On Cook, the offensive line, backup quarterback and five early Dolphins impressions
Five things I think about the Dolphins offense heading into next week’s mandatory minicamp, scheduled for Tuesday through Thursday:
▪ For those asking if Dalvin Cook to the Dolphins is a done deal, I have been led to believe it’s not a done deal.
Could Cook end up here? Absolutely. It’s certainly a real possibility if he’s cut by Minnesota. There would be interest on both sides.
But from my understanding, there’s not some secret agreement between the parties.
In fact, it’s not certain that the Vikings will release Cook if they remain unsuccessful in finding a trade partner. He could conceivably agree to a pay cut, or the Vikings could hold onto him into training camp, hoping a trade option becomes available if a team loses its starting running back to an injury.
If they ultimately do release him, I would expect a Dolphins pursuit — but likely not at a salary close to the $10.4 million he’s due to make this season. Of that $10.4 million, only $2 million is guaranteed.
Though South Florida is home for Cook and he would love to play here if he’s not in Minnesota, it’s difficult to envision Cook rejecting a significantly higher offer from another team. And until he’s on the open market, it’s impossible to tell how much he could command.
I find it odd that the Vikings, at least as of early this week, haven’t allowed Cook to talk to other teams about whether he’s willing to restructure his contract, and to what extent, if traded.
The Vikings don’t desperately need Cook’s cap space. Their unwillingness to publicly or privately commit to keeping Cook seems purely motivated by irritation about having to spend that amount of money on a position that has been devalued by some teams. But that irritation hasn’t triggered his release, at least not yet.
It seems inevitable that Cook will be released at some point before his contract ends; none of his $11.9 million salary in 2024 or $13.9 million salary in 2025 is guaranteed.
So the Dolphins, eventually, likely will get their chance at Cook. The question is how high they’re willing to go financially, and whether another team will make it more of a priority.
▪ Mike White hasn’t allayed my concerns.
I wasn’t a big fan of the White signing because of his uneven career body of work (8 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 75.4 rating) and average arm strength.
And White hasn’t eased those concerns. He was picked off by Jevon Holland on a poorly thrown pass in the first of two OTA sessions open to the media and had multiple passes defended during Wednesday’s session, while also fumbling a snap.
After the Dolphins decided they weren’t going to spend big money on a backup quarterback, they became “smitten” with White, according to a close associate of one of the prominent quarterbacks in this year’s free agent class. That associate had direct contact with the Dolphins.
And in White’s defense, he’s smart and tough and capable of really good moments occasionally, including the 3 TD, 315-yard passing performance against Chicago, for the Jets, last season.
But with Tua Tagovailoa’s injury history, I would have felt better having a backup with a more successful, extensive body of work, such as Andy Dalton, who had a 95.2 rating for the Saints in 14 starts last season. (White was at 75.7 in four starts.)
The Carolina Panthers, in March free agency, guaranteed $8 million of Dalton’s two-year, $10 million deal. By contrast, the Dolphins guaranteed $4.5 million of White’s two-year, $8 million deal.
Even if White remains erratic in camp, I would be surprised if Skylar Thompson beats him out for the No. 2 job. I expect White to get every benefit of the doubt.
▪ I have no issue with giving Liam Eichenberg and Austin Jackson a chance to win starting jobs, because it feels a bit too soon to give up on those two high draft picks. But…
I would have preferred the Dolphins re-sign Brandon Shell as a safety net behind Jackson at right tackle. At the very least, Shell was a serviceable starter at right tackle last season, allowing two sacks in 11 games.
His replacement, Isaiah Wynn, has been a good left tackle at times, but was not effective in his one year at right tackle for the Patriots.
Eichenberg said this week that his play last October, before his knee injury at Detroit, left him convinced he can be a good NFL left guard. The Dolphins believed he was performing at a good-enough level before that injury.
Eichenberg and Jackson appear in good shape, and they’re bright guys and diligent workers. It wouldn’t be shocking if both become effective starters.
But until they prove it, uneasiness is natural.
▪ The battle for the No. 3 wide receiver job is going to be highly competitive.
Robbie Chosen caught multiple long passes, and got open on others, during the two sessions attended by reporters in the past two weeks. His greatest asset - speed - remains intact.
Meanwhile, Braxton Berrios several times has been open in the middle of the field and dived to make a nice catch on a Tagovailoa pass this week.
And Cedrick Wilson — who probably isn’t going to be cut because he’s owed $5 million guaranteed — also has had some good moments.
Any of the three can stake an early claim to the No. 3 receiver job. And don’t discount Erik Ezukanma, who could be ready to take a step in year two.
▪ Rookie running back De’Von Achane — who agreed to terms on a four-year, $5.4 million contract on Friday — will be a threat out of the backfield, but it’s too soon to tell if the young tight ends will contribute.
Achane got open — and showed good hands — on multiple throws in the two recent OTAs.
As for rookie tight ends Elijah Higgins and Julian Hill, it’s a work in progress. Higgins dropped a pass Wednesday and his head must be swimming as he transitions from college receiver to NFL tight end.
Julian Hill, who averaged 17.3 yards per catch at Campbell last season, made at least two receptions on Wednesday but also committed an illegal motion penalty.
There’s a reasonable chance that a receiver on the roster could take more of departed tight end Mike Gesicki’s snaps than any of the tight ends behind Durham Smythe (Eric Saubert, Tyler Kroft, Higgins, Hill, Tanner Conner).