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INDIANAPOLIS -- Two years ago, the Miami Dolphins twice suspended nose tackle Paul Soliai one game for an inability to stay in shape during the season.

Thursday, the Dolphins made Soliai their franchise player.

The Dolphins gave him their franchise tag, a one-year guaranteed contract with an average salary of the five highest-paid players at his position. The franchise figure for a defensive lineman is about $12.4 million.

Soliai's base salary was $550,000 last season.

Soliai emerged as a solid 3-4 nose tackle in place of Jason Ferguson, who retired. Soliai started 13 games. He recorded 39 tackles, including eight for losses. Two of those were sacks. He recovered a fumble.

His agent, David Canter, said Soliai expected to sign the franchise tender "within a couple of days" and would like to work toward a long-term contract.

"He deserves credit for working hard," Canter said. "This is the culmination, the benefits and the reward. Some players view the franchise tag as a punitive thing, but this is a reward. Being named franchise player is something you can always hang your hat on, but with it comes the responsibility to prove you're worth it.

"That's a lot of money."

On the day the New Orleans Saints held their Super Bowl parade, long before the free-agency period opened and the draft took place, Scouts Inc. analyst Gary Horton examined the top three needs of every NFL team heading into the offseason.

Now that we've gone through offseason workouts, minicamps, training camps and three preseason games, let's take a look at each AFC East need and determine whether it was addressed.

Buffalo Bills

1. Outside linebacker: At the time of Horton's analysis, he didn't know Aaron Schobel would retire. Schobel would have been Buffalo's best pass-rusher in its new 3-4 defense. The Bills signed free agent Reggie Torbor and are hoping a group that also includes Chris Kelsay, Chris Ellis and Aaron Maybin will suffice. Need addressed? No.

2. Left tackle: The Bills chose to stick with Demetrius Bell. The Bills still haven't drafted a tackle earlier than the fifth round since 2002. Of the two they did draft, fifth-rounder Ed Wang is hurt and seventh-rounder Kyle Calloway already has been released. The Bills did sign Oakland Raiders free agent Cornell Green to play right tackle. Need addressed? No.

3. Quarterback: The Bills did next to nothing at quarterback, drafting long-term project Levi Brown in the seventh round and letting Trent Edwards, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brian Brohm shoot it out. Edwards won a not-so-open competition. Need addressed? No.

Miami Dolphins

1. Wide receiver: Did the Dolphins address this need? Hmmm ... Let's see ... Oh, wait. That's right. They traded for Brandon Marshall, who has recorded triple-digit receptions in three straight seasons. Marshall was one of the most enormous transactions of the offseason. Need addressed? Yes.

2. Free safety: The Dolphins drafted Reshad Jones in the fifth round, but sophomore Chris Clemons has held down the position admirably. It won't be tough to outplay last year's starter, Gibril Wilson. Need addressed? Yes.

3. Nose tackle: The situation actually got worse and worse after Horton formed his analysis. Jason Ferguson was suspended eight games for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs. The Dolphins re-signed Ferguson, but then he retired. The Dolphins didn't draft a nose tackle, choosing to convert defensive end Randy Starks instead. Starks is undersized for a traditional 3-4 nose tackle, but Dolphins coach Tony Sparano has claimed Starks' speed has upgraded the position. Need addressed? Yes.

New England Patriots

1. Outside linebacker: Horton wrote "This defense must generate pass-rush pressure from its outside linebackers, but the Pats are devoid of playmakers and have virtually no depth at this position." They've gotten shallower with the release of Adalius Thomas, who started their playoff game. Tully Banta-Cain and Derrick Burgess are back and penciled in as the starters. The Patriots drafted pass-rusher Jermaine Cunningham 53rd overall, but he has been too hurt to get on the practice field. Need addressed? No.

2. Wide receiver: Wes Welker was looking at a potentially long rehab at the time Horton wrote his offseason preview. Randy Moss' age also was a concern. But Welker's recovery has been quick. Moss has looked phenomenal. Emerging youngsters Julian Edelman, Brandon Tate and third-round draft pick Taylor Price should be more than enough. Need addressed? Yes.

3. Defensive end: Little did Horton know how badly the Patriots would need help here. Left end Ty Warren is done for the year because of a hip injury. Right end Jarvis Green split for the Denver Broncos. The Patriots signed free agent Gerard Warren and have moved last year's super reserve, Mike Wright, into the starting lineup. Need addressed? No.

