Free Agents vs Top Draft Pick for biggest needs?

[So Be]

We all seem to agree that our #1 pick should be a DB like Hargraves, a DE like Lawson or a LB like Jack. Question is how we use FA to set up the draft.

At CB, Joseph has said he would like to keep Grimes. There are 3-4 VG options in FA and I can easily see us getting one. Do you keep Grimes and draft a CB? Do you replace Grimes and draft a CB? Do you keep Grimes whit a FA Nd draft a different position?

At DE. we do not know if Wake will be healthy or if we can keep OV. Do you keep Wake and draft a DE? Do you keep OV and draft a DE? Do you keep Wake and OV and draft a different position?

At LB, we have a huge need with not much out there in FA. Do you add short term band aids in FA? Do you reach for a LB with our #1 pick?

I left out the OL because I cannot see it coming into play with our top pick.

[So Be]

I have to sign one of the young CB'c in FA. I wanted to draft Hargraves as well but, if T-bomb agrees with Joseph in keeping Grimes, I have to reconsider. No matter what, I still add a FA CB.

I want to keep OV and Wake with a restructure. If not I have to look at keeping Grimes with a FA, moving him ad Maybe signing two FA, adding a different DE or drafting Lawson.

I cannot see taking a LB at #1, would be a reach. Second round is better.

[FTLDOLFAN]

DB - I would release Grimes and save that $6.5 M. I would then draft a young fee agent corner like Trumaine Johnson. He might cost about $8 M a year so we would be getting younger and upgrading the position at a cost of around $1.5 to 2 M. Then I would draft a corner early. Either Hargreaves in the first round or Fuller in the 2nd round or Redmond in the 3rd round.

DE - I would release Wake and resign OV. We save $8.4 M by releasing Wake. OV might cost us about $9 M a year so thats about a wash. Then I would draft a DE early. Either Ogbah or Lawson in the first round or Calhoun in the 2nd round or Tapper in the 3rd round.

LB - We have Jenkins. I would resign Shepard for depth. I would release Misi. Maybe we can sign a free agent like Trevathan. Then I would draft a couple of LB's. Either Smith in the first round or Brothers or Perry in the 3rd round or Martinez in the 4th round.

O-Line - I would look to sign OG/OT Kelechi Osemele in FA then draft another o-lineman later in the draft.

[cuchulainn]

Stuff from Vance Joseph...

“That’s the part I’ve got to get right, finishing and making plays and giving them tools to make and finish plays,” Joseph said. “…On early downs, it’s back-pedaling, staying square and challenging routes. In the NFL, [receivers] are going to catch balls, but you want to make them bang-bang plays. When they catch the ball, I want them tackled.

“That’s something we can help them with, playing more square from the line of scrimmage and not bailing as much. When you’re bailing, you’re conceding most routes. You say, ‘Hey, I’m not going to get beat deep but I’m going to give you a 20-yard comeback.’ We’re going to play square and we’re going to challenge routes.”

Hope so... cushion was an issue under Coyles...

“The beauty, I think, of playing defensive back in the 34 is the disguise mechanisms,” Joseph said. “You’re going to start in a basic two-shell, then move into your coverages. When you’re a 4-3 team, they know the four rushers, they’re down with their hands on the ground.

“Now, we can hold our coverage and the offense doesn’t know where that fourth rusher is coming from …. It kind of helps protect corners. Until a ball is snapped, that quarterback won’t know what we are in.”

Young guys, in disguise, able to fall back on something they know they are good at, eager to prove they are better than the league. It’s like a lot of offseason recipes, filled with hope and promise.

“We don’t need guys who are going to Hawaii every year,” Joseph said. “We’ve got to stress here that we just need guys who fit what we do and are capable of doing the job within the system.”

Funny now that Grimes is going to Hawaii... lol...

Finally, Joseph has that opportunity, and he confirmed that he will be bringing to Miami a 4-3 defense that's centered on two things.

"My philosophy is it's built with rushers and corners," Joseph said Thursday, via the Miami Sun-Sentinel. "If you can rush the passer and cover outside, it helps the schematics during game weeks. Rushing and covering is the bottom line of playing great defense in the NFL. If you can rush and cover, that's the key."

