3 questions entering Miami Dolphins OTAs
Rookie minicamp is in the rearview mirror and phase three of the Miami Dolphins offseason training program begins with organized team activities on Monday. The Dolphins are set for 10 days of OTAs spread over three weeks before a mandatory minicamp June 4-6 to conclude the offseason program.
The sky was falling as Christian Wilkins and Robert Hunt signed record-breaking contracts elsewhere, but Miami stuck the landing with a steady group of free-agent signings and a draft class ready to help build a better tomorrow.
Live contact isn’t allowed during OTAs, but here are three questions as Miami begins 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 team drills this week.
1. What’s the plan next to Zach Sieler at defensive tackle?
No defensive tackle played more than Wilkins’ 968 snaps last season, but Sieler did rank fourth with 924. Former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio leaned heavily on Miami’s defensive tackle duo, but don’t expect just one player to step in for Wilkins.
The Dolphins signed 13 players throughout the first half of March and five of them are defensive tackles — and that doesn’t include former Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans DT Teair Tart, who signed in early April.
Anthony Weaver is now coordinating Miami’s defense after years with the Baltimore Ravens as defensive line coach and run game coordinator. Justin Madubuike ranked No. 11 with 849 snaps played last season, but the Ravens didn’t have a second tackle reach 700 total snaps.
The Dolphins look to leverage a defensive tackle rotation and OTAs offer a first peek at who’s trending toward a starting spot next to Sieler.
2. How long can Jalen Wright be left on ice?
Raheem Mostert earned a contract extension after leading the league with 18 rushing touchdowns. De’Von Achane’s rookie year featured four games with over 100 rushing yards and 11 total touchdowns. Jeff Wilson Jr. is entering his seventh season and touched the ball at least six times in Miami’s final three regular-season games.
Salvon Ahmed signed a one-year deal, returning to the Dolphins after seeing at least three targets in six of eight games before getting hurt last season. Chris Brooks flashed promise with an average of 5.6 yards per carry before his rookie season was derailed due to injury.
That’s five players with legitimate cases for touches in 2024 — and the Dolphins still traded up to select Wright in the fourth round of April’s draft. He averaged 7.4 yards per carry at Tennessee and is steady in pass protection.
Too much talent at running back is a good problem, but how quickly can Wright leapfrog a handful of established tailbacks?
3. What’s next for Tua Tagovailoa’s contract negotiations?
CBS Sports reported that Tagovailoa has been “mostly absent” from the team’s optional training program, and ESPN clapped that the former first-round pick rejected a contract from the Dolphins — oh the drama!
I wouldn’t consider either of these reports a major story, but with OTAs — and training camp around the corner — more people will be around the facility, meaning more people will talk.
Can the Dolphins and Tagovailoa agree before negotiations become a distraction?
“I think we’re hopeful,” Grier said in February when asked if the team could sign Tagovailoa to a long-term deal this offseason. “These are deals that very rarely come together quickly. There are a lot of pieces and moving parts. We’ve had positive discussions so far, and we’ll keep working here throughout the offseason.”