New York Jets

1. Defensive end: Horton's concern was with the age of incumbents Shaun Ellis and Marques Douglas. Ellis is back. Douglas was a free agent who departed for the Dolphins. The Jets didn't draft any defensive linemen and didn't sign any notable free agents there. They did move Vernon Gholston from outside linebacker to defensive end. Need addressed? No.

2. Safety: Compared to the Jets' banner acquisitions, Brodney Pool was a blip. The Cleveland Browns gave up on him because of recurring concussions, but the Jets' medical staff found his problem was related to migraine headaches. He's a multifaceted safety with a nose for the ball, interception four passes in 10 games last year. Need addressed? Yes.

3. Wide receiver: The Jets practically stole Santonio Holmes from the Pittsburgh Steelers for a fifth-round draft choice. Holmes was the MVP of Super Bowl XLIII and was coming off a 1,248-yard season. But character issues, underscored by a four-game suspension to start the season, made him a bargain. Need addressed? Yes.

The Dolphins and Bills are opting for smaller, faster nose tackles. What impact does that have on their 3-4 defenses?

While this is a true statement, I think it has occurred more by default than by design. In a perfect world, Miami would have Jason Ferguson holding the point in the middle of its defense and Buffalo would have the much larger Torell Troup as its starting nose tackle. Troup, the Bills’ second-round pick in the April draft, could very well take over the position from Kyle Williams. That is the long-term plan. Williams is vastly undersized to handle this position and his game doesn’t translate well to getting pounded by double-teams from the excellent offensive lines Buffalo faces in the AFC East. As for Ferguson, he has retired, leaving Randy Starks, who excelled at defensive end last season, as the Dolphins' nose tackle.

However, there is more than one way to run a 3-4 defense and you don’t necessarily need a massive plugger like Vince Wilfork or Kris Jenkins on the nose to be successful. Many teams use a three-man front, but utilize 4-3 principles with an attacking style. The Cowboys’ Jay Ratliff is the best example of such a disruptive upfield nose tackle.

Neither Starks nor Williams is in Ratliff’s class though. Starks is the superior player of the two, but he doesn’t have Ratliff’s quickness or explosion. Starks could do an above-average job in this capacity, but Miami also has another massive nose tackle on the roster, Paul Soliai, who fits the more traditional space-eating mold. Soliai can play the run, but offers nothing as a pass-rusher. Of course, Starks was put in this position as a stop-gap measure, not a long-term solution. He is best suited for end, where he was exceptional in 2009.

As for Williams, he too has some upfield ability and could use his leverage and quickness to get penetration off the snap. He certainly is not a bad player. But I just can’t envision him holding up play after play with his physical dimensions. He might be effective in spurts, but Troup will need to contribute heavily to make Buffalo’s transition to a 3-4 successful. That is asking a lot from a rookie nose tackle -- adjusting to that position in terms of strength, stamina and reading blocking schemes is not easy on a rookie.

Never forget, the AFC East is probably the most physical division in the league. Being powerful -- like Wilfork or Jenkins -- on the nose is a must to keep up with the divisional rivals. With Starks, Miami might be able to hold its own, but I think Buffalo is in a lot of trouble.

Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.

Some thoughts from the Miami Dolphins' lightning-delayed 27-26 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday night:

