After an offseason that included a free agent spending spree that made the Miami Dolphins the most popular name in all of football in the past few months, most people have concluded that Ireland is going all in for the 2013 season.

Ireland’s expenditure itinerary included Dannell Ellerbe, Philip Wheeler, Brent Grimes, Lance Louis, Dustin Keller, Brandon Gibson, and Mike Wallace – who was arguably this free agent class’ top player. Ireland also focused on retaining his own talent by resigning wide receiver Bian Hartline, back up quarterback Matt Moore, utility lineman Nate Garner, and safety Chris Clemons.

After aggressively attacking free agency, he still had many holes to fill on this talented but incomplete roster – particularly at left tackle. Ireland did not think franchise left tackle Jake Long was worth the $8.5 million annually he received from the Rams, which is why Ireland let the player he selected first overall in the 2008 NFL Draft walk away from the only team he has ever known.

Going into the 2013 draft class, the Dolphins’ primary needs were at left tackle, cornerback, defensive end, and tight end. The question was: which one was Ireland going to prioritize with this class? With just seconds left on the clock, the Dolphins made a move up to the third overall pick to select what many pundits predicted would be a franchise left tackle. However, when push came to shove, Ireland pulled the trigger on the player he claims to have scouted since the tail end of 2011: Oregon defensive end/linebacker Dion Jordan.

The addition of Dion Jordan, who was universally seen as a “special player” and the best defender in this draft, not only adds to an already vicious pass rush, but also fills a huge need across All-Pro defensive end/linebacker Cameron Wake. Jordan isn’t just a pass rusher. He’s very fluid in space, and his 4.5 wheels help him excel in coverage. He’s going to be a building block for the Dolphins to focus on for at least the next decade, which they paid peanuts for in terms of draft pick compensation.

With the additions of cornerbacks Jamar Taylor, Will Davis, Don Jones, and safety Keelan Johnson, Ireland clearly made upgrading his secondary another top priority on draft weekend. He also addressed his tight end situation by adding Michigan State tight end Dion Sims, who some draftniks called this draft class’ best blocking tight end, which will be a huge asset considering it’s an area where Dustin Keller struggles.

Lastly, Ireland addressed his left tackle situation to by adding Tennessee offensive lineman Dallas Thomas. Thomas was incredibly versatile at Tennessee, playing at various parts of the line. Experts say he’s best suited for an interior role, which is fine considering Richie Incognito will be 30 in July, is a poor fit for the Dolphins’ zone scheme, and is in a contract year. However, there’s nothing wrong with giving Thomas a look at left tackle in his rookie year. He’d at the very least be a quality reserve man.

To answer my previous question: which need would Ireland prioritize with this draft? All of them. He filled a ton of holes with a ton of quality players. The fact that he didn’t come away with a franchise left tackle is perfectly fine. Ireland needed to address the left tackle position simply because the Dolphins have absolutely zero depth there. In 2012, aside from the 49ers game, Jonathan Martin was actually a respectable starter at left tackle. However, in the event of a Martin injury, it would thrust Nate Garner, who’s better suited for the right side, into the starting lineup. The Dolphins can’t rule the jury out on Martin, and they have been in “steady dialogue” with Eric Winston, whose addition would solidify the right side. In fact, Ireland himself has admitted that he can’t rule out the acquisition of Kansas City Chiefs left tackle Branden Albert. Another realistic option could be signing 33-year old left tackle Bryant McKinnie, who played admirably during the Baltimore Ravens’ Super Bowl run.

So to those of you that think Ireland messed up another draft because he didn’t get the player that was so heavily mocked to the Dolphins in the weeks coming up to the draft: fear not. The offseason is not over, they got a “special player” for pennies on the dollar, and if they don’t get a “new” left tackle, it’ll be okay. We promise. 

For everything Dolfans can expect Mike Wallace to be fast and elusive, most football fans never expected him to comment on matters which he has no political credibility whatsoever.  Just this afternoon while current NBA player Jason Collins has publicly come out as gay, Mike Wallace decided to comment further on the matter on Twitter.

Said Wallace: “All these beautiful women in the world and guys wanna mess with other guys SMH (shakin' my head) …”

Moments later, twitter was a flurry and most fans of the NFL as well as Dolphins fans jumped all over the message and questioned the timing and the nature of the message.  Did Wallace tweet something he should have kept to himself and was the message one that is filled with hate?  With the NFL trying to brace itself for the inevitability of several players coming out in the coming years, such talk is mainly frowned upon. 

To his credit, Wallace quickly realized he made an error in judgment, deleted the tweet, and then re-issued this statement via Twitter:

Said Wallace: “Never said anything was right or wrong I just said I don't understand!! Deeply sorry for anyone that I offended."

First of all, Wallace, according to most fans and writers, was in the wrong and should have never made any kind of admission on twitter as a public figure.  It is possible that Wallace might feel this way toward people with an alternative lifestyle, but it is a bit unfair to paint Wallace with the brush of hate toward another human being without knowing all the facts.  Based on his image, he seems like a guy that cares about his family, takes the time to be a good  father, and cares about his career as an NFL player. 

