The Miami Dolphins appear to be happy with their current guard situation, with Jermon Bushrod likely to resume his role as the starting right guard and Anthony Steen, Kraig Urbik, Ted Larsen, and fifth-round rookie Isaac Asiata likely to battle for the starting left guard position. While Miami’s coaches and front office do not seem to be interested in adding more offensive line competition, that has not stopped fans - and even an agent - from weighing in that the Dolphins should be chasing recently released Los Angeles Chargers guard Orlando Franklin.
What is most funny about this is, the coaches have been saying they are happy with their offensive line back in free agency. They said it before the draft. They have said it after the draft. The Dolphins coaching staff seems to be comfortable with the five guys they have to play two positions.
That does not stop the speculation and second guessing, however.
The Palm Beach Post’s Jason Lieser wrote on Wednesday, “A new name is available for consideration in the Dolphins‘ ongoing quest to strengthen their offensive line: Orlando Franklin.”
Fansided’s Dolphins blog Phin Phantic wrote, “The Miami Dolphins have a guard problem even if they want you to believe they don’t. The San Diego Chargers released a veteran guard and Miami seems to have no interest. How does this make sense?”
Sports agent Drew Rosenhaus immediately looked to the Dolphins as a landing place for his client, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Omar Kelly:
"I called the Dolphins and really pushed it because I think that's one area they could use improvement,"@RosenhausSports on Orlando Franklin
— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) May 19, 2017
"Nothing is imminent at this time.... I don't think it's likely" @RosenhausSports on Orlando Franklin to Miami. Other teams more interested
— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) May 19, 2017
Twitter and blogs seem to hate the idea that Miami passed on Franklin. Again, the coaches have, for months, been happy with their guards. They have never come off that point, and it does not seem the six-year veteran will entice them into changing their position. They do not believe they have a guard problem, no matter what other people write about them.
Could the Dolphins add Franklin in an effort to add more competition and depth? That could be a move that makes sense, especially given Franklin’s experience as a right tackle (his first three years with the Denver Broncos from 2011 to 2013 - with Adam Gase as Denver’s quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator in that span) before making the move to left guard with Denver in 2014 and remaining there with the Chargers the last two seasons. He could give Miami depth behind Ja’Wuan James in an emergency as well as be in play for the guard position. There is a lot to like about the idea of Franklin returning to South Florida, where he played high school football at Delray Beach and college football at the University of Miami.
Miami is not interested. Is is a price point issue? Is Rosenhaus saying there are “other teams more interested” trying to get the Dolphins back to the table? Did Miami end the discussions when Rosenhaus mentioned salary expectations?
Or, could Miami just really be that comfortable with their guards? Could it be that they don’t see a player that Los Angeles clearly wanted to replace so badly they drafted guards back-to-back with Forrest Lamp and Dan Freeny as the future of the position in South Florida?
Whatever the case, at this point, it does not seem like Franklin to the Dolphins is going to happen.