Earl Mitchell Has "Internal Support" From Dolphins
Defensive tackle Earl Mitchell has “internal support” within the Dolphins front office, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, which means the 29-year-old may not be a simple cap casualty this offseason. Mitchell is scheduled to count $4.5MM on Miami’s 2017 salary cap, but the Dolphins could clear out all but $500K of that total by releasing him in the coming weeks. After missing half the season with a calf injury, Mitchell only ended playing a quarter of Miami’s defensive snaps, but Jackson reports that his “motor and leadership” are respected.
Should Fins Pursue Martellus Bennett?
- Should the Dolphins pursue free agent tight end Martellus Bennett? James Walker of ESPN.com writes that he would provide the big, athletic playmaker in the middle of the field that Ryan Tannehill needs. By the same token, he’d be an expensive addition. The Dolphins could instead find a tight end in the draft this year. The TE class is headlined by Alabama’s O.J. Howard and the University of Miami’s David Njoku.
Dolphins To Interview Andre Carter For Coaching Role
- Former NFL defensive end Andre Carter will meet with the Dolphins regarding their assistant defensive line coach vacancy, reports Alex Marvez of The Sporting News. After being selected in the first-round of the 2001 draft, Carter spent 13 seasons in the NFL with the 49ers, Redskins, Patriots, and Raiders. Marvez notes that the 37-year-old spent the 2015 season as a student assistant coach at the University of California.
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Opinion: Dolphins Need Speed
- The Patriots are on top of the world, but the Dolphins can take steps to help close the gap in 2017, James Walker of ESPN.com writes. One way they can lift themselves up in the AFC East would be to add speed across the board this offseason, Walker argues. After watching the Falcons use their speed to jump out to a 28-3 lead in the Super Bowl, he wants Miami to get turbo power in areas such as linebacker, safety, tight end, defensive end, and running back.
2017 NFL Draft Order Set
With the Super Bowl in the rear view mirror, the offseason is officially underway for all 32 teams. We now have the complete draft order for the entire first round, with one exception which is noted below.
The Patriots, of course, will have the honor of having the last pick. The Falcons, after losing in heartbreaking fashion, will have the penultimate selection in the first round.
Here is the complete order, via ESPN.com’s Field Yates (Twitter links):
1. Browns
2. 49ers
3. Bears
4. Jaguars
5. Titans
6. Jets
7. Chargers
8. Panthers
9. Bengals
10. Bills
11. Saints
12. Browns
13. Cardinals
T-14. Eagles (via the Vikings)
T-14. Colts (Note: The Vikings and Colts have identical records and the same strength of schedule. The tie will be broke by coin flip with the winner getting pick No. 14 and the other team getting the No. 15 pick.)
16. Ravens
17. Redskins
18. Titans
19. Buccaneers
20. Broncos
21. Lions
22. Dolphins
23. Giants
24. Raiders
25. Texans
26. Seahawks
27. Chiefs
28. Cowboys
29. Packers
30. Steelers
31. Falcons
32. Patriots
Dolphins Notes: Tunsil, Albert, Stills, Lacey
As the Patriots play for the championship, here’s a look at one of their divisional rivals, courtesy of The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson:
- A prominent Dolphins front office executive has been telling people that the Dolphins have a future Hall of Fame tackle in Laremy Tunsil, a source tells Jackson. If Tunsil’s immediate future is at the tackle position, that could prompt the team to shuffle some things on the O-Line. The Dolphins have not indicated to left tackle Branden Albert that he will be released, but they have been non-committal about whether Tunsil will move to the outside in 2017. Albert would carry a $10.6MM cap hit if he’s on the team in 2017 but he’d only be on the books for $3.4MM if he’s cut or traded. Last year, Albert had a career-worst 42.2 score on Pro Football Focus. He also missed four games due to injury.
- An “associate” of Kenny Stills says the wide receiver likes the West Coast and an offer from an AFC West or NFC West team could be attractive. At the same time, both Stills and the Fins have expressed interest in a reunion. Stills figures to be a popular guy if he reaches the open market in March and the Eagles reportedly are among the teams eyeing him.
- The agent for linebacker Deon Lacey claims the Dolphins have such high regard for his client that they told him he can compete for a starting job. Of course, as a reserve/futures signee, he’ll first have to make the team. The agent said 12 teams, including the Patriots, made offers on the former CFL standout.
Ryan Tannehill Unlikely To Need ACL Surgery
Ryan Tannehill‘s offseason recovery timetable shouldn’t result in the Dolphins quarterback missing any regular-season time as a result of his knee injury. He won’t need a full reconstructive surgery, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports, noting Tannehill is expected to be fine well before the start of next season.
Tannehill will undergo another MRI today, per Rapoport, but his injured knee is believed to be stable enough the team feels surgery won’t be necessary. The 28-year-old passer injured his knee more than five weeks ago, but Dolphins executive VP Mike Tannenbaum didn’t rule out surgery when discussing this last week, despite the injury having occurred some time ago. Reconstructive surgery would have delayed Tannehill’s recovery process to the point missed games in 2017 were possible after the Dolphins put off this prospect this due to the prospect of a Tannehill return during the 2016 playoffs.
The signal-caller’s MCL has provided more trouble than the partially torn ACL, Rapoport notes, but MCL sprains aren’t surgery-inducing. Tannehill did undergo a Dr. James Andrews-performed healing procedure and may trek to Germany for a form of platelet rich-plasma treatment. And a knee brace will likely come into play for the quarterback moving forward. This said, after “countless” rehab exercises to this point, the Dolphins are preparing to have Tannehill return to work during the offseason.
Jay Ajayi Wants Kenny Stills To Return To Dolphins
- The Dolphins are reportedly prioritizing re-signing impending free agent wideout Kenny Stills, and at least one of his teammates would be very happy if the receiver returned to Miami.“It’d be great for us to have him back,” running back Jay Ajayi told Jason Lieser of the Palm Beach Post. “I know he wants to be back. I know the team wants him back. So whatever we need to do to make that happen, hopefully we do that.” Stills finished the season with 726 receiving yards and a career-high nine touchdowns.
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Dolphins Looking To Make Trades
- The Dolphins made a key trade with the Eagles last March to acquire two defenders – cornerback Byron Maxwell and linebacker Kiko Alonso – as well as the 13th pick in the draft (offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil) for No. 8. Now, Miami is once again aiming to go the trade route to bolster its roster, executive vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum informed Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “We’re going to look at every avenue to improve the team. That could mean trades that start around the combine, and then we’ll get into free agency,” Tannenbaum said. “Our focus philosophically is we’re going to try to keep our own [free agents] as best we can. But [plan to] be opportunistic via free agency or trades, and draft as well as we can.”
Dolphins Add Bobby Grier As Scouting Consultant
- Bobby Grier, a longtime member of the Texans’ front office, is leaving Houston to join the Dolphins as a scouting consultant, according to Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. That means Grier will work with his son, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier. The elder Grier was instrumental in the Texans’ decision to draft three-time Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt 11th overall in 2011 and was “the only NFL executive who did extensive work” on an unheralded Michigan quarterback named Tom Brady entering the 2000 draft, writes Kelly. Brady went in the sixth round that year to New England, and you know the rest.