Miami Dolphins Must Figure Out Fits On Remade Defensive Line
Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
The Miami Dolphins are facing a dilemma this offseason. For the past several years, they’ve featured a dominant interior defensive line thanks to the presence of Christian Wilkins and Raekwon Davis. Wilkins was the 13th overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft and bolted after five seasons in South Beach. He heads west to play for the Las Vegas Raiders, who gave him a four-year deal worth $110 million — an impressive $84.5 million of which will be guaranteed for the Clemson product.
Davis, a second-round pick from Alabama in 2020, wasn’t seen as impactful a player as Wilkins but he was still a vital piece of their defense. The 6-foot-7, 325-pounder was able to help clog up gaps to slow down the run game. His massive size also forced the opposing team to ensure blockers were focused on him. Essentially, Davis did the dirty work while others got the glory. His free agency deal also isn’t as impressive as Wilkins’ but he still landed a healthy $14 million over two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.
What did the Dolphins lose in free agency?
Before diving into the replacements in Miami, let’s see how much production is walking out the door. Wilkins gave them 335 tackles and 20.5 sacks over five years. He picked up tackles at the rate typically reserved for linebackers, netting 89 in 2021 and 98 in 2022. This past season, he had his best campaign in terms of getting after the quarterback, notching nine sacks. That helped him get the Raiders’ attention as they forked out the big money. Somewhat surprisingly, Wilkins received a PFF grade of just 71.8, which left him 29th in the NFL at his position. That was actually lower than both 2021 and 2022 when he was a top-10 interior lineman in each season.
Davis has seen more of a roller-coaster with his grade from PFF. He was the 37th highest-ranked D-tackle as a rookie, 108th in 2021, 14th in 2022, and 79th in 2023. With the Colts, he’s expected to play in more of a rotation with Grover Stewart and DeForest Buckner on the same roster. That means he will likely be seen primarily in traditional running situations. JJ Stankevits of the Colts’ official website discussed his usage against the run but added that Davis had a career-high in quarterback hits.
“Davis’ 959 run defense snaps are 27th-most among interior defensive linemen since he debuted in 2020. He also added a career-high six quarterback hits in 2023.” — JJ Stankevits, Colts official website
Despite the additional pressure he provided, his massive frame will remain his calling card as Indianapolis looks to slow down the opponent’s ground game.
Who will the Dolphins turn to?
With Wilkins and Davis out, Miami will rely heavily on returning starter Zach Sieler who had a career year in 2023 with 10 sacks. He was aided by the attention Wilkins and Davis commanded, so a repeat might not be in the cards. Still, he’s a trusted veteran who won’t be a liability for them.
In the offseason, the Dolphins also signed Neville Gallimore, Benito Jones, Jonathan Harris, and Teair Tart. Gallimore and Tart can fill the nose tackle role, even if they don’t have the traditional size for the role. Tart stands 6-foot-2 and 304 pounds compared to 6-foot-2 and 302. While Jones is a much larger human being at 6-foot-1 and 335 pounds, Gallimore and Tart might be the better options to replace Davis.
Tart struggled in 2022 with the Tennessee Titans, due in large part to frustration over his role with the team. Tennessee eventually released him, and Tart finished the campaign with the Houston Texans. During 2022, however, he was an incredibly efficient run-defender who had five tackles for loss.
Gallimore was seen as a steal for the Dallas Cowboys when they selected him in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. His size might have kept him from finding a full-time role since he was a cross between a 1-tech and a 3-tech. He didn’t provide very much as a pass-rusher (14 quarterback pressures and 4.0 sacks in four years) but was solid against the run. He also rarely missed a tackle, with just one in each of his four seasons in the league.
Time will tell if the Miami defense can replace Wilkins and Davis. At least they head into training camp with options, and those options are much more affordable. This could help them solve some of their other concerns — such as contract extensions for Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill.
Up Next