Three biggest concerns for the Miami Dolphins before the draft

The Miami Dolphins came within three points of winning a playoff game with their backup quarterback in Buffalo in January. If quarterback Tua Tagovailoa can stay healthy and the defense plays up to its potential, the Dolphins could be dark-horse contenders in the AFC in 2023.

Here are the Dolphins’ three biggest concerns ahead of the draft.

1. Do they add an insurance plan at QB?

After suffering multiple head injuries in 2022, Tagovailoa took up judo in the offseason to better understand body movement and help avoid suffering any more concussions. And while that’s an encouraging step, it doesn’t guarantee he will be any less prone to hits or injuries.

Skylar Thompson did an admirable job filling in for Tagovailoa in the playoffs, nearly leading Miami to an upset of the No. 2-seeded Buffalo Bills, but he barely completed 40 percent of his passes and he threw two interceptions. That said, it may behoove the Dolphins to look at adding another quarterback to the mix should next season go the way of 2022. 

Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker or Stanford’s Tanner McKee could make sense as Round 2 fliers, or BYU’s Jaren Hall, TCU’s Max Duggan or Fresno State’s Jake Haener could make sense as project QBs in Round 3.

2. Could they trade back into the first round?

After adding cornerback Jalen Ramsey and keeping much of last year’s team intact, the Dolphins don’t exactly have many holes to plug. And without a first-round pick thanks to violating the league’s anti-tampering policy as well as acquiring Bradley Chubb mid-season, Miami doesn’t have a selection until No. 51 overall in the second round.

However, if the Dolphins view themselves as being a piece or two away from Super Bowl contention, then it wouldn’t be surprising to see them trade up into the back half of the first round if a player such as Texas RB Bijan Robinson, Florida guard O’Cyrus Torrence or any of the top three tight ends — Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer, Utah’s Dalton Kincaid or Georgia’s Darnell Washington — are still be available.

3. Can the team find a starting RB?

With Tagovailoa’s injury history, it may be in Miami’s best interest to add a bell cow back that can carry it 20-plus times per game. While the Dolphins return Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr. and Myles Gaskin, none of them exactly move the needle as a No. 1 running back. Ezekiel Elliott, Kareem Hunt and Leonard Fournette come to mind, and all three are still free agents.

Should Miami look to the draft, Robinson won’t make it out of the first round, but there are still other RBs in this class that could potentially turn into a workhorse backs. Alabama’s Jahmyr Gibbs and UCLA’s Zach Charbonnet would make fine second-round selections, while Tulane’s Tyjae Spears or Ole Miss’ Zach Evans could be solid options in the third round.