• Chad Henne was nothing short of great. Henne, despite drops by Ricky Williams and Brandon Marshall, completed 11 of 14 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns to tight end Anthony Fasano. Dolphins coach Tony Sparano should be ecstatic after Henne's lukewarm preseason debut.
• Fasano is a player who could use a little mojo. He seemed to have a breakthrough season of sorts in 2008 with 34 receptions for 454 yards and a team-high seven receiving touchdowns. He had an erratic 2009, catching 31 passes for 339 yards and two touchdowns.
• Great baseball players have a way of impacting games in the field when they're slumping at the plate. Marshall showed he can make a difference even when he's having trouble with drops with sensational downfield blocking on two touchdowns.
• Chad Pennington's recovery from reconstructive shoulder surgery appears nearly complete. Saturday was a psychological milestone for him. He played one series and connected on three of his four attempts for 54 yards and a touchdown. His longest completion was a fluttering jump ball to Marshall for 37 yards down the left sideline. Vintage Pennington -- and vintage Marshall.
• Bad news for backup quarterback Pat White. He didn't take a snap. So in two games he has handed off once and knelt down twice to run out the clock. What on earth can the Dolphins do with him?
• Nose tackles aren't supposed to get sacks. Then again, nose tackles aren't supposed to be as fast as Randy Starks. He shot up the middle to drop Luke McCown for a 10-yard loss in the second quarter. The Dolphins are going with an undersized player there in place of the retired Jason Ferguson.
• The Dolphins' pass defense has to be a concern. Maybe the biggest concern through two preseason games. First-team quarterbacks Josh Freeman and David Garrard went a combined 10 of 12 for 132 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.
• Another worry: the backup offensive line. Tyler Thigpen, who's fairly mobile, was sacked four times.
• Yet another worry: penalties. The Dolphins have committed 14 for 117 yards through two preseason games. Only five teams have been flagged more frequently, and two of them have played three games.
• Rookie cornerback Nolan Carroll continued his strong preseason. He has been impressive on defense, and on Saturday night averaged 25 yards on four kickoff returns.
• Brandon Fields went into 2010 with zero punt blocks in 61 games, including the preseason, regular season and playoffs. So it's disconcerting he has had a punt blocked in back-to-back games. Saturday night's was in the end zone for a safety on Miami's first possession. Special teams coordinator John Bonamego better fix protection.
• Jason Allen is a bust as a defensive back and certainly hasn't been worth the 16th overall pick the Dolphins used on him in 2006. But he might be the best special-teams player in the AFC East. He forced a fumble on the free kick following the safety.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Falling

Paul Soliai, Dolphins nose tackle: Next on the depth chart at nose tackle, Soliai was in position to be the starter until Jason Ferguson returned from his eight-game suspension. But the Dolphins made moves that will make it much more difficult for Soliai, a fourth-year pro, to assume the gig. The Dolphins drafted defensive lineman Jared Odrick with the 28th pick and announced afterward they would move defensive end Randy Starks to the nose. In fact, Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland didn't even mention Soliai's name when breaking down what their plans were at nose tackle after drafting Odrick.

Rising

Trent Edwards, Bills quarterback: Edwards enters his fourth pro season on shaky ground. He was Buffalo's opening-day starter the past two seasons but lost his job last year to Ryan Fitzpatrick. Now Edwards is in an open competition, but at least he knows the Bills haven't added an immediate threat. Edwards over the weekend learned a lot about what lies ahead when the Bills declined to draft Jimmy Clausen or Colt McCoy but selected Levi Brown in the seventh round. Bills GM Buddy Nix called Brown a "developmental" quarterback, and head coach Chan Gailey all but confirmed the Bills wouldn't sign a veteran free agent. That gives Edwards the greatest odds possible of winning his job back.

» NFC dream/Plan B: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

» Draft Watch: Biggest needs (2/17) | Busts/gems (2/24) | Schemes, themes (3/3) | Recent history (3/10) | Needs revisited (3/17) | Under-the-radar needs (3/26) | History in that spot (3/31) | Draft approach (4/7) | Decision-makers (4/14) | Dream scenario/Plan B (4/21)

Each Wednesday leading up to the NFL draft (April 22-24), the ESPN.com blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today’s topic: dream scenario/Plan B.

Buffalo Bills

The Bills have so many needs, they can go any number of directions and land the right player in the ninth slot. As ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay has forecasted, the Bills will make a pivotal pick that affects the rest of the draft. They could have the option of taking the third- or fourth-best offensive tackle on their board, Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen, Tennessee nose tackle Dan Williams or maybe even Clemson running back C.J. Spiller or Oklahoma State receiver Dez Bryant. Whomever they've identified as the player who can help them most would be their dream scenario. If stuck with any of the above names, he would make a fine Plan B. The dilemma, however, is if the Bills pass on Clausen, another quality quarterback prospect might not be around when they pick again at No. 41.

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins needed help before Jason Taylor split for the New York Jets. The Dolphins' indifference toward Taylor would suggest they'd already identified a player to handle that job. The Dolphins would love to see Georgia Tech pass-rusher Derrick Morgan still on the board with the 12th selection. If Morgan isn't there and Williams hasn't been picked up yet, then the Dolphins wouldn't be upset to settle. They need a young nose tackle to hold down the middle of their 3-4 defensive line for the future. Veteran Jason Ferguson will open the season with an eight-game suspension.

