Top Needs: DE, DT, ILB, OLB

The focus of the Miami Dolphins’ offseason needs to be on the defensive side of the ball. They are making things work well enough on offense that only minor tweaks seem necessary.

This team needs a kick in the defensive pants at all three levels to become great, though; they were exactly middle-of-the-road (16th) in Adjusted Defensive Passing NEP per play and 4th-worst in Adjusted Defensive Rushing NEP per play.

Defensive end Andre Branch hung well enough to start all season for the Dolphins, but they need an upgrade opposite Cameron Wake. Similarly, Ndamukong Suh has one defensive tackle spot locked down, but Jordan Phillips may not be the answer at the other.

The only locked-in linebacker is weak-sider Kiko Alonso. Neville Hewitt and Koa Misi are replacement-level talents in both run defense and coverage, and the Dolphins have spent too long without a good linebacker group.