Who could be the Miami Dolphins third starting linebacker
While the Miami Dolphins may have addressed some depth chart issues during the offseason and the draft, they did not touch the linebacker position. Depending on how you look at our current crop of linebackers, this could be good or bad news. Based on how they played last season, well, that is a mix of both.
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Returning from last seasons starting lineup, the Miami Dolphins have both Koa Misi and Jelani Jenkins. While it looks certain that Jenkins will remain a starter — at least into the first part of the season — Misi’s position looks to be a little more questionable at the moment.
With the addition of Kiko Alonso from the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason, Alonso should slot into the middle linebacker role alongside Jenkins, solidifying both positions. However, with a third starting linebacker needed, who will the Dolphins turn to when looking to fill the final starting spot.
Looking over the Miami Dolphins current roster, there looks to be three players that are capable of filling the final linebacker spot. All three bring some NFL experience with them and could potentially find a starting role within the aging Miami Dolphins defense.
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First off is the aforementioned Koa Misi. A starting linebacker and role player for the Miami Dolphins since he arrived on the scene, Misi could use his experience and time with the Dolphins to his advantage in this situation. Should he remain consistently solid, Misi will be the favorite for the final starting linebacker position.
Next up is a player that played for all three of the Florida based NFL franchises last season, James-Michael Johnson. Playing in sixteen games for the Kansas City Chiefs in both 2013 and 2014, Johnson was a journeyman role player last season, changing teams twice during the course of the season.
With very little NFL starting experience, Johnson will have something to prove entering training camp. Regaining his early career form could also be something that not only earns him a role in the linebacker corps, but also saves his job with the Miami Dolphins.
Finally, we come to Zach Vigil. My personal favorite to win the starting job, Vigil has made an impact on the coaching staff thus far this offseason. Should he continue to both improve and impress, Vigil has the talent and youth needed to become a stalwart in the Miami Dolphins linebacker corps for many years.
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