While the Miami Dolphins have focused heavily on the offensive side of the ball this offseason, valuable additions have been made to the defensive side as well.
One such addition is that of veteran pass rusher Melvin Ingram. Ingram signed with the team earlier this month and will add a veteran presence to the Dolphins defense in the upcoming season.
On Tuesday, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel discussed the addition of Ingram, and he spoke about how his experience will help his new team as it tries to get over the hump and into the playoff conversation.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel on addition of Melvin Ingram: "Veteran player that's been very productive in this league. Very excited to have the opportunity to add him to the team. Guy that's been in big games."
— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) May 24, 2022
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel speaking before the second OTA practice open to media. Said new LB Melvin Ingram is a veteran player who can be “very impressionable” to a young Miami team.
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) May 24, 2022
Ingram earned three consecutive Pro Bowl appearances during his time with the Los Angeles Chargers. He had five consecutive seasons from 2015 to 2019 where he recorded seven sacks or more. While his career has seemingly slowed down over the last two seasons, he did manage to record two sacks and four tackles for loss last season.
It will be interesting to see if Ingram manages to earn a starting role with the Dolphins this upcoming season. At 33 years old, he surely still has some gas left in the tank even if he has lost a step compared to his peak.
Right now, it seems most likely that he’ll serve as a rotational player who comes in during specific packages.
However, based on what McDaniel has to say about him, it is possible that he’ll enjoy some heavy usage.
Over the last few seasons, defense has certainly been the team’s strength. With the offense getting a boost, a lot of fans expect the Dolphins to compete for a playoff spot. Hopefully, Ingram can have a big role in that pursuit.
