2017 Miami Dolphins season preview: Week 3 at New York Jets / Week 7 vs. Jets

Week three of the 2017 NFL season will feature the first of the Miami Dolphins’ AFC East division rivalry games, in this case they head to visit the New York Jets. The two clubs will then turn around and face off again in Week 7 in Miami.

This year’s schedule for the Dolphins is a little strange, as they will face each AFC East opponent twice within just a few weeks, and they will complete each home-and-home series before starting the next one. The Jets will be in Weeks 3 and 7, the New England Patriots in Weeks 12 and 14, and the Buffalo Bills in Weeks 15 and 17.

As we did with Miami’s Week 1 (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and Week 2 (Los Angeles Chargers) opponents, we asked the SB Nation bloggers who cover the team to provide us with a closer look at their club. For the Jets, that means it is time to turn to the guys over at Gang Green Nation.

Notable free agent additions

Josh McCown, Morris Claiborne, Kelvin Beachum, Chandler Cantanzaro

Notable free agent departures

Brandon Marshall (released), Darrelle Revis (released), Nick Mangold (released), David Harris (released), Eric Decker (released), Breno Giacomini (released), Ryan Fitzpatrick, Nick Folk

Trades

First round bust Calvin Pryor was traded to the Cleveland Browns to reacquire linebacker Demario Davis

Draft picks expected to contribute as rookies

Jamal Adams: If you draft a player in the top ten, he is expected to contribute. Many felt the Jets got a steal with the LSU safety at 6. He is expected to take a leadership role on the defense from day one.

Marcus Maye: The Jets double dipped at safety. Todd Bowles likes versatility in his safeties, and both Adams and Maye can do a little bit of everything. The departures of Pryor and Gilchrist mean Maye will receive a baptism by fire.

Ardarius Stewart and Chad Hansen: The departures of Marshall and Decker have opened up playing time for the team’s third and fourth round Draft picks, although they will need to beat out other youngsters to get a shot.

Dylan Donahue: It’s a lot to ask a fifth round rookie to contribute much of anything, but the Jets do have a hole at outside linebacker. Donahue is a favorite of the team’s position coach and has been receiving first team reps in the offseason.

Biggest offseason addition

Morris Claiborne has the highest upside of any veteran addition the Jets made. He was viewed as the NFL’s next great cornerback when he was drafted in 2012. After years of disappointment, he finally started looking the part last year with the Cowboys before getting injured. Can he build on that for the Jets? That is one of the questions of the season.

Biggest storyline heading into training camp

It is always the quarterback position for the Jets. Christian Hackenberg earned a one year reprieve when the team didn’t draft a quarterback in 2017. He has to both beat out Josh McCown for the starting job and show he has what it takes to be a franchise quarterback to prevent the team taking one from what could be an excellent Draft class in 2018.

Under-the-radar storyline heading into training camp

Will Sheldon Richardson be on the team once the season starts? The 2013 Defensive Rookie of the Year doesn’t seem to have a fit in the defense the way it is currently constructed. His production has dropped the last two years. Beyond that, he has managed to turn himself into a distraction in a negative way time after time from an arrest to being late for team meetings to public criticisms of teammates. On top of this, he is in the final year of his contract and has stated multiple times he is looking for a huge payday. There isn’t much logic behind the Jets giving it to him. A trade should probably be worked out, but the Jets will be looking at quarters and dimes on the dollar for a talented player due to the other issues.

Notable injuries heading into training camp

Right guard Brian Winters is recovering from a shoulder injury that ended his 2016 season.

Miami Dolphins 2017 season schedule:

Week 1
vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Setpember 10, 1pm

Week 2
at Los Angeles Chargers
September 17, 4:05pm

Week 3
at New York Jets
September 24, 1pm

Week 4
vs. New Orleans Saints (London)
October 1, 9:30am

Week 5
vs. Tennessee Titans
October 8, 1pm

Week 6
at Atlanta Falcons
October 15, 1pm

Week 7
vs. New York Jets
October 22, 1pm

Week 8
at Baltimore Ravens
October 26, 8:25pm (TNF)

Week 9
vs. Oakland Raiders
November 5, 8:30pm (SNF)

Week 10
at Carolina Panthers
November 13, 8:30pm (MNF)

Week 11
BYE

Week 12
at New England Patriots
November 26, 1pm

Week 13
vs. Denver Broncos
December 3, 1pm

Week 14
vs. New England Patriots
December 11, 8:30pm (MNF)

Week 15
at Buffalo Bills
December 17, 1pm

Week 16
at Kansas City Chiefs
December 24, 1pm

Week 17
vs. Buffalo Bills
December 31, 1pm