Typically, those two defensive characteristics go hand-in-hand. A lethal pass rush makes it easier to cover in the secondary, while good defensive backs give the guys up front time to get after the quarterback.

In 2015, the Dolphins weren't particularly great in either regard. While tying for 25th in the league with 31 sacks, Miami finished 21st in pass defense by allowing 4,000 yards exactly through the air.

On top of that, the Dolphins will have decisions to make on their best pass rushers and top corner. Defensive end Olivier Vernon is about to demand a decent pay rise as a pending free agent, and Cameron Wake might be cut for cap purposes after tearing his Achilles in October. Same could be done with corner Brent Grimes, who had a down year by his standards but still made it to a third straight Pro Bowl.

Other than that, the Dolphins will be looking to make upgrades at both positions this offseason.

But getting after the quarterback and covering in the secondary aren't the only two points of emphasis for Joseph. He also pointed at scoring defense, third-down defense, red-zone defense and total yards among "four or five areas we've got to be good at to play top-10 defense."

Unfortunately for Joseph, he inherits a defense that was 19th in points allowed, 25th in total defense, 28th in third-down percentage. And that's not to mention the fact the Dolphins ranked 28th against the run.

"Being at the bottom of the run defense, that's troubling," Joseph said.

Troubling... yeah, NS... good riddance to Philbin and Coyles both.

And again, IMO, that 1st round pick has to be DB or DE... not opposed to an ass kicking LB, but with Smith and Jack coming back off serious knee injuries, I can't see #8 going to either if they aren't healthy and able to contribute. Little tired of taking 1st rounders coming off injury - Parker, Jordan, Odrick, Green, Gardener, etc... I like Ragland, but #8 is too high for him IMO.

[DolphinsFreak]

DB - I would release Grimes and save that $6.5 M. I would then draft a young fee agent corner like Trumaine Johnson. He might cost about $8 M a year so we would be getting younger and upgrading the position at a cost of around $1.5 to 2 M. Then I would draft a corner early. Either Hargreaves in the first round or Fuller in the 2nd round or Redmond in the 3rd round.

DE - I would release Wake and resign OV. We save $8.4 M by releasing Wake. OV might cost us about $9 M a year so thats about a wash. Then I would draft a DE early. Either Ogbah or Lawson in the first round or Calhoun in the 2nd round or Tapper in the 3rd round.

LB - We have Jenkins. I would resign Shepard for depth. I would release Misi. Maybe we can sign a free agent like Trevathan. Then I would draft a couple of LB's. Either Smith in the first round or Brothers or Perry in the 3rd round or Martinez in the 4th round.

O-Line - I would look to sign OG/OT Kelechi Osemele in FA then draft another o-lineman later in the draft.

We have similar thoughts about what direction to go in.

CB - I would get rid of Grimes. He is getting older, he is too short and his wife is a locker room distraction. I would sign one of the top cornerbacks in free agency, like Johnson, and then draft a corner in the top three rounds and then another in the mid to later rounds. This draft is deep at cornerback.

DE - I would restructure Wake's contract. I would not let him go! He is a Dolphin and has played for no other team and I have a feeling that because he took the long, hard road to get to the NFL he might take pride in being loyal and give the Dolphins a hometown discount. I respect that. Hopefully he agrees and stays with the team. I would let Vernon walk, I am not a fan of him wanting so much money, I just don't think he is worth it. I would draft a DE in the early to mid rounds.

LB - I think getting LINEBACKERS is one of the most important thing for the Dolphins to do this offseason. There isn't much in free agency so I would definitely draft one EARLY, preferably in round one but round two at the latest. Then, depending on who is on the board, possibly doubling up on linebackers in round 1 and 2 or 2 and 3. I believe the position is that weak.

OL - I would stack up on VETERAN offensive lineman and I would be willing to pay a little bit more for them if needed. It's the teams biggest weakness and has been for many years. Isn't it time to get protection for the quarterback since this team seems to be all-in on him, hiring a Head Coach just because he "might" be able to help develop him? Well, put more money where your mouth his and stop the excuses and get this man a great offensive line to remove all doubt that it is the o-lines fault. Go sign 2-3 offensive linemen in free agency and then draft a player or two to develop in the later rounds.

JMO