Note: This is the third in a three-part series looking at the top three positions the Miami Dolphins should prioritize in free agency.
Offensive line has been a major concern for the Dolphins for more than a decade. Interior offensive line might be the major concern in 2024.
Free agency, which starts at 4 p.m. Wednesday, could be the salve Miami seeks.
But it’s a unique interior offensive line situation for the Dolphins this offseason because they could have all the answers in-house, or they could require a major overhaul that replaces three starters.
The latter probably wouldn’t thrill quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, whose 31 sacks were tied for fourth-fewest in the league.
Among the interior offensive line concerns are center, where Connor Williams, a pending free agent, is recovering from a knee injury and might not be healthy until midseason, right guard, where Robert Hunt might depart via free agency and a payday around $10 million a year, and left guard, where Liam Eichenberg, Lester Cotton and Robert Jones held things down last season after Isaiah Wynn, a pending free agent, sustained a season-ending quad injury.
Williams and Hunt could each command somewhere between $8 million-$10 million per season, so it’s likely the Dolphins can’t afford both.
General manager Chris Grier touched on the interior offensive line situation at the NFL Scouting Combine.
“We had some discussions with Robert’s (Hunt) representation in the middle of the season and completely respected his willingness to go to free agency,” Grier said, later adding, “I would say Isaiah’s (Wynn) been in everyday rehabbing at the facility. He said he loved it here, so we’ll see if we can get something done there.
“Then the same with Connor. He’s just going through his rehab right now. He’s a free agent, and we’ll see where that goes. We’re giving him the space and time. He just wanted to focus on rehabbing right now. But we’ll stay in touch with all those guys and see where it leads.”
At this point it seems likely either Williams or Hunt stays, and the other departs via free agency along with Wynn.
There’s a chance Miami signs one top-level interior offensive lineman in free agency (it’s also possible Miami also drafts one in either the first or second round) to replace whomever departs.
Among free agent centers there’s Denver’s Lloyd Cushenberry, who played for Dolphins offensive line coach Butch Barry when Barry was with the Broncos, Dallas’ Tyler Biadasz and Detroit’s Graham Glasgow, who was primarily a right guard last season but can play all three interior positions, and Andre James of the Las Vegas Raiders.
At right guard there’s Kevin Dotson of the Los Angeles Rams, Michael Onwenu of New England, who can also play right tackle, and Baltimore’s Kevin Zeitler, who just turned 34.
At left guard there’s Detroit’s Jonah Jackson, Minnesota’s Dalton Risner, who played for Barry in Denver, and Seattle’s Damien Lewis, who also plays right guard.
Of course, things might not be as dire as they could be for Miami’s interior offensive line, because the Dolphins have plenty of options.
Follow along carefully.
The Dolphins have interior offensive line options because Williams can play center or left guard, Eichenberg can play center, left guard or right guard, Cotton, who made eight starts last season between left and right guard returns, and Jones, a pending restricted free agent, can play left or right guard.
So they could re-sign Williams, shift him back to left guard, his original position, and sign a center in free agency and have Eichenberg play right guard.
Or they could re-sign Williams, have Eichenberg play center until Williams is healthy, and sign a left guard.
Or they could re-sign Hunt, have Eichenberg play left guard and sign a center.
You get the idea. In a way, it’s a mix-and-match situation that depends largely on whether they think Eichenberg, Cotton or Jones can be a full-season starter.
Of course, if they lose both Williams and Hunt in free agency, then they have major interior offensive line concerns.
Grier acknowledged the Dolphins might have to sign several free agent offensive linemen.
“Some of the younger guys that we have on the roster are guys we are excited for seeing them in another year here going,” he said. “Those guys made a great leap this year, and they’re excited for some of the guys and what they can be in the future.
“But yeah, we’ll definitely end up having to add some players there at that position.”