Dolphins Q&A: OBJ good signing, but will he hit incentives? Are Dolphins built better than last year?
Here’s the latest installment of our Miami Dolphins Q&A, where South Florida Sun Sentinel writers David Furones and Chris Perkins answer questions from readers.
Q: I was hesitant about OBJ signing with us but I think it really gives us another option across the middle and the defense will have to pick their poison. His experience and presence is a boost – Peter McDowell on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
The Dolphins signing free agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is a huge acquisition because he fills a huge hole — No. 3 receiver. The only cautions are his age (31) and recent injury history with three consecutive injury-interrupted seasons. But if he can establish himself as a legitimate No. 3 receiving threat, the Dolphins’ offense should take a gigantic leap forward, because now defenses will have to defend three dangerous receivers (Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and Beckham) along with a talented quarterback (Tua Tagovailoa) and a creative offensive mind in coach Mike McDaniel. The Dolphins haven’t had a legit No. 3 receiver under McDaniel.
Q: Will OBJ hit his incentives??? Will that be a ball distribution issue with guys who want their own personal stats. 2nd part question u guys think obj will last a full season? – CAP 4 LIFE on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
We don’t know the specifics of Beckham’s reported one-year, $3 million contract that could reach $8.25 million with incentives. Based on the history of such contracts, I’d say it’s unlikely he reaches all of the incentives unless Hill or Waddle misses a few games.
So far, the best numbers the Dolphins have had behind Hill and Waddle are tight end Durham’s Smythe’s 35 receptions in 2023, wide receiver Trent Sherfield’s 417 yards in 2022, and five receiving touchdowns by tight end Mike Gesicki.
Beckham, playing for Baltimore last season, totaled 35 receptions for 565 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games.
I’m unsure whether OBJ will last an entire season. He’s not big (5-foot-11, 198 pounds) but he has decent size. The problem is that left knee that caused him problems in 2020 and 2021.
Q: Should we expect any OL second-round free-agency pickups? – Hookedup Joe on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
There’s a chance the Dolphins sign an offensive lineman after the training camp cuts are made.
Miami must see what it has in training camp, especially on the interior offensive line, considering they’re at the outside between left tackle Terron Armstead and right tackle Austin Jackson.
At center, if Connor Williams (free agent/rehabbing knee injury) doesn’t return, there’s Aaron Brewer, signed from Tennessee, and veteran returnee Liam Eichenberg.
At guards there’s Brewer, Eichenberg, Isaiah Wynn, last year’s starter at left guard until he sustained a quadriceps injury, Robert Jones and Lester Cotton, who both made starts last season, and Chasen Hines, who is young and developing.
Considering how well offensive line coach Butch Barry meshed his charges last season, there’s a chance Miami doesn’t make a major acquisition until midseason.
Q: Do you think we are built better this year or last year? – David Lazar on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
The Dolphins are definitely less talented than a year ago. But they could still be built better because, if all goes according to plan, they could have more quality depth. And that’s remarkable considering depth has been a strength the past two seasons.
Look at what the Dolphins did in the draft by selecting edge rusher Chop Robinson in the first round, offensive tackle Patrick Paul in the second round and running back Jaylen Wright in the fourth round.
Robinson should start right away, but eventually he’ll be quality depth behind Bradley Chubb (knee) and Jaelan Phillips (Achilles).
Paul will provide depth behind veteran left tackles Terron Armstead and Kendall Lamm and will likely make a few starts as a rookie.
Wright provides quality depth behind starters Mostert and Achane.
Robinson, Paul and Wright could all be starters in 2025.
Among wide receiver, tight end, quarterback, cornerback and linebacker, the Dolphins should have good depth.
Granted, depth at defensive tackle and safety are big concerns.
But overall the 2024 Dolphins could have better quality depth than either of the previous two Dolphins teams.
Q: I’m excited for this draft class, think we built for the future and added some good depth – Richard O’Connor on Dolphins Deep Dive w/Perk
It was a good draft. I’m not a fan of using a 2025 third-round pick in the trade to draft Wright in the fourth round (the Dolphins didn’t have a 2024 fourth-round pick and traded to acquire that selection).
But overall the draft was good, especially for the future.
And perhaps for the present. We’ll see.
I just mentioned the top part of the draft.
In the lower part you can’t count on immediate help, although one or two players might surprise as rookies.
There was edge rusher Mo Kamara in the fifth round, wide receiver Malik Washington and safety Patrick McMorris in the sixth round and wide receiver Tahj Washington in the seventh round.
Kamara will have the best shot to contribute immediately considering Chubb and Phillips are rehabilitating injuries.