The Miami Dolphins shipped away another one of the team’s major free-agent signings of 2020, sending former Miami Hurricanes standout Ereck Flowers back to the Washington Football Team, according to a league source.
Flowers, who started 14 games for the Dolphins at left guard after being acquired from Washington last offseason, fell short of the team’s expectations — much like linebacker Kyle Van Noy (who was released, and then re-signed with the New England Patriots) and pass rusher Shaq Lawson (who was traded to the Houston Texans).
The trade that sends Flowers, a former first-round pick who has started 85 of the 89 games he’s played in the NFL, to Washington is more about creating cap space ($8 million) than acquiring draft picks, since it only featured a swap of seventh-round selections (Miami gets WTF’s pick No. 244 in exchange for pick 258 according to the NFL Network) in this week’s draft.
As for who replaces Flowers, the Dolphins have a number of in-house options like Michael Deiter, a former third-round pick who started all but one game at left guard in 2019, and Jesse Davis, who has started 56 games at every position but center on the Dolphins’ offensive line the past four seasons.
The Dolphins also have a high opinion of Adam Pankey, who the team re-signed to a one-year deal worth $1,065,000 this offseason, and he could be in the mix for an elevated role.
Miami also signed veteran offensive lineman DJ Fluker earlier this month. He has started 96 of the 108 games he’s played in the NFL the past eight seasons, most of which has occurred on the right side of the line.
That’s where Robert Hunt and Solomon Kindley, two second-year players who started most of the 2020 season, played. Both have position flexibility. Kindley, the Dolphins’ 2020 fourth-round pick, played left guard at the University of Georgia, and Miami flirted with the idea of Hunt, the Dolphins’ 2020 second-round pick, playing right guard last season. Hunt was cross-trained to play both right guard and right tackle last season.
The Dolphins could also select an offensive lineman early in the 2021 draft, and could be in position to draft Oregon’s Penei Sewell, Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater, and USC’s Alijah Vera-Tucker, who are the draft’s three top-rated offensive linemen, with one of the team’s two first-round picks (No. 6, and No. 18).
The Dolphins could also address the offensive line with one of the team’s other draft picks. Miami has four of the draft’s top-50 selections, and a mid-level third-round selection (pick No. 81). After that, the Dolphins own one pick in the fifth-round and two in the seventh.
It is possible that Flowers won’t be the only veteran player traded this week considering the NFL draft begins on Thursday night.
General manager Chris Grier has made more trades than any other NFL executive in his three seasons at the helm of the Dolphins.
One player who could possibly be on the move is cornerback Xavien Howard, who has expressed the desire to have his contract reworked considering he’s paid much less than his counterpart, Byron Jones, who the Dolphins signed to a five-year, $82.5 million deal.
Jones will earn $14 million this season and the Dolphins will pay him $40 million over the course of the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Howard, who led the NFL with 10 interceptions last season, will earn $24 million during those same seasons.
2021 NFL draft: The top offensive linemen
1. Penei Sewell (Jr., Oregon, 6-foot-4, 331 pounds)
Updated
Sewell was the best offensive lineman in the nation as a 19-year-old. His fluid movement skills and instincts are remarkable for someone who won't turn 21 until October (he opted out of the 2020 season with COVID-19 concerns). He allowed only one sack in almost 1,400 career snaps for the Ducks. Projected: Top 10
2. Rashawn Slater (Sr., Northwestern, 6-4, 304)
Updated
Slater had double-digit starts at both left and right tackle before opting out of the 2020 season, including a dominant performance against Chase Young in 2019. He is athletic, technically proficient and talented enough to handle all five positions on the offensive line. Projected: Top 15
3. Christian Darrisaw (Jr., Virginia Tech, 6-4, 322)
Updated
Darrisaw has taken his game to another level every year in Blacksburg, culminating in a true breakout performance in 2020. He thrived against a talented slate of edge rushers in the ACC who will be playing in the NFL. He's a true bulldozer in the run game. Projected: 1st round
4. Alex Leatherwood (Sr., Alabama, 6-4, 312)
Updated
Leatherwood doesn't have athleticism you'd want from a top-tier tackle, but he makes up for it with strength and technical acumen. The former top-ranked tackle in the 2017 recruiting class is a starter day one outside or inside. Projected: 1st or 2nd round
5. Samuel Cosmi (Jr., Texas, 6-6, 314)
Updated
Cosmi features prototypical size and athleticism for the position with three years of dominating experience at both tackle spots in a pass-heavy offense. He only allowed eight pressures in 2020. Projected: 1st or 2nd round
6. Liam Eichenberg (Sr., Notre Dame, 6-6, 306)
Updated
Eichenberg has one of the higher floors in this draft class. He's an average athlete, but he's mastered the fundamentals of the position while making 38 straight starts at left tackle. He hasn't allowed a sack since 2018. Projected: 1st or 2nd round
