Dolphins Begin Rebuilding Project

The Miami Dolphins have started to rebuild this morning, agreeing to a 5 year deal with former 49ers right guard Justin Smiley. Smiley will earn $25 million over the next 5 years, $9 million of which is guaranteed. Smiley will presumably fill the void left by the imminent departure of Rex Hadnot, who is yet to be resigned. The Dolphins reclamation project won't stop there. They are rumored to be offering a 5 year, $32 million contract to former Cardinals OLB Calvin Pace. It is expected that the offer includes $20 million in guarantees. Pace is in Miami for a visit today. FOX News' Alex Marvez believes Pace will leave Miami as a Dolphin.

So what does this mean for Jason Taylor or Joey Porter? Pace, if signed, is more than likely taking one of their OLB spots in the base 3-4 defense. In my opinion, Jason Taylor's days as a Dolphin are numbered. This is complete speculation by me but I believe the Taylor will be traded within the next two weeks if Pace is signed. The Dolphins may be able to land 2nd and 3rd round picks for Taylor (or, at worst, 2nd and 4th rounders). This is really the end of an unsuccessful era in Miami. Zach Thomas is now in Dallas. J.T. may be the next to go.

Besides Smiley and Pace, who should the Dolphins go after? Here are my thoughts:

• The Dolphins badly need a starting tackle, left or right. The Cowboys reaching an agreement with Flozell Adams prior to free agency hurts. Adams was all but guaranteed to be in Miami had he hit the market. Now there are few, if any, starting caliber tackles on the market. Will the Dolphins turn to Shane Olivea, Max Starks, or Maurice Williams? Or could this indicate that the Dolphins will draft Jake Long with the number one pick? If the Dolphins sign a tackle, Jake Long will not be taken.
• Speaking of the offensive line, signing Smiley is great. He is young (26), has experience (49 starts in 4 years), and is big (6-3, 300). The only downside is he is a little injury prone so guard depth is a necessity. We will lose Chris Liwienski and Hadnot so we need to sign at least one more guard. Leading me to...
• Jacob Bell. Were you expecting Alan Faneca? That'd be great. I'd love to stick it to Steely McDonati again. Just Kidding. Faneca is a beast and would be a good signing. Even better it would screw the Jets (sorry E). But he will be expensive. I think the best option for left guard is Jacob Bell, the former Titans starter. Bell, like Smiley, is young (27 on March 2), experienced (46 starts in 4 years), and is big (6-5, 300). If the Dolphins could sign Bell the starting line would be comprised of starters that are, at most, 27 years old! That means that this unit is just entering their prime and will be together for 4-6 years!!! Of course this doesn't include one of the tackle positions. That will hopefully be addressed through the draft or with Max Starks (Donati, again) or Shane Olivea.
• After offensive line, the Dolphins need to find defensive line help. Teams are built around their lines. The Dolphins really don't have a d-line. Matt Roth is better suited as a 4-3 DE. So we need a at least one big DE. How about Marques Douglas? He is a little older (31 on March 15) but has been a solid contributor as a 3-4 DE for the 49ers the last three seasons. Douglas has adequate, though not ideal, size (6-2, 286) for a 3-4 DE. The biggest plus is his experience. At the other DE position we have Vonnie Holliday, another aging veteran. Holliday has performed admirably the last three years and should be back in 2008. I am hoping that, if the Dolphins keep the number one pick, they select Chris Long. People have him pegged as a 3-4 OLB. I'm not sure why. He played in the 3-4 at Virginia! I know players are bigger and stronger in the NFL but I have to believe that he can play DE in the NFL too. He has adequate size (6-4, 284) and can get bigger. A DE rotation of Douglas, Holliday, and Long would be strong.
• More on the defensive line. There are rumors the the Dolphins are finalizing a trade for Cowboys nose tackle Jason Ferguson. This is a Parcells guy and doesn't surprise me. Actually, it is a blessing. Ferguson is a true NT (6-3, 305) and has played that position numerous times throughout his long career. Ferguson is older (34 in November) but would allow Miami a season or two to draft and groom a replacement. As of now the Dolphins have no one experienced to play NT.
• Staying with the defense, the Dolphins must address the secondary and add another ILB. In my opinion I'd like to see the Dolphins fill the ILB voide with former Steeler and Chief Kendrell Bell. Sure he hasn't lived up to his standout rookie of the year season of 2001. But he had his best years in Pittsburgh's 3-4. He would come cheaper now than three years ago. He could slide in next to Channing Crowder and the linebacking corp could be (barring a Pace signing and the trade of Taylor) Pace, Bell, Crowder, and Porter. Not too shabby. Bell probably can be had for a 2-3 year deal. For the secondary, I want Miami to go after both Wilson safeties, Gibril and Eugene. Gibril, the former Giant, came into his own the last two years and has a bright future. Eugene, the former Patruiot, has fallen off abit since his first two years in the league. However both would be huge upgrades to our secondary. Hoepfully the Dolphins can land one of them. Lastly, the Dolphins need another CB to compete with Will Allen, Andre Goodman, Travis Daniels, and Michael Lehan. How about Ty Law or Drayton Florence?
• Back on offense, Miami needs some receivers. There are four currently on the roster (Ted Ginn, Derek Hagan, Greg Camarillo, and Kerry Reed) but Ginn may be the only one worth starting. And he is probably only a number two, at best. The Dolphins recently signed David Kircus but taht doesn't bring a lot of help. Hopefully the Dolphins will go after Ernest Wilford, Bryant Johnson (Penn State, w00t), Donte Stallworth, or Isaac Bruce. Perhaps even grab two of them. I'd like to see Wilford, Bryant, or Bruce. They could supply the possession receiver we need to groom John Beck.
• The Dolphins obviously need a QB and will probably bring in a veteran to push Beck. Josh McCown is in for a visit today. Miami may also turn to Gus Frerotte, Byron Leftwich, or Quinn Gray. It is probable that they will draft another QB somewhere between rounds two and four in April. Chad Henne anyone???

So there is my Dolphins round up. I think I have the grasp on what talent is available and what the Dolphins should do. Yo, Parcells, give me a call. I'd love to be an adviser. ;-)