Dolphins Rumors: Draft, Howard, WR

The Dolphins have lots and lots of holes to fill this offseason, but they’re more or less set at wide receiver, a league source tells Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

Currently, the Dolphins have DeVante Parker, Preston Williams, Allen Hurns, Jakeem Grant, Isaiah Ford, and Albert Wilson on the WR depth chart, though they’ll likely ask Wilson to restructure his deal, Jackson writes. There’s others in the mix, too, including Gary Jennings – who didn’t really get a chance to show his stuff in Miami thanks to a season-ending injury – and former Eagle Mack Hollins. Given their depth at the position, Jackson doesn’t see the Dolphins using a Day 1 or 2 pick on a receiver.

Some have wondered about the team’s need at WR after Williams suffered an ACL tear in November. However, Williams says he’ll be good to go for the 2020 season, giving him an opportunity to build off of his strong eight-game showing. Before his early exit, Williams caught 32 passes for 428 yards and three touchdowns. Grant will also be ready to roll for OTAs, so they have plenty of options from which to choose.

Here’s more from Miami:

• Cornerback, meanwhile, is a higher priority. Jackson hears that the Dolphins are intent on addressing the position in free agency and/or the first two days of the draft. The Dolphins still plan to move forward with Xavien Howard, but they are looking to find him a suitable partner that can step up if Howard is suspended for his late December arrest. Rising NFL sophomore Nik Needham could be part of the solution, but he’s still green. The Dolphins believe that they can use their ample cap room and draft stockpile to fortify, and improve, at corner.
• Frank Gore will turn 37 in May, but he’s not ready to give up football. After wrapping up his one-year deal with the Bills, the veteran recently said that he wouldn’t mind returning to the Dolphins as a free agent this offseason. Since entering the league in 2005, Gore has amassed more than 15,000 rushing yards with 79 touchdowns on the ground and 18 more scores through the air. Last year, he averaged just 3.6 yards per carry in Buffalo, but continued to show his durability as he appeared in all 16 games.
• Speaking of 37-year-olds, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has confirmed that he’ll return in 2020. The Dolphins are happy to have him back and plan to pair him with a young QB to be groomed for the future.