7. Teven Jenkins (Sr., Oklahoma St., 6-5, 317)
Updated
Jenkins' technique breaks down a bit against speed, but his brute strength and overall intelligence enables him to impose his will on most opponents. He started at left tackle, right tackle and right guard for the Cowboys. Projected: 1st or 2nd round
8. Jalen Mayfield (Jr., Michigan, 6-5, 326)
Updated
Mayfield's power and awareness projects better at guard, at least early in his career. All the "tools" are there, but there's a lot of fine-tuning needed. Projected: 1st or 2nd round
9. Walker Little (Jr., Stanford, 6-7, 313)
Updated
Little is a former five-star recruit who has all the traits and talent in the world, but can he stay healthy? He's played in one game since December of 2018. Projected: 2nd to 4th round
10. Dillon Radunz (Sr., North Dakota St., 6-5, 301)
Updated
Radunz is slightly undersized, but he plays with a nasty temperament and competes through the whistle. He won the Practice Player of the Week Award at the Senior Bowl. Projected: 2nd or 3rd round
BONUS. Jackson Carman (Jr., Clemson, 6-5, 335)
Updated
Carman is a much better run blocker than pass protector, but his impressive size and physicality will endear him to his offensive line coach at the next level. A move inside might be optimal. Projected: 3rd to 5th round
BONUS. James Hudson (Jr., Cincinnati, 6-4, 313)
Updated
Hudson is another player who improved his draft stock during Senior Bowl week. He's a former four-star defensive tackle recruit who has an enforcer's mentality and looked solid at left tackle in 2020. There's a lot of natural ability here that will need continued development in the NFL. Projected: 3rd or 4th round
BONUS. Alaric Jackson (Sr., Iowa, 6-5, 321)
Updated
Jackson needs some technique adjustments in pass protection, but he's a bully in the run game. He's the only prospect in this draft class with 40-plus starts at left tackle. Projected: 3rd to 6th round
BONUS. Brady Christensen (Jr., BYU, 6-5, 302)
Updated
Christensen is an elite pass protector with only two pressures allowed in 2020. He was a consensus All-American, but he dominated against lesser competition. He will turn 25 during his rookie season. Projected: 2nd or 3rd round
Top interior linemen
Updated1. Creed Humphrey (Jr., Oklahoma, 6-4, 302)
Updated
Humphrey is a powerful technician who didn't allow a sack in 37 career starts. He's a two-time team captain whose wrestling background translates well to the field. He's big and athletic enough to play guard as well. Projected: 1st or 2nd round
2. Alijah Vera-Tucker (Jr., USC, 6-foot-4, 308 pounds)
Updated
Vera-Tucker has Pro Bowl upside at guard, but he's versatile and talented enough to play tackle at a high level too. Projected: 1st round
3. Landon Dickerson (Sr., Alabama, 6-5, 333)
Updated
The ACL tear Dickerson suffered in the SEC title game along with a challenging injury history will scare some teams off. Otherwise, he's a pancake artist with a personality capable of galvanizing an offensive unit. He started at least one game at every O-line position in college and has All-Pro potential if he can stay healthy. Projected: 1st or 2nd round
4. Wyatt Davis (Jr., Ohio St., 6-3, 315)
Updated
The 2019 version of Davis is worthy of a first round pick. He was good last season, but not as consistently dominant. He had his two worst games in the playoffs against Clemson and Alabama. At his best, he's a powerful finisher with elite balance. Projected: 2nd or 3rd round
5. Quinn Meinerz (Sr., Wisconsin-Whitewater, 6-2, 320)
Updated
Meinerz was a no-star recruit who didn't receive a single offer from FBS or FCS programs. He was the runaway superstar of Senior Bowl week. His explosiveness and brute strength was on full display, despite breaking his hand. His mentality is that of a bouncer who won't let you in the club. Projected: 2nd to 4th round
6. Trey Smith (Sr., Tennessee, 6-5, 321)
Updated
The former five-star recruit is a four-year starter with at least eight starts each at left tackle and both guard positions. His raw power is a plus, but his over-aggressiveness sacrifices balance. Smith's medical history of blood clots in his lungs makes him a true risk/reward pick. Projected: 2nd or 3rd round
7. Ben Cleveland (Sr., Georgia, 6-6, 343)
Updated
Cleveland features a devastating combination of size, power and awareness. He's a four-year starter who is an asset in the run game and pass protection — he hasn't allowed a sack since 2017. Projected: 3rd or 4th round
8. Deonte Brown (Sr., Alabama, 6-3, 344)
Updated
If this powerful man gets his hands on you in the run game, you're going to go where he wants you to go (usually to the ground). He improved his pass pro technique as a senior, but there's still work to do. Projected: 3rd to 5th round
9. Josh Myers (Jr., Ohio St., 6-5, 310)
Updated
Myers is highly intelligent, explosive finisher in the run game, but he's still developing his pass protection skills. Projected: 2nd or 3rd round
10. Aaron Banks (Jr., Notre Dame, 6-5, 325)
Updated
Banks' average athleticism gets him exposed on stunts occasionally — see the Alabama game — but he's a massive anchor who is not easily moved otherwise. Projected: 2nd or 3rd round
