Miami Dolphins Biggest 2013 Team Need

If you’re a Miami Dolphins fan, I would strongly advise you to pay strict attention to the news wire in the coming weeks, for several reasons.

As it stands right now, there are several issues that the Miami Dolphins are either facing or about to face in the near future.

So what am I talking about?

1.Will the Dolphins be able to offer elite money to Tackle Jake Long?
2.Will the Dolphins consider Greg Jennings when the market opens up?
3.What position will be paramount in this year’s draft, WR or OT?
4.Will the Dolphins indeed let RB Reggie Bush walk? Does that mean Lamar Miller is the answer?

Ok, so clearly there's a ton of events that need to unfold before a clear cut picture presents itself. With that said, I will take a very small peek at whom I believe the Miami Dolphins could target in the draft, and then I’ll divulge into the latest news surrounding the above mentioned.

Alright. As far as this year’s 2013 NFL Draft is concerned, I really believe the Miami Dolphins pull the trigger on Tennessee receiver Cordarrelle Patterson.

This kid is the most complete receiver in the draft hands down. He’s a sizable target at 6’3” 205 pounds and gives the Miami Dolphins just that: a sizable target they are currently without.

This situation is more likely than any other scenario in my mind, simply due to the fact that it gives the Dolphins a great building-for-the-future starting point.

There is a slight chance that the Dolphins also look at Keenan Allen here, but only if the man is available.

Now.

The pressing questions the Miami Dolphins are currently facing could have a dramatic influence on their draft-day decisions. So let’s take a look.

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Will the Dolphins be able to offer elite money to Tackle Jake Long? The Miami Herald is “reporting” that the Dolphins are pessimistic about re-signing Jake Long suggesting he could be seeking $10 million annually. They also go on to say that a Miami Dolphins teammate said Long “scoffed” at the first offering last season—I believe it was somewhere around $6 million.

The Impact: This piece was buried inside a round-up style article that mainly concentrated on baseball, so I’m personally chalking this up to off-season chatter. We don’t know for sure what is going on, there aren’t any sources named, and we are a long way away from free agency. With a new quarterback under center, I can’t see the Dolphins letting the 27 year old Long walk away. If Long does in fact walk, the Miami Dolphins may be forced to draft a high profile OT instead of a WR, but for now, I believe Long stays.

This also settles question three.

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Will the Dolphins consider Greg Jennings when the market opens up?  Fox Wisconsin is reporting that Packers WR Greg Jennings put his home up for sale this past Monday, suggesting the Packers will not be looking to bring the two-time Pro Bowler back. Paul Imig, the author of the article, goes on to suggest that Greg Jennings seemed “ready to move onto another team” after this comment from Jennings:

"I'm going to play football," Jennings said on Jan. 13. "I'm going to train hard this offseason and be prepared to play football next year. That's all I can control and that's what I'll do. That's what I'm best at, and I'm excited for that….”

The Impact: It's been widely debated whether or not the Packers will in fact keep Greg Jennings, or let him test the open market. I don't believe Jennings' comments above is a stark testimony of the fact, since he’s been saying those same words all season long, but I am not ruling out the possibility he plays elsewhere in 2013.

I will go as far as to say it may not be Miami. This comes down to money, and the Miami Dolphins are having a hard enough time retaining Jake Long. Jennings is expected to command elite money, and the Dolphins’ checkbook won’t be able to accommodate. Not much impact on the draft here.

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Will the Dolphins indeed let RB Reggie Bush walk? Does that mean Lamar Miller is the answer? It looks more and more as if the Dolphins may let Reggie Bush go reports CBSSports.com. This begs the question whether or not 21 year-old Lamar Miller is the answer at RB for Miami moving forward.

The Imapct: it’s pretty much a given that Reggie Bush is not retained. He’s been an injury liability his entire career, and he doesn’t exactly fit Joe Philbin’s offensive build. Bush will find another home, no doubt, but it isn’t going to be Miami. The Miami Dolphins really believe Miller can be a better option. Miller is bigger than Bush and faster than Bush, and is a better suit towards fitting into Joe Philbin’s modified WCO. This trust and belief will prevent Miami from taking a RB in the draft, which in turn will allow them to concentrate on more pressing needs later on.

Next up on the docket will be the New York Jets. Be sure to follow your team below with the rest of my NFL coverage.