The Miami Dolphins managed to shore up some key areas during the offseason. It's not clear, however, if the offensive line is one of those, at least yet.
Miami made a number of re-signings and one key outside acquisition this offseason. Terron Armstead chose not to retire, opting for one more season with the Dolphins. 2023 starting left guard Isaiah Wynn is back, as is swing tackle Kendall Lamm and guard Robert Jones. The Dolphins also drafted OT Patrick Paul in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Miami signed IOL Aaron Brewer to a substantial contract: 3 years, $21 million.
However, is this enough to offset a line that had some significant issues last season, particularly on the interior? The jury is still out. Here are five questions that must be answered for this unit to succeed in 2024.
5) Can Terron Armstead stay healthy for at least the vast majority of the season?
That's always been the question with Armstead, as he's yet to play a full season throughout his lengthy career. When he's been on the field, he's been excellent, and Miami needs that continuity and production this fall, particularly with the questions on the interior.
It almost feels like the veteran is due some injury luck to swing his way, so we'll see if that happens at long last and the Dolphins have a weekly anchor on the left side of their line.
4) Can the early season Isaiah Wynn step back into his role this year?
Wynn battled Liam Eichenberg in camp and preseason for the starting left guard role last year, and the former won it convincingly. Wynn started as Miami's offense rolled to a 5-1 mark through the first six weeks of the season. However, a quad injury against Philadelphia ended up sidelining him for the rest of the year.
Wynn should have the clear edge in camp to reclaim his starting spot at left guard. While Pro Football Focus panned his run blocking with a 43.2 grade last year, there's little doubt that the running game was working with him in there, and the offensive line clearly took a hit with him out. Miami needs him back and working with Armstead in tandem on Tua Tagovailoa's blind side.
3) Is Austin Jackson the real deal on the right side?
If anyone took a bigger step forward than Austin Jackson in 2023, I'd like to know who. Mike McDaniel all but promised everyone that Jackson was a guy they hadn't seen on the field yet, and that faith paid off in last year with a strong performance. He was rewarded handsomely with a contract extension in December .
Jackson held his own in pass protection, allowing just 25 total pressures in 639 pass blocking snaps in 2023. If he can repeat that performance, Miami will surely be set on the right side.
2) Who is going to win the job at right guard, and can he succeed Robert Hunt in any meaningful way?
Miami had a luxury at right tackle last year in Robert Hunt. I use the word luxury both in terms of his strong performance and what he earned in free agency: $100 million from the Carolina Panthers.
Miami re-signed Robert Jones, who has experience at the position. Either he, Eichenberg, free agent signee Jack Driscoll, or Lester Cotton should be the most likely to come out with the job, although undrafted free agent rookies Matthew Jones and Andrew Meyer might have something to say about the competition. Driscoll has played tackle and guard but has significant playing inside - 551 snaps over his career - so he, Jones, and Cotton seem to be the most likely candidates.
Whoever, wins the job will have the most to prove among the entire line as to not be the weak spot, given the strong performances from the rest of the returning starters in 2023 - before injuries kicked in, at least.
1) Can Aaron Brewer live up to his contract?
Brewer's signing was far and away the biggest move Miami made to address their offensive line this offseason. No draft picks on the interior of the offensive line. No major signings at guard aside from bringing Wynn back.
The standard is high for Brewer to match at center. Connor Williams, while battling injuries for a good portion of 2023, was among the best in the league when he was on the field, and Miami's offensive line was far better when he was. The team's decision to roll with Brewer and (apparently) move on from Williams - who is working to return from a torn ACL in December - will be one that could backfire if the former doesn't produce this year.
Brewer hasn't been all that much of a pass blocker, at least based on how PFF graded him over the last three years (48.7, 45.4, 52.5 pass blocking grades in 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively). However, Brewer was a bulldozer of a run blocker last year after moving from guard to center, posting a 78.7 run blocking mark.
If he can help Miami's offensive line maintain a physicality in the run game without being a liability in pass protection, the Dolphins should do fine this fall.
Related: Latest news puts Miami Dolphins in a potentially tough spot to start the season
Local Miami, FL
Most Popular
Comments / 0