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The Miami Dolphins’ hopes of a better offensive line are centered largely around the 2020 NFL Draft. It is there that Miami hopes to finish what they started in free agency and acquire upgraded talent to bolster their front and help the team move the ball with more consistency on offense. But Miami, who is currently slated to pick 18th with their second 1st-round pick, is now going to have to be wary of a potential trap that lies just one pick ahead of them in this year’s order.
Picking 17th? The Dallas Cowboys. And the Cowboys, who have been known for strong offensive line play for the past several years, find themselves with a sudden and unexpected hole at the center position — 29-year old Travis Frederick announced his retirement from the NFL yesterday.
The news shifts the dynamic of the teens — as the Dolphins could see a potential offensive line target, Michigan’s Cesar Ruiz, come off the board a pick before the Dolphins select at 18. If that were indeed the case, Miami would stand to benefit from seeing a pass rusher, defensive back or possibly an offensive tackle fall into their lap.
So that’s the good news. Miami should have little issue finding a player of value to draft at 18. But if this team was looking for a plug and play upgrade at the center position after letting Daniel Kilgore walk this offseason, they’re going to have to bank hard on Ted Karras (who signed a 1-year, $4M deal) being the unquestioned answer. And that means the Dolphins will be looking for a guard on Day 2; their right guard position remains a sore spot and will need an upgrade along the way.
But the top interior offensive lineman may now see his name called before the Dolphins get a chance to lock him in with a top-20 pick.