NFL: Breaking down the 2015 Miami Dolphins

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Dec 7, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins cornerback Brent Grimes (21) tackles Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Kamar Aiken (11) short of the end zone in the first half of a game at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports /

Secondary

Starters: Brent Grimes (L), Reshad Jones (SS), Louis Delmas (FS), Will Davis (R)

Depth: Brice McCain, Jamar Taylor, Walt Aikens, Jordan Kovacs, Zack Bowman, Sammy Seamster, Shamiel Gary, Cedric Thompson (rookie), Tony Lippett (rookie), Bobby McCain (rookie), Don Jones, Michael Thomas

Prior to the 2013 NFL season, the Miami Dolphins were in the market for a good cornerback and signed Brent Grimes to a one-year, $5.5 million deal. It worked out for them that year, as he was rated as the second best cornerback in the NFL by Pro Football Focus (subscription required), right behind Darrelle Revis.

That resulted in a four-year, $32 million contract for Grimes and, naturally a season of regression by the cornerback. Grimes isn’t quite as good as he played in 2013, but he should at least put up numbers like he did last season, if not a little better. He’ll be the core piece of this secondary.

Will Davis fills in for the retired Cortland Finnegan , at least on paper for now. The Dolphins traded up for him in the 2013 Draft, moving up to the No. 93 overall pick by sending the Green Bay Packers Nos. 109, 146 and 224. Injuries have been the biggest issue for him, and he will have to prove he is healed from the torn ACL which ended his 2014 season.

Jamar Taylor could slide in there on the right side as well, depending on how his shoulder heals from surgery this offseason. He’s been uninspiring so far in his career though. Zack Bowman is an aging corner who is more of a special teams guy, while Sammy Seamster was undrafted in 2014, landed with the Baltimore Ravens before moving on to the Dolphins. He’s raw, but has size and speed. If he can refine his game further, he could at least be part of a rotation.

If there is a little question about one side of the cornerback tandem, at least safety seems to be a position of strength for this team. Pro Football Focus rated Reshad Jones as the third best safety in the league for 2014 (subscription required), though you have to be a little worried about a guy who has already been suspended once for PEDs. Another failed test and he’ll have a long punishment. As long as he is clean though, he is a tremendous player and given that he also rated as the third best safety in the NFL in 2012, you can bet he’ll give you good play this year.

Louis Delmas suffered a torn right ACL in Week 14 of last season, which is a shame because he was coming off the first complete season since his rookie year and had been very effective. He should be ready for Week 1, which should come as a relief to Dolphins fans.

Most of the players behind the front safeties are fringe and substitute players, but if healthy this is one of the better safety pairs in the NFL.

Overall, this is a good secondary and if the front seven can generate pressure, they should be able to stymie most receivers they face.

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