Dolphins 2024 NFL draft preview: Where does Miami stand at EDGE?

The Dolphins have Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb coming off the edge, so they have plenty of talent at the position. The issue is their availability.

Phillips has an extensive injury history. He was hurt all throughout college — even medically retiring from football for a stretch — and after two healthy years in the NFL, he encountered a setback last season.

He suffered a season-ending Achilles tear on Nov. 24 against the New York Jets. While Phillips is confident he’ll be back this season, recovery from an Achilles injury can be a lengthy process.

Chubb has struggled with injuries throughout his NFL career too. He missed time in every season of his career except his rookie year and has only played double-digit games in a season three times in seven seasons.

Last season, Chubb suffered an ACL tear on Dec. 31 against the Baltimore Ravens. There’s not currently a timetable for his return, but Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel has been happy with his and Phillips’ progress.

Even though Miami could look to bolster the edge rusher room, it’s not for a lack of attention.

Both Chubb and Phillips were significant investments in the position. The Dolphins spent a first-round pick on Phillips in the 2021 draft, and he’s been a hit with 22 sacks in 42 games.

They also traded a 2023 first-round pick for Chubb and gave him a five-year, $110 million deal shortly after his acquisition.

In case Chubb and/or Phillips aren’t ready to go for the start of the season, the Dolphins have already worked to fill their spots … barely.

Miami signed former Broncos and Buccaneers edge rusher Shaquil Barrett to a one-year deal worth up to $9 million this offseason. But he merely filled the void left by the release of Emmanuel Ogbah. After Barrett, the Dolphins don’t have much depth.

Former seventh-round pick Cameroon Goode saw 76 defensive snaps last season and recorded two quarterback hits. There’s also Zeke Vandenburgh and Quinton Bell, but neither have seen the field with Miami.

There’s work to be done.

In this year’s class there’s a clear top three at the edge rusher position: Alabama’s Dallas Turner, Florida State’s Jared Verse, and UCLA’s Laiatu Latu, who are all likely to be selected in the first round.

Any could fall to No. 21 when Miami goes on the clock, but it’s unlikely the Dolphins would get their pick of the bunch. Turner seems to be the most likely to be gone, but Verse or Latu may be available.

In ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s most recent mock draft, he projected Miami selecting Verse in the first round.

Despite the recent injuries, Chubb and Phillips have been impactful players for the Dolphins.

Phillips registered 22 sacks through his first three seasons in the league and earned an elite grade of 88.8 from PFF in 2022. Last season, he had 6.5 sacks and 43 tackles in eight games.

Chubb didn’t hit the ground running in Miami, but had one of the best seasons of his career last year. He finished with 11 sacks and had career-best totals with 73 tackles and six forced fumbles.

If the Dolphins are feeling optimistic about the recovery of their starting duo and decide a first-round pick is too high of an investment, they could wait to pick someone with one of their later picks.

Alabama’s Chris Braswell, Penn State’s Adisa Isaac, Utah’s Jonah Elliss, Western Kentucky’s Marshawn Kneeland or Washington’s Bralen Trice could all be second-round candidates for Miami.

Unless Miami trades to acquire more picks, they would then have to wait until the fifth round to address the position if they don’t do so early. UCLA’s Grayson Murphy, Houston’s Nelson Ceaser, and Colorado State’s Mohamed Kamara could be intriguing day-three picks.

The Dolphins have Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb coming off the edge, so they have plenty of talent at the position. The issue is their availability.

Phillips has an extensive injury history. He was hurt all throughout college — even medically retiring from football for a stretch — and after two healthy years in the NFL, he encountered a setback last season.

He suffered a season-ending Achilles tear on Nov. 24 against the New York Jets. While Phillips is confident he’ll be back this season, recovery from an Achilles injury can be a lengthy process.

Chubb has struggled with injuries throughout his NFL career too. He missed time in every season of his career except his rookie year and has only played double-digit games in a season three times in seven seasons.

Last season, Chubb suffered an ACL tear on Dec. 31 against the Baltimore Ravens. There’s not currently a timetable for his return, but Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel has been happy with his and Phillips’ progress.

Even though Miami could look to bolster the edge rusher room, it’s not for a lack of attention.

Both Chubb and Phillips were significant investments in the position. The Dolphins spent a first-round pick on Phillips in the 2021 draft, and he’s been a hit with 22 sacks in 42 games.

They also traded a 2023 first-round pick for Chubb and gave him a five-year, $110 million deal shortly after his acquisition.

In case Chubb and/or Phillips aren’t ready to go for the start of the season, the Dolphins have already worked to fill their spots … barely.

Miami signed former Broncos and Buccaneers edge rusher Shaquil Barrett to a one-year deal worth up to $9 million this offseason. But he merely filled the void left by the release of Emmanuel Ogbah. After Barrett, the Dolphins don’t have much depth.

Former seventh-round pick Cameroon Goode saw 76 defensive snaps last season and recorded two quarterback hits. There’s also Zeke Vandenburgh and Quinton Bell, but neither have seen the field with Miami.

There’s work to be done.

In this year’s class there’s a clear top three at the edge rusher position: Alabama’s Dallas Turner, Florida State’s Jared Verse, and UCLA’s Laiatu Latu, who are all likely to be selected in the first round.

Any could fall to No. 21 when Miami goes on the clock, but it’s unlikely the Dolphins would get their pick of the bunch. Turner seems to be the most likely to be gone, but Verse or Latu may be available.

In ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s most recent mock draft, he projected Miami selecting Verse in the first round.

Despite the recent injuries, Chubb and Phillips have been impactful players for the Dolphins.

Phillips registered 22 sacks through his first three seasons in the league and earned an elite grade of 88.8 from PFF in 2022. Last season, he had 6.5 sacks and 43 tackles in eight games.

Chubb didn’t hit the ground running in Miami, but had one of the best seasons of his career last year. He finished with 11 sacks and had career-best totals with 73 tackles and six forced fumbles.

If the Dolphins are feeling optimistic about the recovery of their starting duo and decide a first-round pick is too high of an investment, they could wait to pick someone with one of their later picks.

Alabama’s Chris Braswell, Penn State’s Adisa Isaac, Utah’s Jonah Elliss, Western Kentucky’s Marshawn Kneeland or Washington’s Bralen Trice could all be second-round candidates for Miami.

Unless Miami trades to acquire more picks, they would then have to wait until the fifth round to address the position if they don’t do so early. UCLA’s Grayson Murphy, Houston’s Nelson Ceaser, and Colorado State’s Mohamed Kamara could be intriguing day-three picks.