Miami Dolphins: 5 offseason needs in 2019

4. Upgrade the offensive line

Regardless of who lines up behind center, as well as who is situated in the backfield, the Miami Dolphins have had trouble running the football and protecting their quarterback in recent seasons. Dating back to 2011, the team has surrendered 45 or more sacks in four of the past eight seasons. Over that span, the ‘Fins finished in the league’s Top 10 in rushing just once, which was 2016 – the club’s only playoff appearance in the last eight years.

It’s not as if the team has not used a share of higher draft picks to shore up this area. And last season, the club did sign well-respected guard Josh Sitton and traded for center Daniel Kilgore. But both wound up seeing their first seasons in South Florida cut very short by injury. The latter’s main fill-in was Travis Swanson, who made 11 starts but struggled mightily when it came to pass blocking.

In retrospect, perhaps the club made a big mistake last offseason in cutting ties with veteran center Mike Pouncey – regardless of the reasons. He wound up latching on with the playoff-bound Los Angeles Chargers and enjoyed another Pro Bowl campaign. In any case, the Dolphins are hoping Sitton and Kilgore can stay healthy in ’19 while the organization must add depth at center and guard (Swanson and Wesley Johnson and potential unrestricted free agents). And the team would be wise to make sure that right tackle Ja’Wuan James doesn’t hit the open market.

Next: No. 3