In the midst of the first few days of NFL Free Agency, the Miami Dolphins made an under-the-radar move signing center Matt Skura away from the Baltimore Ravens. Despite the signing, the Dolphins should still look to the 2021 NFL Draft for a potential upgrade as the move was all but underwhelming.
Miami Needs Upgrade at Center After Disappointing Free Agency Signing
Skura is no better than average at his best and his one-year deal leaves the future of the position up in the air. He ranked 34th out of 36 qualifying centers with a 49.1 overall grade during the 2020-21 season. His best season (2019) only saw him climb as high as a 68.7 overall grade (Ryan Smith & PFF). Baltimore also ended up benching him toward the end of the season when he could not get on the same page snapping-wise with quarterback Lamar Jackson.
The Dolphins’ cap space and money needed to sign this season’s rookie class likely contributed to Miami not spending on a top FA center or being able to retain now-New England Patriot center Ted Karras.
Alabama’s Landon Dickerson Can Play All Five Offensive Line Positions
Miami should have its eyes on a versatile center/offensive lineman that it can take this season. Center Landon Dickerson from the University of Alabama is just that. On the field Dickerson has played all five positions up front and has gained significant experience at multiple interior spots. This is key for the Dolphins as he can play guard as a rookie before sliding over to center in 2022 after Skura’s deal expires with them unlikely to re-sign him unless his play drastically improves.
Name: Landon Dickerson
Position: Center
School: University of Alabama
Height: 6′ 6″
Weight: 325 LBS
Dickerson is a 6-foot-6, 325-pounder and is the epitome of the phrase “big-uglies”. He is stoutly built and an interior blocker that has a well-developed understanding of how to use his frame. Dickerson is extremely strong at the point of attack, has above average hand power, body strength and awareness as well.
Power, Awareness Highlight Dickerson’s Abilities
Against longer defensive linemen, he can hold his own and easily shove blitzing defensive backs or linebackers to the turf. Dickerson’s power allows him to negate quicker pass rushers as well as clear lanes for running games.
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Just as impressive as Dickerson’s power is his awareness. The longtime Crimson Tide starter always has his eyes up and is alert as a pass blocker, seeking out helping opportunities.
Dickerson: Lacks in Speed, Blocking Abilities
Dickerson isn’t perfect though.
He is a below-average athlete even for his size. He has good hustle, but he simply doesn’t have the speed or balance to make blocks ahead of time at the second level.
Luckily, his large frame allows him to cover ground with long strides. And as a high-IQ player, he will generally take good angles when in space in order to get to the second level. Additionally, while Dickerson has good footwork and solid foot speed at the line of scrimmage, his average length and balance can hurt him on occasion.
Injuries Have Also Played a Role in Dickerson’s Career
The biggest concern with Dickerson though is unquestionably his durability. His redshirt junior season in 2019 is the only year where he’s been able to finish a season healthy from start to finish. He has also sustained a laundry list of injuries: torn right ACL (2016), ankle surgery (2017), another ankle injury the following year and finally ligament damage to his left knee during the 2020 SEC Championship game. While all expectations from sources are that he’ll be back in time for training camp, the Dolphins’ independent medical analysis will be key.
Despite Downside, Dickerson Shouldn’t Last Into Day Two
As the consensus top center, and arguably the top interior offensive lineman in general in the 2021 NFL Draft, Miami would be wise to consider Dickerson early. He also would pair well with former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who Miami has again reinforced to be its signal-caller in 2021-22.
A healthy Dickerson doesn’t make it out of the first round and is likely a top 20-25 pick and the Dolphins currently hold the No. 18 overall, their second selection of the opening round. Due to Miami’s new weakness at the center position, rolling the dice in the draft with a versatile all-around lineman certainly feels worth it, especially with the extra picks it has accumulated recently.
– Dylan Berger is a Sports Contributor for Full Press Coverage Miami Dolphins. Like and follow on Follow @TheBurgerKing5 Follow @FPC_Dolphins and Facebook.