New England Patriots

The Patriots own four picks from the 22nd through 53rd slots. That affords them flexibility to go after any number of positions with their first-round pick and then concentrate on others in the second round. The Patriots need to bolster their pass rush. Sergio Kindle from Texas and Brandon Graham seem like great fits for a Bill Belichick outside linebacker, but both could be gone by the time the Patriots are on the clock. USC defensive end Everson Griffen would be another prudent option here. Griffen has been generating some late buzz.

New York Jets

In many ways, the Jets already have held their draft. They've picked up a running back (LaDainian Tomlinson), receiver (Santonio Holmes), pass-rusher (Taylor), cornerback (Antonio Cromartie) and safety (Brodney Pool). The Jets still have needs, but none of them critical. They have the luxury of taking the best player available, and it won't be the wrong choice. But if the Jets want to draft a player who will start on opening night, then a safety would appear to be the position -- as the roster looks Wednesday morning -- to target. USC's Taylor Mays would look good in Jets gear. Of course, general manager Mike Tannenbaum has a penchant for trading up to grab the prospect he believes will make an impact. By Thursday night, a veteran on the roster could be traded to make room for a position that looks filled now.

Breakdown: As much as we like to speculate how the division standings are going to shake out after we see a few games in September, it would be wise not to write off the Miami Dolphins if they stumble out of the blocks in 2010.

Their schedule would seem to be quite forgiving in November and December and should allow them to make up ground in the standings -- or pull away if they're able to get off to a quick start.

In Weeks 12 through 16, the Dolphins will play the Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions, teams with a combined 27-53 record last year. The Jets are the lone team in that group with a winning record last year, and the Dolphins defeated them twice.

That said, the Dolphins face a grueling start. Of their seven opponents in Weeks 2 through 9, six of them went to the playoffs last year. The only one that didn't won the Super Bowl two seasons ago.

The Dolphins also will be without nose tackle Jason Ferguson through that stretch. He will serve an eight-game suspension for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Complaint department: By virtue of their geographical separation from the rest of the division, the Dolphins will log the most roundtrip miles. Their odometers will roll up 21,200 miles -- more than twice the Buffalo Bills (9,310 miles, including their "home game" in Toronto) and New York Jets (9,996 miles).

4 on the floor: Dolphins owner Stephen Ross expressed his desire to play more 4 p.m. games at Sun Life Stadium to make the oppressive South Florida weather more tolerable for fans. The Dolphins were granted zero 4 p.m. kickoffs at home this year.

But the Dolphins will host back-to-back games under the lights against the New York Jets on Sunday night in Week 3 (Jason Taylor's first game there in a different uniform) and the New England Patriots on Monday night in Week 4.

Dolphins Regular Season Schedule (All times Eastern)
Week 1: Sunday, Sep. 12, at Buffalo, 1:00 PM
Week 2: Sunday, Sep. 19, at Minnesota, 1:00 PM
Week 3: Sunday, Sep. 26, NY Jets, 8:20 PM
Week 4: Monday, Oct. 4, New England, 8:30 PM
Week 5: BYE
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 17, at Green Bay, 1:00 PM
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 24, Pittsburgh, 1:00 PM
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 31, at Cincinnati, 1:00 PM
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 7, at Baltimore, 1:00 PM
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 14, Tennessee, 1:00 PM
Week 11: Thursday, Nov. 18, Chicago, 8:20 PM
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 28, at Oakland, 4:05 PM
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 5, Cleveland, 1:00 PM
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 12, at NY Jets, 4:15 PM
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 19, Buffalo, 1:00 PM
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 26, Detroit, 1:00 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 2, at New England, 1:00 PM

Dolfans are apoplectic.

How in the Everglades did their Miami Dolphins miss out on the rummage sale that allowed star receiver Santonio Holmes to end up with the New York Jets?

Fans of a few other teams, including the New England Patriots, are thinking similarly.

A fifth-round draft choice for a Super Bowl MVP, coming off a season in which he caught 79 passes for 1,248 yards, looked like grand theft. Any team that needed help at wide receiver surely could've bid higher than the 151st overall selection.

On Monday morning, however, we learned why Holmes was such a bargain. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the NFL has finalized a four-game suspension for Holmes for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

Teams obviously had that information at their disposal when determining whether Holmes was worth the trouble.

The counterpoint is that Holmes will be available for the remaining 12 games and the playoffs -- if he doesn't get into more trouble. In a case that's still being investigated, Holmes was accused of throwing a glass into a woman's face last month at an Orlando, Fla., club.

Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports the Pittsburgh Steelers were ready to cut Holmes if they couldn't trade him.

Dolfans upset over their team's inactivity since making a mammoth splash with inside linebacker Karlos Dansby are incredulous the front office wouldn't take a chance on Holmes. After all, the Dolphins re-signed free-agent nose tackle Jason Ferguson, who has been suspended eight games of the season.

But that's an unfair comparison. Ferguson's suspension was for performance-enhancing drugs, not substance abuse. I'm not saying this sentiment played into the Dolphins' thinking, but a segment of the football community justifies players who get busted for PEDs as guys trying to do whatever it takes to get an edge and help their teams; they were just sloppy and got caught.

But Holmes has a checkered past and almost proud history of marijuana use. He recently tweeted he was going to "wake and bake," a phrase that means to smoke marijuana upon rolling out of bed.

If a Holmes proposal crossed Miami football operation boss Bill Parcells' desk, then the club would've needed to weigh the fact Holmes is from Belle Glade, Fla. Prior to Super Bowl XLIII, he confessed he sold drugs on the streets in his youth.

Bringing Holmes back to South Florida wouldn't be the wisest move. We know he doesn't make sound decisions. He would have the ability to hang out at his old haunts any evening in the regular season. His old associates would have greater access to him.

Plus, Holmes is entering the final year of his contract. There are no guarantees where he'll play beyond this season, making a trade that much riskier.

With all of that in mind, Dolfans shouldn't be too upset.

While it's difficult to watch the Jets make so many dynamic moves -- and perhaps be on the verge of signing away Jason Taylor -- and the idea of Holmes in aqua and orange is inspirational, there are plenty of good reasons the Dolphins didn't make this deal.

Maybe the Jets gave up too much.

Jason Taylor's surreal visit with the New York Jets continued Thursday at the club's facility in Florham Park, N.J.

Jets right tackle Damien Woody was taken aback when the outspoken Jets antagonist poked his head in the weight room during a tour conducted by head coach Rex Ryan.

"Rex is the ultimate salesguy, and I'm sure he's going to throw everything at him today," Woody said on Jane McManus' blog at ESPNNewYork.com.

Ryan reiterated that Taylor and his wife will return home to Florida to mull the offer. Taylor's agent, Gary Wichard, told me Wednesday he expected the six-time Pro Bowler to take the weekend at least.

The Miami Dolphins, meanwhile, haven't changed their plans to address Taylor after the draft. Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland had a news conference scheduled Thursday to discuss the draft. It was hijacked by Taylor questions.

Palm Beach Post reporter Brian Biggane shares a rundown of the back and forth on his blog.

"Look. They know our stance," Ireland said, referring to Taylor and Wichard. "We know our stance. ... We have to evaluate things after the draft. So that's where we're at."

Biggane writes Ireland stopped the news conference 81 seconds in: "I thought this was a pre-draft press conference, fellas."

Miami Herald columnist Armando Salguero delivered an enlightening breakdown of the polar approaches the Jets and the Dolphins have taken with Taylor.

While the Jets have rolled out the red carpet for Taylor and his wife, including a helicopter ride over Manhattan and a tour of the new Meadowlands stadium, the Dolphins have kept him at arm's length.

Salguero writes:

Taylor wants to be loved, maybe even wooed. He definitely wants to be shown respect because after 13 NFL seasons he rightly believes he's earned that. And the New York Jets are showing him that love and respect at a time when Taylor doesn't think the Dolphins are.

New York Daily News reporter Rich Cimini also provided a detailed account of the courtship from the Jets' perspective.

Salguero also notes the Dolphins have been stoic over the past year while Taylor has been flattered by overtures from both the Jets and New England Patriots. Furthermore, the Dolphins have re-signed two veterans coming off significant injuries that will impact them into the summer. They've already brought back quarterback Chad Pennington and nose tackle Jason Ferguson, who will serve an eight-game suspension for multiple violations of the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

There are a lot of wrinkles to this situation. We'll see if the Dolphins have the chance to iron them out before Taylor makes a decision on the Jets.

Throughout his career with the Miami Dolphins, star pass-rusher Jason Taylor didn't conceal his contempt for the New York Jets.

In a collection of comments posted earlier, Taylor calls Jets fans "ignorant," their stadium a "hellhole" and their famous "J-E-T-S! Jets! Jets! Jets!" chant "dumb-ass."

"Some Jets fans take the 'c-l' out of class," is another Taylor quote.

