For the 2^nd straight year a 1^st overall pick is set to have a new team. Jake Long has signed a 4 year contract to go to the St Louis Rams.  The #BringJakeHome campaign which seemed to be gaining serious steam apparently never made it to Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland. Jake’s deal with St Louis is a 4 year 36 million dollar deal.

While it seemed the Dolphins made it competitive it would not be surprising if we later heard the Dolphins never really attempted to match the dollars offered by St Louis. Jake is now the 3^rd member of last year’s leadership council to be wearing new colors this offseason. Jake injuries were probably what sealed his faith in Miami as it is presumed the Dolphins will be aiming for a cheaper alternative to help solve their OT holes.

The safest bet is that now sophomore tackle Jonathan Martin will be moved to LT and the Dolphins will pursue OT Eric Winston or Sebastian Vollmer. Both tackles would bring an upgrade and are proven vets that can help the offensive line.

Armando tweeted that the Dolphins are most likely to tackle the position in free agency as opposed to using the 12^th overall pick.

I was there and met Jake when he was drafted 1^st overall by Miami so it is tough to see a player like that go however it is most likely for the best and we wish Jake nothing but the best of luck. 

Now that most of the big names are off the market, its safe to say the Miami Dolphins have accomplished their main goal in free agency, to equipt second year quarterback Ryan Tannehill with better options in the passing game. After the Dolphins recieving core combined for only three touchdowns in 2012, it was evident that major changes were coming and that's exactly what took place.

First the Dolphins re-signed Tannehill's favorite weapon last season, Brian Hartline, then they landed the top wide out available in Mike Wallace. Retaining Hartline was a must for the team due to the chemistry that he developed with Tannehill on route to 1,000 yards recieving. Wallace on the other hand adds another dimension to the offense as he can take the top off opposing coverages. The addition of Wallace will also ensure the illusion that the Dolphins are always operating out of the red zone offense is no more.

Jeff Ireland and company weren't done there. Next, they provided Tannehill with a reliable tight end in Dustin Keller. On a team that lacked red zone threats, Keller will prove to be a key contributor in the passing game. With a burner like Wallace causing concern for the opposition down the field, Keller will be able to take advantage of man to man coverages in order to rack up crucial yards after the catch.

Following the addition of a tight end, the Dolphins front office signed wide reciever Brandon Gibson which is sure to create competition between the recieving core once training camp starts. Gibson isn't the fastest target and offers almost nothing after the catch however he can move the chains and is a threat in the red zone. He will be penciled in to his ideal role of a No.3 reciever behind Wallace and Hartline.

Now with the pieces in place, Ryan Tannehill must prove his worth as the eighth overall pick in last year's draft. Tannehill's rookie season was average at best however it is crucial to consider that his supporting cast was one of the worst in the league. The numbers were decieving - 3,294 yards, 12 touchdowns and 13 interceptions - although he did show flashes of brilliance and the skill set needed to be successful in the NFL.

With the diverse options in the passing game, its up to Tannehill to step up both on and off the field. If he is able to do so, the free agent signings made by the Dolphins will pay immediate dividends and allow the team to compete for a playoff spot despite the large contracts handed out. If not, the results won't be pretty and another rebuild will be on the horizon in Miami.

The free agency additions will be judged based on the play of the quarterback. Jeff Ireland did his job and brought players to the Dolphins, now Tannehill must do his and find success with them.

The Dolphins started this season with a roster which falls quite short of being a Super Bowl contender but if improved could become a player in the AFC playoff picture. Jeff Ireland knew this free agency was probably his last shot at redemption and certainly did not hold back in terms of making a splash.

The Dolphins tackled their biggest need adding a speedy playmaker in Mike Wallace, the consensus number 1 free agent in this year’s class. The Dolphins then went younger and improved their linebacker core signing the top middle linebacker in this year’s free agent class as well as a solid outside linebacker in Wheeler.

Then things got a little weird as the Dustin Keller saga lingered on and Jake Long’s situation became a trending twitter topic.

Dolphins then added to their WR core once again signing Brandon Gibson, the move which has caused the most controversy amongst the Dolphins fan base. Gibson might mean the end of Dolphins draft dreams of Tavon Austin or even worse could put fan favorite D Bess's status in trouble. 

All that being said now that Keller and Gibson is locked up and the Phins remain in the hunt for Long, Ireland has made pretty solid work so far this offseason. With the major moves made this off-season I still expect one other move in free agency whether it be Jake Long, a corner back or a veteran pass rusher.  

