The Dolphins addressed a glaring need at cornerback in the draft by selecting Illinois' Vontae Davis in the first round and Utah's Sean Smith in the second. Davis and offseason acquisition Eric Green will be the frontrunners for the vacancy opposite Will Allen.
They also tried to shore up another perceived weakness by drafting two receivers with their first two picks of the second day when they took Southern Cal's Patrick Turner and Ohio State's Brian Hartline in the third- and fourth-rounds respectively. The 6-5 Turner could compete with 2008 free-agent bust Ernest Wilford for red-zone duty, while the lightning-quick Hartline could stick on special teams. They'll certainly get their share of reps in OTAs with incumbent starting WR Greg Camarillo not expected back from a torn ACL until late July.
The Dolphins overlooking potential 3-4 pass-rushing outside linebackers in the draft such as Clay Matthews makes a lot more sense after the re-signing of six-time Pro Bowl linebacker Jason Taylor. Taylor is an instant upgrade to a pass rush that relied predominately on Joey Porter's 17.5 sacks last season. Taylor's presence allows them to further develop young pass rushers such as Kendall Langford, Phillip Merling, Lionel Dotson, Cameron Wake, Tearrius George and Erik Walden, while keeping Porter fresher.
The Dolphins didn't do much to provide insurance at nose tackle other than add college free agent Louis Ellis. They're still banking on third-year NT Paul Soliai, who despite maturity issues, was difficult to budge off the blocks last season when spelling 34-year-old Jason Ferguson.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--WR Tab Perry.
--LB Derek Smith.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered)
--TE Aaron Halterman (not tendered as ERFA).
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: None.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--S Yeremiah Bell: Potential UFA; $20M/4 yrs, $10M guaranteed.
--OT Vernon Carey: Potential UFA; $42M/6 yrs, $12M SB/$2M RB; 2009 cap: $5.2M.
--LB Channing Crowder: Potential UFA; $6.1M/3 yrs, guarantees unknown.
--LB Quentin Moses: ERFA; $460,000/1 yr.
--OG Ike Ndukwe: ERFA; terms unknown.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED
--OG Joe Berger: UFA Cowboys; $2.175M/3 yrs, guarantees unknown.
--CB Eric Green: UFA Cardinals; $6M/3 yrs, $3M guaranteed.
--C Jake Grove: UFA Raiders; $29M/5 yrs, $14.5M guaranteed.
--DT Tony McDaniel (trade Jaguars).
--LB Jason Taylor: FA Redskins; $1.5M/1 yr.
--LB Cameron Wake: FA CFL; $4.9M/4 yrs, $1M SB.
--S Gibril Wilson: FA Raiders; $27,5M/5 yrs, $8M guaranteed.
PLAYERS LOST
--QB John Beck (released).
--CB Andre' Goodman: UFA Broncos; $25M/5 yrs, $10M guaranteed.
--S Renaldo Hill: UFA Broncos; $10M/4 yrs, $3M guaranteed.
--DE Vonnie Holliday (released).
--C Al Johnson: UFA Patriots; $950,000/1 yr.
--G Matt McChesney (released).
--C Samson Satele (traded Raiders).
--LB Kelvin Smith (released/failed physical).