We don’t know any more about Wallace other than he cares deeply for his own encarcerated brother and makes sure his prison account always has money in it. However, most people will not support exactly what Wallace said because it comes from a place of ignorance.  

While Wallace´s initial statement speaks volumes negatively to some football fans, there are in fact Dolphins fans who are season ticket holders, support gay rights, gay, might be the most offended. Even the smallest error in judgment can be detrimental to Wallace’s standing as a public and community representative of the Miami Dolphins franchise.  

As a franchise, this error in judgment could hurt the Dolphins in ticket sales if people feel that the team itself does not support who they are as human beings. This idea is not as far-fetched as it sounds considering this happened last year when then manager Ozzie Guillen pledged his admiration for much hated dictator Fidel Castro of Cuba and much of the Cuban community in Miami was up in arms and boycotted games.

Following the tweet of apology from Wallace, the Miami Dolphins had this to say:

“Mike Wallace has apologized for his comments, and we have addressed the matter with him. Mike’s comments do not reflect the views of the Miami Dolphins. We believe in a culture of inclusiveness and respect, and any statements to the contrary are in no way acceptable to our organization. We will address the entire team about our policy of inclusion and make sure they all understand the importance of respecting individual choices.”      

Based on the tone of the Dolphins statement, one can tell that this matter will be or has been dealt with.  Whether it means a trip to head coach Joe Philbin´s principal´s office, the matter will be dealt with professionally and should carry consequence for actions.  We will probably never know what will be said to Wallace because it will be done privately, but one can surmise that Wallace’s tweeting might come to a halt.  In addition, it's surprising that the statement is not only directed to Wallace alone, but all players on the team about this idea of "inclusion."  In addition,  community outreach might be mandatory for Wallace to learn more about LGBT youth and what they go through on a daily basis.  

 There is no winner here and no touchdowns can get scored when it comes to appreciation of all people and inclusion, but hopefully Mike Wallace learns that the microscope has a wider lens than ever before.

The 2013 NFL draft is in the books meaning the Miami Dolphins and the rest of the 31 teams can sign any player that did not hear their name called throughout the 254 picks.

Players can agree to sign with a team but keep in mind that none of these contracts are official until the ink dries. Several players will be given an invite to camp only and not an actual contract.

Below is the list of the 19 undrafted free agents that have officially signed with the Dolphins:

WR Chad Bumphis, Mississippi State

OLB Mike Clay, Oregon

S Jordan Kovacs, Michigan

WR Taylor Stockemer, Arkansas State

DT Chris Burnette, Old Dominion

OLB Alonzo Highsmith, Arkansas

LB Rob McCabe, Georgetown (waived)

DE Emeka Onyenekwu, Louisiana-Lafayette

QB Clay Belton, Findlay (waived)

S Keelan Johnson, Arizona State

RB Cameron Marshall, Arizona State

DT A.J. Francis, Maryland

WR Jasper Collins, Mount Union

WR Terrell Sinkfield, Northern Iowa

OG Chris Barker, Nevada

FB Ina Liaina, San Jose State

DE Tristan Okpalaugo, Fresno State

OT Patrick Ward, Northwestern

C Sam Brenner, Utah

*LB David Hinds, FAU

*Signed a contract with the Dolphins following a tryout at rookie mini camp.

We'll continue to update this page if we hear reports on additional Dolphins UDFA signings.

Jeff Ireland has been very busy making trades and picks on the 2nd and 3rd day of the NFL draft. The Dolphins used their picks taking

Round 2 pick 22 (54): Dolphins selected CB Jamar Taylor, Boise State.

The Dolphins received an 85.5 grade from NFL.com as many had Taylor as the 3rd ranked CB in this draft.

Daniel Jeremiah ‏@MoveTheSticks16h

MIami just selected one of my favorite players in the draft, Boise St CB Jamar Taylor. Consistent player on every tape I studied. Rock solid

Josh Norris ‏@JoshNorris2h

More Dolphins: I've ranked Jamar Taylor as the top senior CB since the Senior Bowl.

Jamar Taylor said on himself " I play with swagger. I'm kind of chippy. I like to talk stuff and have fun. I love to play real agressive".

Sounds good to me.  I absolutely love the value of this pick. We will have a profile on Taylor shortly further going into all he has to offer.

Round 3 pick 15 (77): Dolphins selected OT Dallas Thomas, Tennessee

Thomas projects most likely as a RG, it will be interesting to see where they put him. Thomas is versatile and can probably be moved around. Thomas played LT and Guard at Ten. Thomas is 6'5 300 pounds who has had some injuries however Dolphins felt comfortable with his medicals. 

Omar Kelly ‏@OmarKelly13h

For those wondering, Tennessee LG Dallas Thomas, who the Dolphins selected in the 2nd round, is rated by PFW as a 2nd RD talent.

Round 3 pick 31 (93): Dolphins selected CB Will Davis, Utah St.

