Brian Flores saved his job by making a late run to push the Dolphins to a 5-11 finish. He’ll be hard pressed to match that feat in 2020.Â
The Dolphins managed to scratch and claw their way to five wins last year, but make no mistake about it, this is one of the weakest rosters in the NFL. In particular, the offense may require a complete overhaul before it’s ready to look like a competent attack.
The fact that Ryan Fitzpatrick led Miami in both rushing attempts and yards last season is one of 2019’s most amazing statistics. It’s safe to assume a running back will manage to best him in both departments in 2020. Figuring out which guy might emerge as the leader of that group is an interesting thought exercise.
At least fans can hold out some optimism that their favorite team can draft a superstar with the No. 5 overall pick in the draft. Finding a quarterback to build around should be the franchise’s top priority. That’s the only hope the Dolphins have of sniffing the playoffs anytime soon.
Despite that dreary outlook, here are five bold predictions about how things will play out for Miami in 2020.
5. Xavien Howard will blossom into an All-Pro
Injuries and the lack of the team’s competitiveness limited Howard to just five games a season ago. That leaves Howard with a lot to prove in 2020. He’s got the talent and drive to have a stellar season in spite of his team’s record.
Howard will be 27 next season which means he should be at or near the absolute peak of his NFL career. When healthy, he’s one of the few shutdown corners left in the league. That skill is going to show up on film even when his team is losing games.
As a result, Howard will get a lot of individual praise for his play. It should be enough to get him All-Pro honors. That should help boost his trade value before he tries to get out-of-town next offseason.