Pressure Point: Miami Dolphins prepare for vital season amid Howard, Watson rumors

Mission accomplished for the Miami Dolphins on Day 1 of training camp in preparation for a season of staggering expectations in South Florida.

All the draft picks are signed. Everyone reported.

That was no small accomplishment given all the hand wringing about whether their best player, disgruntled All-Pro cornerback Xavien Howard, would show up. And whether he’d be traded.

Howard checked in on time.

Even making mega-millions, who wants to get docked $50,000 a day? Howard wants to make mega-more, not less.

Later, Howard posted on social media that he is unhappy with the Dolphins and has asked to be traded.

Makes sense for Howard to show up, learn his way around the new Baptist Health Training Complex adjacent to Hard Rock Stadium and let his agent hash out his contract situation with Dolphins GM Chris Grier.

“We’re excited to work with X and all the players that are here,” Dolphins coach Brian Flores said Tuesday morning. “Those conversations, his representation, Chris, myself, those like always are going to be internal, confidential and we’ll keep it that way for all players. We’re excited to have him, I’m excited to work with him. He’s a great player.”

All draft picks signed

The other thing Flores said of note on reporting day was that second-round pick Liam Eichenberg has signed his rookie contract. Eichenberg, who will vie for a starting role at tackle, was the last of the 2021 draft picks to do so. Tight end Hunter Long, a third-round pick, entered the fold one day earlier.

Although the Howard issue is far from resolved, his presence did provide a diversion from the Deshaun Watson speculation. At least for a moment.

The Dolphins have once again been linked to interest in the controversial Texans quarterback following reports that Houston is now willing to trade him — provided they get a king’s ransom in return.

Watson, like Howard, reported to camp this week to avoid daily fines comparable to a year’s pay for many wage earners.

There is a significant difference in the considerations of trading for these two star players. There are now 10 women who have filed criminal complaints against Watson. Eight of them are among 22 women who have alleged in lawsuits that Watson sexually assaulted them or engaged in sexually inappropriate behavior during massage sessions, his attorney told ESPN.

Did we mention that despite the legal obstacles to Watson’s future, the Texans are reportedly seeking as many as three first-round draft choices as part of a total package of five high draft picks or starting-caliber players? Such is the rumor.

That there is evidence of interest by the Dolphins in Watson despite the steep price and legal questions shows how vital Flores, Grier and the rest of the team’s leadership regards this season.

Five questions for Miami Dolphins training camp

Front office under pressure

One way to look at that is with excitement for Dolfans that management is motivated to do whatever it takes to improve on a 10-6 season and not only get to the playoffs but to contend for a Super Bowl. No small objective in a division chasing a bonafide championship contender in the Buffalo Bills and the New England Belichicks who spent heavily in the offseason to reverse a post-Brady flop.

In my view, there’s too much risk with Watson. Can’t argue the talent, though.

Obviously, Dolphins’ interest in Watson, if genuine, reflects on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who has so much to prove in season two and every reason do so: another year removed from that major hip injury, a full offseason immersed in an offensive system now focused on him and a much speedier receiving corps to target.

So the questions surrounding the Dolphins going into training camp will center on Tua and how he meshes with new receivers Jaylen Waddle (first-round draft pick from Alabama) and Will Fuller (veteran deep threat who played with Watson in Houston) while rumors of possible comings and goings of Howard and Watson swirl around.

Rookie of the Year 🔜 pic.twitter.com/JyT19ASYWs

— Dolphin Nation (@Dolphin_Nation) July 26, 2021

But there is a lot more to watch as this Dolphins team takes shape in the preseason, as there is so much that goes into lifting a team to an elite level.
Is the talent on this Dolphins roster enough to achieve that?

A lot of attention will be paid to 2021 first-round picks Waddle and Jaelan Phillips, the buffed former Miami Hurricanes’ pass rusher, as well as Eichenberg and Long for immediate contributions.

High draft picks must deliver

Previous draft classes need to up the ante as well. Not only Tagovailoa, but offensive linemen Austin Jackson, Robert Hunt and Solomon Kindley need to improve on rookie potential while Noah Igbinoghene, Raekwon Davis and Brandon Jones must do likewise on defense.

Meanwhile, Christian Wilkins, Myles Gaskin and Andrew Van Ginkel, in their third seasons, and Mike Gesicki and Jerome Baker in their fourth, should be moving into their prime as major players.

This is the progression and these are the players Flores and Grier have staked their jobs on.

It’s easy to see why all options are on the table that might help this franchise break through the glass ceiling hanging over it for two decades.
They haven’t won a playoff game since the 2001 season. Owner Stephen Ross is 81.

There’s no more time to waste.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for four decades. Follow him on Twitter @CraigDavisRuns