Phins traded back into the 3rd round to double dip at the CB position. Most people like Davis's tape however are not sure warranted the price tag of trading back up for him. Ireland stated he was eager to grab another CB after 2 had just been taken before Davis.  

Rob Proffitt ‏@aqua_and_orange12h

Will Davis led the NCAA in passes defensed with 22 last season. PFW was given a 2nd/3rd round grade. Davis is a small school stud who had very impressive tape. 

SI's Tony Pauline passes along word that Utah State senior CB Will Davis is receiving first-round grades from "several" scouts.

"I see Will Davis as a corner. I see he has corner skillset....he has the skillset to play in this league," Ireland on Davis.

Round 4 pick 7 (104):  Dolphins selected LB Jelani Jenkins, Florida

Dolphins continued to build their defense playing a player who will contribute on special teams right away and is known for strong coverage skills. Many had Jenkins as one of the top cover LB in the draft.

Round 4 pick 9 (106): Dolphins selected TE Dion Sims, Michigan St.

Dolphins address a need and take TE Dion Sims. Sims is seen more as a blocking TE than a pure pass catcher.  Mike Mayock says that Sims is one of the best inline blockers in the draft. Sims won't explode on the stat sheet but the Dolphins needed blocking support after Fasano left in free agency.

Round 5 pick 31 (164): Dolphins selected RB Mike Gillislee, Florida

Just what the doctor ordered. Dolphins find great value in a player that will come to camp and compete right away for carries. Gillislee has the lead dog at Fla and showed a lot of talent being able to lead a strong running game against some of the best defenses in the SEC. Gillislee can also make plays out of the back field and should take over Daniel Thomas in the depth chart in no time. Mike is a bigger back and also has a nose for finding the endzone.

"I think he's an underlooked, bigger back who does everything well with not one spectacular trait. He'll help out his teammates. He catches the ball well. The Senior Bowl opened my eyes on this kid." -- Mike Mayock

There isn't a lot of milage on him so he should have fresh legs to enter the NFL.

Chris Kouffman ‏@ckparrot 2h

Now there's a pick I love. Mike Gilislee to the Dolphins. LOVE IT.

Evan Silva ‏@evansilva 3h

Thought Mike Gillislee showed a real mean streak in blitz pickup at UF. Violent blocker. Carried #Gators offense on his back last year.

Round 5 pick 33 (166): Dolphins selected K Caleb Sturgis, Florida

Carpenter was way too inconsistent and expensive, Sturgis can be a legitimate upgrade to the roster.

RT @flasportsbuzz: Last Fins kicker tidbit: Last year, Sturgis was 3 for 3 on FGs of 50 yards or more. 5-6 from 40 to 49

From @AlexMiglio The #Dolphins didn't have a 6th rd pick and can't trade up in the 7th. 5th rd was their last shot at Sturgis.

Round 7 pick 44 (250): Dolphins selected SS Don Jones, Arkansas State

Don Jones adds depth at safety and will get the opportunity to compete for a backup role behind starter Reshad Jones.

Overall I think this is Jeff Ireland's best draft since taking over as GM. This is the first group of picks that I can say that I am excited by the overall group of players.

When the comissioner announced that the Miami Dolphins had acquired the third overall pick, the first player that came to mind was offensive tackle Lane Johnson. I know I wasn't alone there.

Based on the Dolphins draft strategy of the past, it seemed likely that the team would once again draft for need and upgrade at the most glaring hole on the roster. Instead, Jeff Ireland surprised us all and selected Oregon defensive end Dion Jordan who is considered to be the best defensive player in this draft. As it turned out, the strategy was not drafting for need. The Dolphins plan all along was to take the best player available or the player they most coveted, even if it meant trading additional picks.

There are many reasons to be excited about the selection of Dion Jordan. First of all, he's a playmaker. Jordan has the size and speed to get to the quarterback, not only for the sack, but to force turnovers as well. Second, the Dolphins realize that there is only one way to re-take the AFC East crown and dethrone the Patriots; ensure that there is constant pressure on Tom Brady. If Jordan shows even glimpses of Jason Taylor, his pro comparison, the tandem of Wake and Jordan will create chaos on a weekly basis and be a nightmare for the opposition. 

The Dolphins have also scouted Jordan for over two years, in case he declared for the 2012 draft, Miami wanted to be prepared. Due to this extensive amount of scouting, the Dolphins must have been very confident in Jordan's abilities to trade up and select him with the third overall pick. Jordan was the top player on Miami's board, they wanted him, they did what was required to make sure he was a Dolphin.

Following Jordan on the Dolphins top secret list draft board, were not safe selections of offensive and defensive lineman, there were more play makers. Tavon Austin was high on the Dolphins board, not as high as Jordan of course, but there was significant interest. If it weren't for the Bills trying to make certain that Austin did not land in the AFC East, there is a good chance Miami would have selected him. 8th overall is fair value for Austin, however there were better players available at 3rd overall.

One round into the draft, its clear the Dolphins are targeting play makers. It will be interesting to see if that trend continues in the last six rounds and Miami's 9 remaining picks.