Basically everything that can go wrong for the Miami Dolphins has gone wrong to start the 2024 season. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has suffered his third concussion of his career and is currently on injured reserve, meaning he’s out until at least Week 8. To make matters worse for the Dolphins, they’ve had to deal with a rash of injuries to their running backs, wide receivers, and offensive line during the preseason and first few weeks of the regular season.
All of those injuries have led to the Dolphins offense effectively bottoming out in 2024. Last season Miami had one of the best, and most innovative, offenses in the league. They’ve taken a massive step back in 2024, and most of it can be attributed to the fact that they just can’t seem to field a healthy team week-in and week-out. One of the bigger injuries the Dolphins have had to deal with is to their starting left tackle, Terron Armstead.
Armstead has had a lengthy injury history since coming into the league, and it may be time the Dolphins begin to think about their next player at the position. Miami doesn’t have much depth along the offensive line as it is, and Armstead simply can’t be counted on to play from week-to-week. Miami has a serious need at the position, and it’s one that Sports Illustrated’s NFL Draft analyst Cory Kinnan has them filling in his latest mock draft.
Kinnan has the Dolphins picking 7th in his latest 2025 mock NFL Draft, and with that pick has the team selecting Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks, Jr. Here’s Kinnan’s breakdown of Banks:
While there may be some athletic questions about Banks entering the NFL level. he has proven to be an anchor from this left tackle post. He has even shown exponential growth in his strike placement and hand usage as a pass protector.
The big issue with the Dolphins and their lack of depth along the offensive line isn’t for lack of trying. Miami has consistently drafted offensive linemen over the years. The bigger issue has been a lack of development of those players by the coaching staff, and a reluctance by the team to spend premium resources at the position. Taking an offensive tackle in the top 10 would be out-of-character for the Dolphins, but it may be what the team needs if they want to solve their offensive line woes and keep Tagovailoa upright going forward.
