The Dolphins drafted a pair of cornerbacks in the first three rounds of the NFL draft, but got just 14 games combined out of them.
Second-round pick Jamar Taylor played nine games and third-rounder Will Davis got into just five as the Dolphins largely went with Brent Grimes, Nolan Carroll and Jimmy Wilson at the corners this season. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald spoke to a Dolphins staffer who said Davis needs “to develop mentally and physically” before he’ll be able to help the team on defense.
Hopes are higher for Taylor. The Dolphins source told Jackson that the team expects “better dividends” from Taylor in 2014 as he’ll be further removed from the sports hernia surgery that limited him in his rookie season.
Getting those dividends may be vital for the Dolphins defense. Grimes and Carroll are both free agents while Dimitri Patterson is seen as a likely cap casualty thanks to his $5.4 million salary and 10 missed games during the 2013 season. Grimes is a franchise tag candidate if a longer deal can’t be worked out and the other two may return as well, but there will be pressure on the two 2013 draftees to make some strides whether or not the Dolphins do decide to go younger.