Dolphins position review: Does Miami need to target another starting offensive lineman?

The Dolphins infused veteran additions to stabilize an inexperienced offensive line and it produced positive returns. But injuries afflicted the position group and stunted the development of a pair of young starters.

In the fourth of a series of position reviews, the Miami Herald will examine the team’s offensive line situation. Next up is tight end.

2022 review

The Dolphins added left tackle Terron Armstead and Connor Williams, who was moved from guard to center, inserting a pair of reliable starters to an offensive line that struggled in 2021. Williams developed into one of the league’s better centers and Armstead was named to the Pro Bowl but he played through a litany of injuries and missed four games.

Miami expressed confidence that left guard Liam Eichenberg and right tackle Austin Jackson would thrive in the new offensive scheme but they both missed significant portions of the season with injuries. The Dolphins used nine different starting offensive line combinations, one more than the previous season.

DEPTH CHART

Terron Armstead

Skinny: Armstead was named to his fourth Pro Bowl and made it despite playing with injuries to his toe, pec, knee and hip.

Contract: Armstead, who turns 32 in July, is entering the second year of a five-year contract. He has a cap hit of $21,114,706, the third-largest on the team.

Liam Eichenberg

Skinny: Eichenberg struggled in the first half of the season in his move to left guard and then sprained his knee in Week 8, just as coaches said he was playing his best ball. He appeared in 10 games.

Contract: Eichenberg, 25, is entering the third year of a four-year rookie contract. He has a cap hit of $2,185,768.

Connor Williams

Skinny: Williams signed with the Dolphins last offseason and moved from guard to center, a position he hadn’t played in a regular-season game. Snaps were a problem at times, but Williams emerged as one of Miami’s top linemen and was the sole player to appear in every offensive snap.

Contract: Williams, who turns 26 in May, is entering the final year of a two-year contract. He has a cap hit of $8,375,000, the 10th-largest on the team.

Robert Hunt

Skinny: Hunt continued his development at right guard, appearing in all 17 games and finishing the season as one of the highest-graded players at his position., according to Pro Football Focus.

Contract: Hunt, who turns 27 in August, is entering the final year of a four-year rookie contract. He has a cap hit of $3,851,498.

Austin Jackson

Skinny: Jackson began the season as the starting right tackle but sustained an ankle sprain that sidelined him until Week 12 He re-injured his ankle and was placed on injured reserve again, which sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

Contract: Jackson, who turns 24 in August, is entering the fourth year of a five-year rookie contract, with a team option for the fifth season. He has a cap hit of $4,340,112.

Brandon Shell

Skinny: Shell signed to the team’s practice squad last September and then was promoted to the 53-man roster in October. The veteran lineman started 11 games, primarily at right tackle.

Contract: Shell, who turns 31 in February, is headed for unrestricted free agency.

Robert Jones

Skinny: Jones made eight starts at both guard spots.

Contract: Jones, 24, is entering the final year of a three-year contract he signed as an undrafted free agent. He has a cap hit of $950,000.

Greg Little

Skinny: Little made seven starts, primarily at right tackle for the injured Jackson.

Contract: Little, who turns 26 in November, is headed for unrestricted free agency.

Kendall Lamm

Skinny: Lamm signed to the team’s practice squad in late November and made one start in Week 17 but injured his ankle and did not play in the final two games of the season.

Contract: Lamm, who turns 31 in June, is headed for unrestricted free agency.

Michael Deiter

Skinny: Deiter, who started 23 games in his first three seasons, did not log an offensive snap in 2022.

Contract: Deiter, who turns 27 in September, is headed for unrestricted free agency.

Geron Christian

Skinny: The Dolphins claimed Christian off waivers from the Chiefs in January but he did not appear in a game.

Contract: Christian, who turns 27 in September, is headed for unrestricted free agency.

Eric Fisher

Skinny: Fisher signed with the Dolphins in December but he did not appear in a game and was placed on injured reserve a month later with a calf injury.

Contract: Fisher, 32, has a voidable year for the 2023 season.

Offseason questions

1. What is next for Eichenberg and Jackson?

Injuries slowed the development of the two recent high draft picks, but general manager Chris Grier said “they’re both part of the plan, and we’ll give them opportunities to grow and compete here.”

While Grier has praised their play, their backups were often just as effective. Neither player was given legitimate competition for their starting roles last summer but will that change in 2023?

2. Are the Dolphins primed to target another veteran lineman in free agency?

Prior to last offseason, Miami had attempted to build its offensive line through the draft, as opposed to splurging in free agency. But given the success of Armstead and Williams, and the lingering questions at left guard and right tackle, targeting another veteran could further solidify a line that made strides, despite myriad injuries.

3. What does the offensive line look like in Year 2 of McDaniel’s scheme?

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and assistants such as offensive coordinator Frank Smith and offensive line coach Matt Applebaum emphasized early on that it would take time for the offensive line to jell within the new zone running scheme.

And between their coaching and the veterans added, the unit did make improvements. But the Dolphins’ run blocking was inconsistent times and so was pass blocking, especially when Armstead was out of the lineup. With another year of continuity, possible upgrades and better injury luck, the Dolphins’ offensive line could develop into one of the league’s better units in 2023.

Potential additions

It wouldn’t come cheap, but if the Dolphins seek a proven starter, right tackle Mike McGlinchey is a scheme fit who overlapped with McDaniel in San Francisco. The Dolphins could also bring back one or two of their veterans, like Brandon Shell, as depth.

BYU’s Blake Freeland, an offensive tackle, and Ohio State’s Luke Wypler, an interior lineman, are players who could be targeted in the draft.

DOLPHINS POSITION REVIEWS

WR: The Hill-Waddle pairing was an explosive tandem in 2022

RB: Will Miami be in search of another upgrade at running back?

QB: Will Miami invest significant resources into Tagovailoa’s backup?