Selling sunset: Miami patched holes on D, but must add more on offense

MIAMI — Jordan Poyer isn’t sure Mike McDaniel even had time to read his text.

After agreeing to terms on a contract with the Miami Dolphins, the former Buffalo Bills safety sent his new head coach a lengthy text message at roughly 6 in the morning.

Poyer’s phone rang almost immediately.

“As soon as I hit send — I don’t even think he had a chance to read my text,” Poyer said. “I sent him a long text and I don’t think he had a chance to read it. My phone started buzzing and it was him. I picked up the phone and we talked for a good 30 minutes. His energy is unmatched.

“You see it on the field when you cross [paths]. It’s just him, man. He’s a great dude and a great coach. I have a lot of respect for him.”

Poyer is one of 14 additions the Dolphins made during the first week of free agency. His signing is part of a reset on defense for the 2024 season. Miami parted ways with cornerback Xavien Howard and linebacker Jerome Baker, before losing defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, safety Brandon Jones and linebacker Andrew van Ginkel to free agency.

General manager Chris Grier hasn’t made many splash moves; Poyer, cornerback Kendall Fuller, linebacker Jordyn Brooks and tight end Jonnu Smith headline Miami’s free agent class thus far. But Grier attacked the defensive tackle position particularly hard, signing Jonathan Harris, Benito Jones, Neville Gallimore and Daviyon Nixon.

It was a clear position of need for Miami after losing Wilkins, although none of its new signees is expected to match the production that earned Wilkins a four-year, $110 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders.

“Obviously Christian Wilkins is a great player and is a hard guy to replace no matter who you bring in,” Harris said. “We just have to figure out the guys we have here, and everyone has to be an expert in their role, and we figure out who our D-line is now with the people we have here now.”

While their needs on defense have largely been addressed, the Dolphins have others on offense.

They brought back Isaiah Wynn (one-year deal) to reclaim his starting job at left guard and signed Aaron Brewer (three-year deal) to become their new starting center. But they’ll still need to find a new right guard after Robert Hunt signed a four-year, $100 million contract with the Carolina Panthers.

Miami could also use a third wide receiver behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

Cedrick Wilson Jr. signed a two-year deal with the New Orleans Saints. And while Miami re-signed Braxton Berrios, his production will come primarily on special teams.

A third wide receiver doesn’t necessarily mean a third option in the passing game, however. That honor should go to tight end Jonnu Smith, who is coming off a career-best 582 receiving yards with the Atlanta Falcons in 2023. He should add an element the Dolphins missed last season. Durham Smythe was their third-leading receiver behind Hill and Waddle last season with just 366 yards.

Smith is looking forward to the opportunity.

“That’s going to create a lot of space. Those two speed guys, some of the fastest guys in the NFL, if not the fastest,” he said. “That’s just going to cause so much havoc to the defense. To be able to use those guys to my advantage, those guys are going to be able to open up space. And likewise, me as well, just adding another pass-catching element to this offense and being able to get those guys open more.

“We’re all going to make each other better, all going to play off each other. And ultimately, I’m sure those guys are team guys. I’m a team guy. I think it’ll just be a great fit.”

Miami has roughly $17 million of cap space, with Howard representing an $18 million cap savings as a post-June 1 cut. There’s space for Grier to continue to add depth, while also finding starting-caliber players at guard and wide receiver.

It shouldn’t be difficult. Life in South Florida is an easy sell, as is life with McDaniel as your head coach.

“I haven’t had much of a personal conversation with him yet — but personally from what I’ve seen and heard and just read about the dude, he’s got that juice about him,” Brewer said. “He’s just very knowledgeable. He’s passionate about what he’s doing. I just love that you can feel it without even knowing him. You feel that passion about him, so I like that and that definitely played a role in me coming here.”