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The Dolphins and Steelers find themselves in similar situationsto start the 2019 season: in an 0-2 hole without a franchise quarterback.
In the wake of Ben Roethlisberger's season-ending elbow injury, which elevated second-year backup Mason Rudolph to the starting role, Pittsburghacquired disgruntled defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick from Miami to pad itssecondary. (The Corey Clement Jersey Steelers also got a fourth-round pick in 2020and aseventh-round pick in 2021.)
The Dolphinsreceived a first-round pick in next year's draft in addition to a 2020 fifth-rounderand a 2021 sixth-rounderin the deal to bolster their inevitablerebuild.
But what exactly is the plan Tony Fields II Jersey for the Dolphins? And why would theSteelers be willing to trade a valuable draft selection to save a season that's seemingly gone down the drain already?
Let's start in Miami, where the Dolphins have beenoutscored by a whopping 92 pointsthrough their first two games this season. Whilethere's got to be a light at the end of the tunnel, it's more KJ Hamler Jersey a question of how long it will take to get there.
The Dolphins now havefivefirst-round picks in the next two drafts, includingthree first-rounders in the 2020 draft, which alludes to the idea of the team tanking to better its draft position. With this season potentially lost, too,the Dolphinsmay look to take further advantage of their downward spiral but still wait until 2021 to make a move under center.
Then again, there's only Quincy Wilson Women Jersey so much the team can take with journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick at the helm. He has a plausibly reliable backup insecond-year quarterback Josh Rosen, the former 10th overall pick who saw limited action in Arizona before being replaced by rookie Kyler Murray.
Looking ahead, some sharp incoming prospects have NFL fans begging their teams to blow it Joe Burrow Jersey in order to snag talented quarterbacks like Oregon's Justin Herbert, Oklahoma's Jalen Hurts, Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa and Clemson's Trevor Lawrence.
But Miami's moves point beyond just high draft picks. By offloading left tackle Laremy Tunsil, receiver Kenny Stills and linebacker Kiko Alonso before they dealt Fitzpatrick this week, the Dolphins were shedding salary. All the transactions Vernon Hargreaves III Youth Jersey push them past $100 million in cap space for 2020. That's not just flexibility (shadowed by an upcoming new CBA).
It's a play to the future.
With the trade of Fitzpatrick to the Steelers official the Dolphins are now up to $55M in dead money this year and have the early lead in 2020 dead money at $11.9M. All the moves should have them over $110M in cap space next year
Jason_OTC (@Jason_OTC)Which brings us toPittsburgh, where Roethlisberger has vowed to "come back stronger than ever next season" after undergoing surgery. Regardle s Jack Tatum Men Jersey of his recovery, the 37-year-old is unlikely to re-sign with the Steelers after getting a two-year contract extension this spring, so the team will need a succe sor soon.
Rudolph may be up for the challenge and has proven to be capable so far, and the team has the luxury of a season-long Pittsburgh Steelers Jersey look at Rudolph in the starring role. Still, Roethlisberger's injury is evidence that situationscan change in an instant, which could prompt Pittsburghto also gauge the 2021 draft Nick Foles Women Jersey for the next face of itsfranchise.
Then again, Roethlisberger became the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl at age 23 in second season with the Steelers, so it's not out of the question for Rudolph to do the same if his weapons in Vance McDonald, James Conner andJuJu Smith-Schuster can stay healthy.
Also, if an offense is uncertain, then adding a DB like 22-year-old Fitzpatrick, the No. 11 pick in the 2018 draft, can help Jerome Bettis Men Jersey a defense that seeks to takeover the team narrative.
It's too early in the season to tell how these tacticswill unfold, but we have a good idea of the direction they're headed.
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