So what could possibly change Taylor's mind enough to swallow those words and sign a contract with the Jets?

He's not desperate. It's early April. The Dolphins reportedly have talked to him about re-signing. The Jets are bound by the "final eight" plan and can't throw fistfuls of money at him.

But there are reasons Taylor could be swayed, and much of it has to do with the dynamic culture the Jets have fostered.

Jets head coach Rex Ryan: Not even Dolphins inside linebacker Channing Crowder could remain upset with Ryan.

They publicly feuded last summer, but Crowder developed a genuine respect for Ryan as a defensive master and fun-loving dude.

"It's hard for me to say this, but I'm honest. I like Rex now," Crowder told me the week before the Super Bowl. "He's a funny guy. He first became a head coach, [their feud] was one of the first things that happened. I was like 'Who's this guy?' That's when everything kind of manifested.

"Now that I see what kind of guy he is, he seems like a funny guy, a funny coach. I'm starting to lean towards ol' Rex. I might give him a hug when I see him."

Jets receiver Jerricho Cotchery made a similar point with me last week while talking about Ryan's role in making the Jets a team opposing fans love to hate. Cotchery noted players around the league are envious of the atmosphere Ryan has cultivated.

"A lot of players don't experience that fun," Cotchery said. "There are some people on the other sidelines who are jealous."

A new stadium and headquarters: The Jets' training facility isn't two years old yet, and they're moving into a dazzling new Meadowlands stadium this year. Those who have toured the $1.6 billion structure have been amazed.

"I was blown away," Ryan said of his first tour. "The stadium is massive. It's just a great place to watch a game, and I can't wait to play a game in that stadium with our fans rocking. If our fans come out the way they did for the last Cincinnati game and the first New England game, whoo, are we going to be tough to beat."

The Jets' defense is in much better shape: The Jets boasted the NFL's top-rated total defense, scoring defense and passing defense in 2009. Their defense was the backbone of a team that reached the AFC Championship Game, and there's no reason to think it won't be great again this year.

Taylor would be a great fit as a pass-rush specialist in Ryan's aggressive 3-4 schemes.

"That would be an excellent acquisition," Scouts Inc. analyst Matt Williamson wrote to me in an e-mail. "My worry is that Taylor would wear down, but they have enough bodies at the position to keep him fresh. Plus, he would have to be a good influence on Vernon Gholston -- you would think, at least.

"Taylor isn't as explosive as he once was, for sure. But he does understand how to set up blockers and is a pretty cerebral player overall. He keeps containment well, feels blocking schemes and can be pretty stout versus the run.

"He would make an excellent defense even better."

The Dolphins' defense, meanwhile, is in a state of flux. It could turn out to be formidable under new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan, but the unit has been overhauled. Gone are defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni, outside linebackers coach Jim Reid and inside linebackers coach George Edwards.

Also gone from the front seven are outside linebacker Joey Porter, a captain, and inside linebacker Akin Ayodele. Another defensive captain, nose tackle Jason Ferguson, will be suspended the first eight games of the season.

It's the Big Apple: Taylor doesn't plan to retire into anonymity when his playing days are over. The reason he accepted an invitation to compete on "Dancing With the Stars" in 2008 was to help lay a foundation for a career in the entertainment industry.

The Jets recently were selected to be the featured club for this year's edition of "Hard Knocks" on HBO. Taylor, with his striking looks and on-field résumé, would be one of the leading characters.

» NFC Big Question: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Have the Miami Dolphins done enough since the free-agency period began?

Miami got off to a rousing start in free agency by pouncing on Karlos Dansby like a 43-year-old bachelorette on the bride's bouquet. Bill Parcells whipped out owner Stephen Ross' checkbook to make Dansby the NFL's highest-paid inside linebacker, one of top two or three most-significant moves at the start of free agency.

That was nearly a month ago.

The Dolphins haven't done much else since then. They courted safety Ryan Clark, but he re-signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. They haven't gotten involved with any wide receivers, much to their fans' chagrin.

The Dolphins brought back Chad Pennington to be their third-string quarterback and nose tackle Jason Ferguson, who won't be able to play until he serves an eight-game suspension. They added freak-on-a-short-leash guard Richie Incognito with a low-risk contract, making him one misstep away from being cut.

