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Robert Hunt’s 2020 rookie campaign with the Dolphins should be considered nothing short of a success. Hunt failed to secure a spot in the Dolphins’ starting lineup at the start of the season in large part due to the presence of another rookie (Solomon Kindley) manning the right guard position. By the time Hunt was pushed into the starting lineup, he was one of the Dolphins’ most impactful run blockers — meaning he was ‘as advertised’ as a mauler and powerful presence up front.
But the book on Robert Hunt going all the way back to his pre-draft evaluation is that he may be better suited being asked to play inside at guard instead of offensive tackle. And now, with Miami’s maneuver to remove Ereck Flowers off of their roster on the eve of the 2021 NFL Draft, it appears as though the Dolphins are set to entertain such a transition for themselves.
Dolphins are entertaining moving Robert Hunt to guard full time and filling RT with a free agent, per sources, so this move speaks to that. https://t.co/xcOYm7xB5E
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) April 27, 2021
Miami will need to find a right tackle if they are indeed looking to move Hunt inside to guard. But one must assume that the team feels confident in Hunt’s transition in side and also optimistic about his potential ceiling on the interior as compared to what he showcased while manning the tackle spot for Miami in the second half of the 2020 regular season.
As for where Miami goes from here to help their right tackle role, there are some conflicting reports and speculation afoot about the Dolphins. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler has indicated that Miami is eyeing a free agent to fill the void. Meanwhile, the Miami Herald’s Adam Beasley has suggested that the Dolphins would consider Oregon tackle Penei Sewell if “things break a certain way”, too.
And Dolphins have two right tackles on their roster in Jesse Davis and DJ Fluker. Still think pass-catcher is most likely at 6, but Dolphins entertaining the idea of Sewell if things break a certain way. https://t.co/V1E5dM8PvZ
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) April 27, 2021
Adding another top pick at tackle would be a tough pill to swallow for Miami, as it would technically be their third top-40 pick on tackles in the past two seasons alone. And while Miami continues to have urgent needs up front, the Dolphins must at some point trust their player development to make a difference for this group without throwing premiere assets into getting it fixed.