Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier and assistant general manager Marvin Allen held a news conference Wednesday to update the past month-plus of offseason moves and the outlook ahead of next week’s draft.
The Dolphins exercised quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s fifth-year option on his contract this offseason, which will keep him under contract through 2024. Grier noted “internal discussions” about all options being on the table when it comes to a long-term extension with Tagovailoa.
He added that the Jalen Hurts contract with the Philadelphia Eagles “didn’t really move our needle” as the Dolphins will continue to monitor quarterback contracts until it’s time to decide whether or not — or what — to pay Tagovailoa.
“We always hope Tua will be here, successful long-term with us,” Grier said.
Allen also offered his vote of confidence in Tagovailoa in his first public comments since the quarterback from Alabama was drafted with the No. 5 pick in 2020.
“We have all the faith in the world in him,” Allen said. “We feel, moving forward, he’s the quarterback that gets us to where we want to go.”
Tagovailoa also spoke to reporters Wednesday and admitted he considered retirement following multiple concussions in the 2022 season but ultimately decided to keep playing football. Grier noted ample conversations with medical professionals this offseason that give the franchise confidence in his health moving forward.
Grier described trading for former Los Angeles Rams star cornerback Jalen Ramsey as “the opportunity to add a very good player.”
“They reached out about him,” Grier said. “We had talks for a couple of weeks, and at the end of the day, for us, it made sense for the player, who he is.”
With the Dolphins yet to make a significant move to add a starting-caliber right tackle to compete with Austin Jackson at that spot, Grier said the team is indeed moving forward with Jackson at the position. The 2020 first-round pick heads into his fourth NFL season after a third where he injured his ankle in each of the two games he started.
“The expectation is Austin is the starter at right tackle,” Grier said. “We’re excited for him. I know he was frustrated with some of the injuries last year, but he’s been working hard. He’s been doing a lot of stuff here in the offseason.”
Grier added Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead’s presence will continue to help Jackson and noted he plans to keep Robert Hunt at right guard.
Allen, while he likes the Dolphins’ running back group that returns on short-term deals, said the Dolphins will keep their eyes open on potentially adding another tailback. Rumors have been swirling around the organization with Minnesota running back Dalvin Cook at odds with the Vikings organization.
“We’re looking at all opportunities to bring in good football players,” Allen said. “Running back is a key component in this offense, so we’re going to look for the best players we can find.”
Grier said the team is hopeful to reach an extension with defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and said team has “had some good talks with his agent.”
The general manager touched on the two new additions at wide receiver, highlighting Braxton Berrios’ abilities in the return game while also working offensively in the slot. He said the Chosen Anderson acquisition had been developing over last couple of weeks. With Anderson being a South Florida product, Grier found out that the South Plantation High grad wanted to play at home.
Grier said the Dolphins had extensive conversations with Anderson, who has had on- and off-field troubles at his previous stops. The team came away impressed and believes Anderson understands where he stands in a receiving corps that is led by Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Regarding the upcoming draft, in which the Dolphins have four picks, including second- and third-round selections, Grier said he looks to find balance between his best-player-available mentality and filling positions of need.
“It’s still a balance,” Grier said. “At the end of the day, you always have to look long term, and there’s guys here, just being realistic, on one-year deals. You might have a position you think is deep, but like last year, we had four linebackers on one-year deals.
“We always look for the best player, and then there’s some occasions where you do take position of need. But you try not to draft on need because I think that’s where you get in trouble.”
He added the team has brought in draft prospects at every position, except quarterback, for visits. With the potential for Miami to draft a tight end, Grier said the team is happy with its current group that includes Durham Smythe, Eric Saubert and Tanner Conner while Allen noted this 2023 draft class as one of the deepest in recent memory at the position.
“This is probably one of the deeper tight end drafts that there has been in the last several years,” Allen said. “So we feel good about having an opportunity to grab a good football player if he’s available when we’re picking. … There’s a strong chance that there’s going to be a lot of tight ends selected early.”
Grier also mentioned that a couple of teams in the bottom half of the first round have inquired with the Dolphins about whether they would like to move up into the first, but nothing serious has developed.
“We’ll look at it,” Grier said of the possibility of trades. “We’ll keep those options open.”
The Dolphins own four picks in the draft. The second-rounder being the No. 51 selection, plus the third-round pick that follows and selections in the sixth and seventh rounds.”
