Miami Dolphins: 5 offseason needs

4. Linebacker

No, it’s not just the defensive backfield where the Dolphins defense needs to get better. Miami has to get more dynamic at linebacker if it wants to think about getting its defense off the field on third down. The Dolphins have been one of the easiest pass defenses to exploit with a tight end getting whatever he wants on slow, lumbering linebackers.

While Kiko Alonso remains, the Dolphins could be losing a starter at outside linebacker in Koa Misi in free agency. Given that he is one of the bigger names that will be hitting free agency for Miami, Misi could be brought back to keep continuity in Matt Burke’s defensive scheme.

That being said, this does look to be a great NFL Draft for linebacking talent, both inside and out. Right around where the Dolphins would be picking at No. 11 is where Georgia’s Roquan Smith or Virginia Tech’s Tremaine Edmunds could land. While Edmunds is most certainly an outside linebacker in the NFL, Smith could play both inside and outside, but did his best at Georgia as an inside linebacker.

If the Dolphins want to upgrade at linebacker in free agency, the best bet has to be Tahir Whitehead of the Detroit Lions. He’s young enough to become an impact player on a new team. If the Dolphins want a savvy veteran, maybe throwing some coin at NaVorro Bowman may not be a bad idea. He can at the very least be a high-end on-field coach for the ‘Phins defense.