Linebacker was known to be a position where change was coming this offseason for the Miami Dolphins, specifically inside linebacker.
The Dolphins, transitioning to Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator, got more athletic at the position in signing David Long Jr., formerly of the Tennessee Titans, while letting Elandon Roberts go to the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency.
Long can immediately be plugged into the starting lineup alongside Jerome Baker inside. On the edge, Miami returns a standout tandem of Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips that is expected to produce in their first full season together.
Behind Baker and Long, the Dolphins re-signed Duke Riley at inside linebacker, plus they have 2022 third-round pick Channing Tindall back after he barely played defensively as a rookie. At outside linebacker, Miami brought back Andrew Van Ginkel and acquired Malik Reed to provide depth and a rotation when Chubb and Phillips need a breather.
A decision on veteran former Pro Bowler Melvin Ingram, who spent 2022 with the Dolphins, could be pending too, but he recently released a tweet that seemed to indicate talks between him and the team may be dormant: “I really played for 3 teams in 2 years! Damn nobody wanna keep the kid.”
With one inside linebacker in and one out, it’s not out of the realm of possibility the Dolphins eye the position with one of their first two of four total selections in the draft, either in the second or third round. General manager Chris Grier likes to select his perceived best player available anyway instead of focusing on the top position of need, which may be tight end or offensive line heading into the draft.
Long, if he can remain healthy after multiple hamstring injuries, can provide a spark to Miami’s defense as an undersized linebacker that is solid in every aspect of the position, whether tackling, in coverage, plugging gaps in run defense and providing closing speed in pursuit. The Dolphins need to cover better at the linebacker position after a rough 2022 season in that department for the unit.
Long is built a lot like Baker, whose base salary became guaranteed March 19 and appears to be surviving the transition to Fangio from previous defensive coordinator Josh Boyer. Baker may be used less on the blitz under Fangio after he had 16 1/2 sacks over the past three seasons under Boyer.
Riley returns in a rotational role after pitching in with 41 tackles, plus four more on special teams, as a reserve linebacker behind Baker and Roberts the past two seasons. With Roberts’ departure, the Dolphins will have a void to fill of a leader, captain and stout tackler that tallied 104 in 2022.
Tindall’s athleticism could make him a fit for Fangio, and he entered the offseason with an idea of what he needs to improve on in order to become a consistent defensive contributor.
Phillips had seven sacks in his second NFL season, and Chubb had just 2 1/2 in eight games with Miami the second half of the year, but Fangio’s defense could simplify the pass rush for the tandem while they get a full offseason to work on complementing each other on opposite edges.
Reed comes over from a down season with the Steelers, but his best campaigns were under Fangio with the Denver Broncos, so he’s reunited with his former coach and with Chubb.
The Dolphins also return 2022 seventh-round draft pick Cameron Goode after he spent the past season on the practice squad.
As Ingram’s status is also up in the air, Sam Eguavoen, a Dolphins special teamer with sporadic defensive playing time since 2019, remains a free agent this offseason.