Upgrades, however, don't always occur through acquisitions. The Dolphins made some classic addition-by-subtraction moves, cutting outside linebacker Joey Porter, inside linebacker Akin Ayodele and safety Gibril Wilson. Porter signed with the Arizona Cardinals and was arrested for DUI. Ayodele and Wilson haven't found work.

Dolfans should be relieved those guys are gone, but only Ayodele has been replaced. They still need to establish a new pass-rushing presence on the edge (especially if they don't want Jason Taylor back) and locate a safety in addition to help at receiver and nose tackle.

Dansby will be a force on Miami's defense, and Incognito will be a nice pickup if he can keep his temper under control.

But the Dolphins, who went 7-9 last year, need to find more veterans to keep pace with the AFC runner-up New York Jets and defending AFC East champion New England Patriots.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Miami Dolphins decided to bring back 35-year-old free-agent nose tackle Jason Ferguson despite an impending eight-game suspension to start the season because they view him as a scarce commodity. Ferguson also is rehabbing from a season-ending quadriceps injury.

Nose tackles of Ferguson's quality are so integral to a 3-4 defense that head coach Tony Sparano suggested the Dolphins had no choice.

"Obviously, Jason has the suspension. We're not happy with that, but at the end of the day, it's something that we have to deal with," Sparano said Tuesday morning at the NFL owners meetings. Sparano took part in an AFC coaches' media breakfast, his first interview in nearly three months.

"When Jason got hurt [in November 2009], our tongue would've been hanging out to find a player like Jason Ferguson sitting out there at that time. We couldn't find a player like that. To have the ability to have a player like that when he comes back off a suspension, I think is a positive thing for us."

Ferguson was suspended for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances. It's his second suspension, the previous one coming with the New York Jets.

Who will handle the job until then?

Paul Soliai started four games at nose tackle after Ferguson suffered a torn quadriceps, but the Dolphins could draft a nose tackle next month. They own the 12th overall selection. Tennessee's Dan Williams should be on the board then.

"I think that none of these signings will stop us from going out into the draft and potentially signing the better players," Sparano said. "Of course, Jason, I love him to death, but he's not a young guy. I would say that all these positions are positions we'd consider addressing in the draft."

I asked Sparano if it sends a mixed message to his team that a defensive captain was re-signed despite multiple violations.

"He's been suspended one time since he's been here with us as a captain," Sparano said. "But I would say to you that ... to send a mixed message? I don't think it sends a good message. I really don't. But I know this player. I know Jason Ferguson pretty well.

"I think that the guy made a mistake. But at the end of this, the middle of last season we really would've been looking long and hard to find a player like Jason Ferguson when he got hurt and we couldn't. ... When the suspension is over, we'll see where we are during the course of the season and where we are at that point. It may possibly be a great move."

» NFC Needs Revisited: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

» Draft Watch: Biggest needs (2/17) | Busts/gems (2/24) | Schemes, themes (3/3) | Recent history (3/10) | Needs revisited (3/17) | Under-the-radar needs (3/26) | History in that spot (3/31) | Draft approach (4/7) | Decision-makers (4/14) | Dream scenario/Plan B (4/21)

Each Wednesday leading up to the NFL draft (April 22-24), the ESPN.com blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today's topic: Biggest needs revisited.

Buffalo Bills

The first "Draft Watch" installment broke down each team's biggest needs before the free-agency period began. Four weeks later, not much has changed for the Bills. Their positional priorities continue to be quarterback, left tackle and a nose tackle for their new 3-4 defense. The Bills have been judicious in their signings, and the players they've brought aboard haven't addressed major areas of concern. They've added right tackle Cornell Green, inside linebacker Andra Davis and defensive end Dwan Edwards.

Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins knew an inside linebacker was essential and threw a ton of money at the best one on the free-agent market. They made Karlos Dansby the highest-paid player at his position. But they haven't found a free safety after cutting last year's starter, Gibril Wilson, and failing to land Pittsburgh Steelers free agent Ryan Clark. Nose tackle remains a question mark. They re-signed veteran Jason Ferguson, but he'll be suspended for the first eight games for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances. The Dolphins' perennial need is at wide receiver, an area they've declined to address through free agency since misidentifying Ernest Wilford in 2008.

New England Patriots

The Patriots have four draft picks in the top 53 slots. They can address several positions that way. And maybe that's why they haven't been too active in free agency outside of re-signing their own players. Outside linebacker appears to remain a glaring need. Bill Belichick brought back last year's sacks leader, Tully Banta-Cain, but Adalius Thomas' future is in doubt. The Patriots may have tipped their hand about what they consider a need by getting involved in trade talks for Arizona Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin. Last week's news that slot receiver Wes Welker underwent rotator cuff surgery creates that much more concern.

