Dolphins do that before. The question is whether or not Flores can get his team to play above their experience level or not. Last year, no one expected them to win five games.

Of course, as long as Adam Gase is in the AFC East, the Dolphins could finish higher than the Jets!

Be sure to check out the companion piece to this article on the Patriots’ offseason here.