Top Five Defensive Players For the Dolphins Next Season

Byron Jones, Cornerback

The Miami Dolphins signed star cornerback, Byron Jones to a five-year deal worth $82.5 million dollars. Jones played for the Dallas Cowboys since 2015 and in that time he has only made one pro-bowl for the franchise. His number of interceptions is not impressive (2 Interceptions), but that is now the type of game he plays. Jones is a pure lockdown cornerback for any team he plays for. Last season against Michael Thomas, Jones was playing man on man defense for 91.9% of the game. In this game, Thomas received three receptions, 29 yards, and no touchdowns. Against Allen Robinson, Jones play man coverage on Robinson 97% of the game. In this game, Robinson received two receptions, ten yards, and zero touchdowns. Overall, Jones is one of the most underrated cornerbacks in the NFL this season, but he will continue to get better. 

Kyle Van Noy, Outside Linebacker

Kyle Van Noy was playing for, the Dolphin’s major rival, the New England Patriots for the past three and a half seasons. In New England, Van Noy has shown top tier leadership, a good edge-rushing ability, and he can come clutch in big games for the team. When Brian Flores was the defensive coordinator for the Patriots, he did not use Van Noy correctly. Flores should use Van Noy as more of a pass rusher, which is the skill he is better at. In 2019, Van Noy racked up 6.5 sacks, 56 tackles, and 15 quarterback hits. Obviously, Van Noy was not the major powerhouse of the Patriots defense, so his numbers are lower than they could be. Van Noy is going to be 29 years old this season, so he is leaving his prime soon. Overall, Van Noy will be a skilled pass rusher and leader for the Miami Dolphins next season. 

Jerome Baker, Middle Linebacker

Jerome Baker is one of the most underrated Miami Dolphins players on the whole roster. Baker has played in all 16 games in the past two seasons with the Miami Dolphins and has shown improvements each season. Last season, Baker racked up 126 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and three tackles for loss for the organization. Between Baker, Raekwon McMillan, and Van Noy, this Dolphins linebacker core will be amongst the top in the next year or two. Baker still has lots of time to grow as a football player for the organization as he is only 24 years old. One stat that is truly pro bowl caliber is Baker’s 4.5% missed tackle percentage. In 2018, his missed tackle percentage was 12.2%. Overall, Baker is beginning to take major strides of an NFL linebacker and he could be a potential pro bowler in the future. 

Shaq Lawson, Edge Rusher

Shaq Lawson signed with the Miami Dolphins for a three-year deal, worth $30 million dollars. Lawson is beginning to age into a good pass rusher in the NFL for the Miami Dolphins. Last season, for the Bills, Lawson racked up 6.5 sacks, 32 tackles, and 18 quarterback hits. The Dolphins pass-rushing core was pathetic last season, so adding Lawson will help the pass rush begin to improve. Also, Lawson is only 26 years old, so he is beginning to head into his prime in the NFL. Overall, Lawson is one of the most skilled pass rushers on the team this season but needs to continue to work on his tackling technique. 

Davon Godchaux, Defensive Tackle

Davon Godchaux joined the Miami Dolphins in 2017 but has not done anything significant until the 2019 season. Godchaux had a huge jump in production from 2018 to 2019. In 2018 Godchaux racked up 48 tackles, four quarterback hits, and one sack. Now, in 2019, Godchaux racked up 75 tackles, seven quarterback hits, and two sacks. Going into the 2020 NFL season, Godchaux is the main run stopper in the middle of the field. He will have many opportunities because most of his backups are rookies this season. Godchaux is only 26 years old, which means he is just entering his prime in the NFL and should take another step in his production this season. 

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