New York Jets

No team's needs have changed as much in the past four weeks as the Jets. General manager Mike Tannenbaum has been busy through trades and free agency. Tannenbaum said the Jets were destined to draft a cornerback with their first-round pick until they traded with the San Diego Chargers for Antonio Cromartie. The Jets haven't brought in any new receivers yet (unless you want to count running back LaDainian Tomlinson for what he adds out of the backfield), but something tells me Tannenbaum will make a trade to improve the receiving corps. As for the draft, the Jets could use safety help after trading Kerry Rhodes and must fortify their general depth on both sides of the ball, particularly on the lines.

Zach Thomas will donate his brain to science some day. For now, he's willing to share the thoughts rattling around inside it.

The all-decade inside linebacker for the Miami Dolphins was a guest on Miami sports-radio station WQAM and tackled several topics about his former team with host Sid Rosenberg.

Thomas advised the Dolphins to sign Denver Broncos restricted free agent Brandon Marshall to an offer sheet and to bring back veteran pass-rusher Jason Taylor to avoid a leadership depletion like the New England Patriots suffered last year.

The Dolphins have needed a go-to receiver for years. Rosenberg asked Thomas what he would say if Bill Parcells approached him about Marshall.

"Do it now before anybody changes their mind," Thomas said per Palm Beach Post reporter Brian Biggane.

The Broncos placed a first-round tender on Marshall, tempting other teams to sign him. The Dolphins own the 12th pick of the draft.

"With Brandon Marshall it's about money," Thomas said. "If you pay the guy well, he's going to play hard. He even played hard last year. He's got a lot of pride, and he can be a little selfish, but good players are selfish. Look at a guy like Terrell [Owens]. Guys can go to extremes. But Brandon Marshall is a proven player. He's still young, and I feel he's best in the league right now."

Thomas claimed Marshall would make all of Miami's receivers better -- even Ted Ginn. Thomas emphasized that Marshall is a proven commodity, unlike someone like Oklahoma State receiver Dez Bryant, whom the Dolphins could draft instead.

Thomas also insisted the Dolphins need to bring back Taylor, his brother-in-law.

"You have to have that veteran leadership," Thomas said. "You just lost Joey Porter, just lost Jason Taylor, and trust me you need that blend, especially on defense. You need that experience. They re-signed Jason Ferguson, but being [suspended the first] eight weeks, I'm concerned about how they can keep that defensive line intact.

"Look at New England, what they did to their defense. They lost Mike Vrabel, they lost [Tedy] Bruschi, [Richard] Seymour, Rodney Harrison, and you see how they dropped off last year.

"Everybody talked about Tom Brady not being as good because of his injury. That had nothing to do with it. He had less opportunities. The defense is what won a lot of games for them in the past. So you need that blend."

Thomas retired last year because of an accumulation of concussions. He has pledged his brain to the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at Boston University School of Medicine for research on the long-term impact of football-related head trauma.

He will tour training camps this summer to speak with players about the importance of being vigilant about concussion symptoms.

For those who remain unconvinced that nose tackles are critical to a 3-4 defense, consider the Miami Dolphins' decision to re-sign Jason Ferguson.

He's up in years. He's recovering from a torn quadriceps.

And he happens to be suspended for the first eight games of the season.

Still, the Dolphins know a commodity when they see one, and they were compelled to bring Ferguson back. Ferguson will turn 36 in November and was suspended over the weekend for violating the NFL's police on performance-enhancing drugs again.

Dolphins football operations czar Bill Parcells and coach Tony Sparano must not have felt comfortable enough with Paul Soliai moving forward.

Ferguson's return probably doesn't settle the position for Miami. Logic dictates if Soliai was a satisfactory solution for the first eight games, he'd be fine for the whole season. Conversely, eight games is too long of a timeframe for Soliai to keep the position warm for Ferguson.

The Dolphins will need to add depth there, whether it be through free agency or the draft.

For those wondering, Ferguson's suspension doesn't begin until Week 1 of the regular season. He will be allowed to participate in team workouts, including minicamps, training camps and preseason games if he's healthy by then.

Once the suspension starts, however, Ferguson will be forbidden from attending practices and meetings and cannot step foot in the team's facility.