When the Miami Dolphins ended the season with one of the worst offensive lines in football, the team knew that they had to make an upgrade, especially at the tackle spot.
General manager Chris Grier went out and signed free agent left tackle Terron Armstead to a five-year contract worth up to $87.5 million this offseason to help solidify a left side of the offensive line that has been shaky at best in recent years.
Armstead has dealt with injuries in the last six seasons, missing 33 games, including nine in 2021. However, when he’s on the field, he’s one of the top tackles in the game.
Pro Football Focus’ Ben Linsey recently ranked and tiered the offensive tackles in the NFL, and Armstead was ranked sixth which was the top of the second tier that he called “Great when healthy but have some injury concerns.”
Here’s what Linsey had to say about Armstead:
“Miami made it a priority to add high-end talent to its offense this offseason, and Armstead was at the center of those plans. He should immediately help to solidify what has been one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL over the last few years.
Armstead is one of the position’s best pass protectors and rarely loses in the run game across both gap and zone run concepts. The only real reason for pause in his profile is his injury history given that he’s played over 80% of the team’s offensive snaps just three times in his career.
The Dolphins will be hoping that Armstead can get back to the string of good health that he had across the 2019-20 seasons with New Orleans.”
Armstead helps Miami in more ways than one. Coaches and players have already talked about his presence impacting the team. He’s willing to help some of the younger linemen learn the craft, and that could be extremely beneficial.
If they can keep the 30-year-old on the field, he should be a game-changer on the left side.
