With The First Pick
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3 Miami Dolphins entering make or break seasons in 2020

By Timothy Rodriguez

MIAMI, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 15: Head coach Brian Flores of the Miami Dolphins coaching in the second quarter against the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium on September 15, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 15: Head coach Brian Flores of the Miami Dolphins coaching in the second quarter against the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium on September 15, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 17: Jakeem Grant #19 of the Miami Dolphins runs for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on November 17, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 17: Jakeem Grant #19 of the Miami Dolphins runs for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills during the fourth quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on November 17, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

WR Jakeem Grant

Speedster Jakeem Grant has made great strides as a receiver since entering the league in 2016. During the draft process, Grant was not really on anyone’s radar. It was Dolphins’ owner Stephen Ross that brought his tape to the decision makers and gave his input. Early on in his career, head coach Adam Gase did whatever he could to get him on the field. His small stature and raw route running made him primarily a return man.

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By his second year, Grant was able to get on the field with the offense and made some plays with Jay Cutler coming out of retirement to play quarterback for the Dolphins in 2017. When 2018 came around, he was officially a focal point on the offense and in the return game. Grant made big plays all over the field and showed how hard he worked on his route polish and pass catching ability. However, this is when the injury problems occurred.

Jakeem Grant has finished both of the last two seasons on injured reserve. While he is an absolute playmaker, his availability has come into question. With DeVante Parker, Preston Williams and Allen Hurns on the roster for the foreseeable future. Grant’s contract makes it easier to move on from him. If the Dolphins move on from Grant after 2020 they would save three million in cap room while taking on less than two million in dead cap.

The 2021 NFL draft will likely feature a heavy investment in offensive weapons for Tua Tagovailoa. The coming wide receiver class makes Grant expendable with his recurring injury history. Parker and Williams look to be the duo of the future and Miami will look to add more depth to the room at a considerably cheaper price than Grant. If he has another injury plagued season, Jakeem Grant could be playing somewhere else in 2021.

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