The Miami Dolphins’ offensive overhaul will feature a drastically different offensive line than the one we saw take the field for the Dolphins in 2019. But, one thing we should always assume about Chris Grier and Brian Flores’ team, is that the team will never look away from the opportunity to improve the opportunities to have competition at any position. And so with Robert Hunt, Jesse Davis and Solomon Kindley expected to compete for the starting right guard position (and Hunt favored to start at right tackle), should the Dolphins look to improve the right guard position in either the short or long-term?
A popular candidate for the Dolphins to target this offseason was OG Larry Warford, who was unceremoniously cut by the Saints this offseason. But Warford recently opted out of the 2020 NFL season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, removing himself from the free agent market. With Warford gone, Miami’s best opportunity to upgrade their guard spot is no longer available — for better or for worse.
But another offensive guard has recently hit the open market: former Jets OG Brian Winters. The Jets cut Winters over the weekend, leaving him in the unenviable position of trying to find a new gig this close to the start of the season. Could the Dolphins be an option?
Winters started 23 games in two seasons under Chan Gailey for the Jets between the 2015 and 2016 seasons — so he’s got some experience in the offensive system Miami will implement this season. Familiarity is a huge advantage and Winters is comfortably the most familiar face on the market for Miami’s offensive staff. If the financials are only for a 1-year deal worth a reasonable rate (a few million dollars, tops), Winters might make sense.
Miami can certainly call up Winters and get a feel for his intentions. But the youth movement should only be put off for a year at right guard if the financials are an afterthought relative to the rest of Miami’s salary cap. Winters just turned 29-years old — he’d be the third oldest player on the team upon signing.
Yes, there are layers here that make sense. So if the Dolphins opt to not kick the rocks on Winters, it speaks loudly to the confidence the team has in their depth up front. Miami’s strength along the line lies with having so many positional flexible talents — the team has legitimately three or four players who could play right guard already.