Could Dolphins address key need with rare trade within the AFC East?

Could Dolphins address key need with rare trade within the AFC East?

The Miami Dolphins roster in no where near a finished product, but it is definitely in a better place than it was four months ago when the 2019 regular season came to a close. Miami has added fortifications along the offensive line and all throughout the defense — helping to provide the team with much needed flexibility entering the 2020 NFL Draft next week. But the Dolphins are still a team with a slew of needs. Among them is in the need for a starring safety in Brian Flores’ defense. Someone with the versatility to either prowl the back end in coverage or simultaneously roll into the box and have an impact as a pressure player as well.

In short, the Dolphins still need to replace Minkah Fitzpatrick, who the team traded for the 18th overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft after Fitzpatrick decided playing through a rebuild effort wasn’t something he was interested in doing.

Could the Dolphins, via a rare trade between AFC East rivals, check that box ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft — or while on the clock? The New York Jets have reportedly been having their fair share of problems with star safety Jamal Adams, who just so happens to be able to check all the boxes Miami is looking for in their void in the secondary.

The trade deadline incident seems to have left a mark on the Jets and Adams’ relationship, which may eventually prompt the team to bite the bullet and move on for the good of the overall working environment. Remember — the Jets’ head coach is Adam Gase. Miami fans know all too well how happy Gase is to shuttle loud personalities that don’t fall in line out of town. Gase did it in Miami with Jay Ajayi, Jordan Phillips and Jarvis Landry. If Adams wants out, there’s little doubt the team will have a slew of suitors trying to get a deal done.

Adding Adams into the mix would be the final piece of the puzzle for Brian Flores’ defense, but it would likely take some extra convincing to New York to agree to send such a high-impact player to a division rival. And the Dolphins would need to do some soul searching to decide on whether or not trading pick No. 18 for Adams would be the best decision for the overall fate of the franchise. Flipping Fitzpatrick for Adams in an effective parlay seems like a fair and reasonable decision, but the Dolphins are rumored to be interested in investing that pick into the offensive line. Will losing that opportunity to add a lineman be too hard of a pill to swallow?

There’s a lot of things that would need to fall into place, but the Dolphins should most definitely be monitoring the situation between Adams and the Jets. If things continue to go south, it might be time to pick up the phone.