One source in the Dolphins building tells Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald that rookie defensive tackles Davon Godchaux and Vincent Taylor are a bit too green right now to be rotation players. The Dolphins were planning on using either Godchaux or Taylor as a No. 3 tackle, so that’s an issue for Miami. As Jackson points out, Dan Williams, Vance Walker, and Paul Soliai are still available.
Recently, PFR’s Dallas Robinson ran down the best available defensive free agents at each position and Williams topped his list on the interior line.
Here’s more from the AFC East:
- In today’s article, Jackson also gave an update on Dolphins starting center Mike Pouncey and noted that former Jet Nick Mangold is still not in Miami’s plans.
- Right now, Darryl Slater of NJ.com doesn’t see defensive lineman Mike Pennel making the Jets‘ cut. The Jets claimed Pennel off waivers from the Packers in February. Last year, Pennel served a pair of four-game bans for substance abuse, but that did not dissuade the Jets from taking a low-risk gamble on him. Now, it looks like the last DL spot may go to Lawrence Thomas instead of him. In Pennel’s best year, 2015, he established career highs in games (16), starts (five), tackles (24) and sacks (one).
- Wesley Johnson has the unenviable task of serving as Mangold’s replacement at center for the Jets, Brian Costello of the New York Post writes. Johnson isn’t 100% guaranteed the starting job, Costello notes, but it would be a surprise if he lost the battle to offseason addition Jonotthan Harrison. Assuming the job is his, Johnson will have to command an offensive line that has three new starters, which means that there will be lots of communication issues.
I’m all for Soliai on the cheap. Familiar face with enough left in the tank for this year.