Dolphins post-draft depth chart

Before we get into this, I will state, I have not included the undrafted free agents. We are fairly certain of a good number of them, but I don't want to add them until we have a confirmation from the team of who was signed. That should come out some time today, either with a press release from the team, or through the transactions recorded with the NFL offices today. Once they are confirmed, I will add them.

Miami Dolphins
Current Contracts: 62
Unsigned Draft Picks: 9
Top 51 Salary Cap Space: $11,246,667
Rookie Salary Pool: $7,839,988 (From OvertheCap.com)

Offense:
(33 players)

Needs:

How the Dolphins put together their offensive line will be interesting. They are still in talks with free agent right tackle Eric Winston. Unless the team is really high on putting rookie offensive lineman Dallas Thomas, it appears Jonathan Martin will be the starting left tackle this year. A lot of people put stock into his poor performance as a left tackle last year. But, he had spent nearly an entire season, to include rookie mini-camp, OTAs, minicamp, training camp, preseason, and most of the regular season, un-learning the left tackle position he played in college and learning the right tackle position. When thrust back into it after Jake Long's injury, Martin was playing purely on instinct and trying to get back the muscle memory and technique he had worked to forget. Add in that he was a rookie, suddenly going up against the top pass rusher from most teams, and it's understandable he would struggle. If he comes in this year working solely as a left tackle, and hits the weight room, he should be better. Is that good enough to be the left tackle for the long run? Maybe, maybe not.

Notes:

I am still listing Lance Louis behind John Jerry due to injury. If Luis is healthy come training camp, I expect him to move ahead of Jerry. Like I said last time, I am also thinking more and more of moving Marcus Thigpen out of the running back depth chart and into the receiver corps. I actually put him there when I first filled this out, but then moved him back to running back. At some point, I am just going to pull the trigger on that move, and see if the Dolphins end up doing the same thing. Dion Sims comes into the tight end position as the number two option right now. I don't think that means Charles Clay or Michael Egnew won't see playing time. I just think Sims is going to be the best blocking tight end of the three, and so he moves into the number two position.

Defense:
(33 players)

Needs:

I think the defense is fairly well set at this point. I would not be against the addition of a defensive tackle to develop for next year when Soliai and Starks are both free agents.

Notes:

I've moved Koa Misi to middle linebacker, which seems to be the way the team is leaning right now. That will free up Ellerbe and Wheeler to rush the passer, cover tight ends, etc. I think it's possible Ellerbe could be the MLB, and Misi moves back outside, but for now, I am going with this line up. As I had it after the first round, rookie Dion Jordan stays behind Odrick at defensive end. Jeff Ireland pointed out that it takes time for a player to develop into an every down player, with situational use making sense until that happens. The Dolphins saw Olivier Vernon hit the rookie wall last year and will want to find a way to tprevent the same thing from happening with their first round pass rusher. Odrick has slimmed down to hold on to the defensive end position, which will hurt the idea that he could slide inside as a defensive tackle. Jelani Jenkins falls in with the second team linebackers. The biggest changes come in the secondary. With the addition of three cornerbacks in the draft, I've officially moved Wilson back to safety, which is where the Dolphins still list him on their website, despite taking the majority of his snaps at corner last season. I have Jamar Taylor as the starter opposite Brent Grimes at this point, with Richard Marshall moving to the nickel corner position. That bumps Nolan Carroll out of the nickel slot, and behind Dimitri Patterson on the depth chart. Rookies Will Davis and Don Jones (who, Ireland has said will be a corner, not a safety), fall in to the depth chart ahead of Julian Posey, R.J. Stanford, and DeAndre Patterson.

Special Teams:
(5 players)

Needs:

Last time I wrote, "Don't be surprised if Miami uses a late round pick on a kicker. Dan Carpenter got better as the year progressed last season, but could use the competition in camp." I didn't expect it to be a fifth round selection. No needs remain here.

Notes:

Training camp will now have two battles among the special teams players. The Patrick Scale signing is still a surprise, as John Denney is a two time Pro Bowl long snapper, and his position on the team used to seem automatic. As of now, I am still giving the nod to DC$ as the incumbent kicker, but I think it's at least 50/50 that Sturgis claims the spot thanks to Carpenter's $3,012,500 cap number. If he is cut, the former Pro Bowl kicker jwill cost the Dolphins ust $312,500 against the cap.

More Dolphins Coverage:

• The 2013 Miami Dolphins draft class
• Dolphins Undrafted Free Agent List
• Phinsider community Dolphins draft grade
• Miami Dolphins Post-Draft Needs
• Ireland Deserves Some Credit
• ESPN's Sports Science look at Dion Jordan