The Miami Dolphins’ offseason is well underway — the team is bracing for a critical week of evaluation next week in Mobile, Alabama as the 2021 Reese’s Senior Bowl marks the official beginning of the NFL Draft process. Between now and the draft, Miami will of course have to tackle free agency; but both landmarks offer the Dolphins a critical chance to level up their roster and position the team to contend in 2021.
What are the key points of emphasis? Where must the Dolphins invest their time, energy and resources? Here are Miami’s three most pressing needs on the defensive side of the football entering this critical offseason for Miami.
Middle Linebacker
The Dolphins could choose to fill the void by resigning Elandon Roberts, who stepped up his run defense admirably as the season progressed. But Roberts managed to play just 39% (402) of the Dolphins’ snaps defensively in 2020 and in that limited role conceded a passer rating of 135.5 on 23 targets (21 completions, 220 yards and 2 touchdowns). Furthermore, Roberts was credited with 11 missed tackles — his strengths as a player don’t include playing in space.
If they retain Roberts, Miami will need a coverage linebacker. Miami’s defense thrives with matchups and the team did well to play around those matchups all season long — but a starring role at MIKE linebacker would go a long way to allow the Dolphins’ scheme and personnel to remain more flexible and account for the middle of the field against both the run and the pass with the same player on the field.