The Dolphins have traded 28-year old OG Justin Smiley to the Jaguars for a future 7th round pick.  Smiley played in 15 games (12 starts) for the Fins last season and he played in 27 games (24 starts) in his two years with them.  The Dolphins were just glad to get anything for Smiley as they were getting close to releasing him and getting nothing.

When 24-year old Chad Henne took over for a injured Chad Pennington as the starting QB for the Dolphins in 2009 the team starting winning as they were 7-6 in games he started.  I think a big part of the reason for that was Henne’s right arm which is much stronger than Chad Pennington’s.  With a year under his belt and Brandon Marshall now on board the Dolphins hope that Henne takes another positive step in 2010.  Henne played in 14 games for the Fins last season and he completed 274 of 451 passes (60.8%) for 2,878 yards with 12 TD passes and 14 INTs (75.2 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 16 times for 32 yards (2.0 ypc) with 1 TD run last season for the Fins.  I have a feeling that Henne is going to improve by leaps and bounds in 2010 as he will be getting most of the snaps in training camp and the pre-season to get ready.  He has played in 17 games in his NFL career now and he has completed 281 of 463 passes (60.7%) for 2,945 yards with 12 TD passes and 14 INTs (75.2 QB Rating).  He also has carried the ball 16 times for 32 yards (2.0 ypc) with 1 TD run in his career.

26-year old Tyler Thigpen comes into camp as the Dolphins’ #2 QB over a rehabbing Chad Pennington.  Thigpen played in 2 games for the Chiefs and Dolphins last season in which he completed 4 of 8 passes (50%) for 83 yards with 1 TD pass and 2 INTs (87.0 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 2 times for 3 yards (1.5 ypc) last season.  Thigpen doesn’t have Pennington’s know how or Henne’s arm but one thing he does do well is run the ball.  Thigpen has now played in 15 games in his NFL career and he has completed 236 of 434 passes (54.4%) for 2,732 yards with 19 TD passes and 15 INTs (73.8 QB Rating).  Thigpen has also carried the ball 64 times for 389 yards (6.1 ypc) with 3 TD runs in his NFL career.  Thigpen’s career record as a starting QB in the NFL is 1-10 (9.1%).

33-year old Chad Pennington is recovering from shoulder surgery and he will start training camp as the Dolphins’ #3 QB.  But, I wouldn’t be surprised if he changed places with Thigpen before September rolls around.  Pennington played in 3 games for the Dolphins last season and he completed 51 of 74 passes (68.9%) for 413 yards with 1 TD pass and 2 INTs (76.0 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 3 times for 7 yards (2.3 ypc) last season.  Pennington didn’t have much of an arm before this surgery on his shoulder so it will be interesting to see how much zip he has on the ball in training camp.  Even if Pennington is near the end of the line it’s good to have him around to help mentor Chad Henne.  Pennington has played in 88 games in his NFL career and he has completed 1,631 of 2,469 passes (66.1%) for 17,804 yards with 102 TD passes and 64 INTs (90.1 QB Rating).  Pennington has also carried the ball 180 times for 465 yards (2.6 ypc) with 7 TD runs in his career.  Pennington has a career record as a starting QB in the NFL of 43-37 (53.8%).

24-year old Pat White might have a hard time making the Dolphins’ roster in 2010.  He was drafted in the 2nd round out of West Virginia last season with the idea of using him in the Wildcat.  White played in 13 games for the Dolphins last season and he was 0 for 5 passing the ball.  He also ran the ball 21 times for 81 yards (3.9 ypc) for the Dolphins last season.  He better improve during training camp if he wants to keep getting paid to play football.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE DOLPHINS’ QBs in 2010:  C+

The Miami Dolphins pick inside linebacker Austin Spitler with the 252nd overall pick (7th round) of the NFL Draft.  Spitler looks the part as he is 6′3″, 244 pounds and he runs a 4.72 40.  But, he was not a productive player at Ohio State.  He finished up with 38 tackles, 1 sack and 1 interception as a senior last season.  In his four years at Ohio State he finished up with 82 tackles, 1 sack and 1 interception.  Spitler has bust written all over his forehead as he will need a miracle to make the Dolphins’ opening day roster.  He will have to make it on special teams as he wasn’t even a good college football player.

The Dolphins have picked OLB/DE Chris McCoy with the 212th overall pick (7th round) of the NFL Draft.  McCoy is 6′3″, 251 pounds and he runs a 4.68 40 so he is a good athlete.  He played in 13 games at Middle Tennessee State last season and he had 64 tackles, 20 tackles for a loss and he had 7 sacks.  He played in 46 games in his four years in college and he finished up with 108 tackles, 26.5 tackles for a loss and he had 11 sacks.  McCoy is too small to play end in the pros and it’s up in the air as to whether or not he can handle outside linebacker or not.  I have a feeling that McCoy will have to make it on special teams this season to earn a chance to play defense down the road.

The Dolphins select safety Reshad Jones with the 163rd overall pick (5th round) of the NFL Draft.  Jones is a big guy at 6′1″, 215 pounds and he runs a 4.6 40.  Jones is a big time hitter but he sometimes misses tackles as he goes for the kill shot.  He is also a big of a gambler in pass coverage but he makes more than his fair share of outstanding plays.  Jones played in 13 games (all starts) at Georgia last season and he had 73 tackles, he broke up 7 passes, he had 4 interceptions and he forced 1 fumble.  Jones played in 39 games (27 starts) in his three years at Georgia in which he made 206 tackles, broke up 13 passes, he had 1 interceptions (174 return yards), he forced 1 fumble and he recovered 1 fumble.  Jones projects to play strong safety in the pros where his physical style will play well.  I really like this pick for the Dolphins as Jones should not have been available to them in the 5th round.