What will Jeff Ireland’s next move be as it seems his plan is panning out pretty well so far.

The Dolphins still have a major need at corner with a fairly subpar group however at this point it is assumed they will attack the position in the draft. Xavier Rhodes is a possibility at 12. The cornerback market has been fairly dry and it would be nice if Jeff could take advantage of it as there are still several decent names out there including; Talib, Grimes, Winfield and others.

At pass rusher Dwight Freeney, John Abraham and Osi all are still available for the taking.

Will be interesting to see what Ireland’s next move will be but it seems he is building some trust in the Dolphins fan base so far this offseason. 

While the Miami Dolphins were waiting all night long on a certain left tackle to decide on St. Louis or Miami, they managed to take another wide receiver off the market in Brandon Gibson.  

Brandon Gibson brings another weapon to the Miami Dolphins offense.  The wide receiver corps of 2012 has changed considerably in that two new receivers have been signed during this week of free-agency.  Brandon Gibson brings some speed, quickness, and ability to get separation and make big plays.  

Gibson with the Rams last season caught 51 passes, had 691 yards, and 5 touchdowns.  The big number that sticks out is 5 touchdowns in an offense that featured Gibson in different formations. Let's remember that the Dolphins' wide receivers caught three touchdowns the entire season.

 Against the Dolphins last season, Gibson took the cover off of the Miami secondary and quickly amassed 91 yards on 7 receptions. Gibson was also the 39th ranked WR this season by PFF, one spot ahead of Bess. Gibson had a better drop rate % than Bess though. 

Some people in the media, especially recently on the Jorge Sedano Show on WQAM feel Gibson is like Brian Hartline, but with the touchdowns.

In addition, with signing of Gibson, will the Miami Dolphins look to cut one of their veteran receivers under contract such as Davone Bess?  

The move does not seem surprising since Gibson last weekend was rumored to be in the Dolphins plans as a plan B.  We know he is more than a plan B and should compliment this offense quite well.

Now we know for sure that Gibson has been signed for 3 years and could be an important piece to this team, this season!  The Dolphins can run out of 3-4 wide receiver sets with competent and dynamic receivers.

Going forward, will the Miami Dolphins still go after for another receiver in the draft or are they done?  A ton of questions still need to be answered in the coming weeks!

Please keep on coming back to PhinsPhocus.com for the latest on the Dolphins moves during free-agency leading up to the draft!

After a quiet Day 2 and 3 of free agency, in which the Miami Dolphins spent time meeting with unrestricted free agents, they made another splash to improve the team on Day 4. Following a meeting with tight end Dustin Keller for the majority of the past 48 hours, the two sides were able to agree to terms on a one year contract worth $4.25 million, bringing the former New York Jet to South Beach.

With the departure of Anthony Fasano to Kansas City on a four year deal, the Dolphins were left with a void at tight end. The addition of the 28 year old Keller  provides Miami with a reliable pass catcher who is a threat in the redzone. His blocking is adequate however he makes up for it with impressive speed for a tight end. Keller is a difficult cover for linebackers and safeties due to his athleticsm as well as still having untapped potential despite finding success in a system that was a challenge to thrive in. The move also weakens a division rival by creating even more holes in a Jets offense that struggled mightly to move the ball last season. Keller was a candidate for the franchise tag however the decision was ultimately passed on considering the Jets lack of salary cap room with other needs to address.

Over the first five years of his NFL career, Keller has 241 recpetions for 2,876 yards to go along with 17 touchdowns. Before missing eight games in 2012, Keller never missed a game in four seasons in the league. Although he only played half the season, he recorded a respectable 317 yards on 28 recpetions with 2 touchdowns. 

The addition provides Ryan Tannehill with one of the best security blankets in the league and gives him another piece to succeed with in 2013. This was a smart signing for General Manager Jeff Ireland who didn't give in to the pressure of landing a tight end, instead waiting to gauge the market and acquired an impact player without making a long term comitment. In fact, Ireland got great value from his plan B at the position after his top target Jared Cook landed a mega contract elsewhere. The one year deal will allow the Dolphins front office to determine if Keller is a long term solution and if he fits in the offensive system that will be implemented. Low risk, high reward signing.

While this is a step forward in the right direction, the Dolphins may not be done upgrading at tight end depending on how confident they are in the current core at the position with the exception of Keller. I would expect them to draft one in the middle rounds.

Jeff Ireland deserves a lot of credit on this acquisition. He showed the ability to close on a top free agent while ensuring that the commitment does not put the team in a riggid cap situation in the future.