Everyone, meet the new Miami Dolphins — same as the old Miami Dolphins? We’ve heard all winter and spring about Miami’s master plan to return to relevancy and how the team is no longer going to take aim at big fish on the market. Instead, the plan is to build through the NFL Draft, allocating picks in the process, and eventually manipulating the league’s existing compensatory formula and free agency to continue to add to the team’s assets — even if they’re losing players.
Which is what makes the news from earlier this week so surprising. Jenna Laine, a Tampa Bay beat reporter for ESPN, has reported that the Miami Dolphins were among the teams to reach out to the Washington Redskins about embattled left tackle Trent Williams.
Considering Miami’s situation on the offensive line, any phone calls would at the very least be understandable. There’s no foul in doing due diligence. But the puzzle pieces here would have made this a very “Old Miami” move. Williams is widely considered one of the best tackles in football — he’d be a welcomed addition to any roster. But specifically for Miami? This is a player that would come at a hefty cost — namely thanks to the desperation of some of the other teams in football (Houston) who need pass protection. But that wouldn’t be the only thing wrong with such a move.
Williams turned 31 this summer, making him a player who would likely spend the rest of his peak trying to get the Dolphins into a position to be halfway competitive.
Durability is also something to note — Williams hasn’t played a full 16 game season since 2013, missing 16 total games over the last 5 years.
And finally, the Dolphins have already compromised the development of Laremy Tunsil for a veteran (Branden Albert) once. They wouldn’t really do it again, would they? And they most certainly wouldn’t take a seven-time Pro Bowl left tackle and ask him to switch to the right side.
And so it makes sense why Miami called. And it also makes sense to assume this won’t be pursued much further than a phone call.
