The Miami Dolphins have a new general manager: Jon-Eric Sullivan.
Sullivan spent the last 21 seasons with the Green Bay Packers, rising from assistant football operations to vice president of player personnel. As he takes over the Dolphins, his job is definitely done for him. The Dolphins are in a tough spot, with limited recruiting capital and most of their money invested in contracts for players who likely won’t be around long term.
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On Sunday, Sullivan sat down with Travis Wingfield for his first-ever interview as general manager to discuss the challenges ahead as well as his vision for the team.
Asked about his football philosophy, Sullivan said: “We’re going to recruit, develop and retain our own. It’s important for us to raise our own, because that’s the culture.” Actions speak louder than words, but it’s certainly a different mindset than former general manager Chris Grier, who often opted to let players enter free agency and made big decisions with draft capital.
Sullivan also talked about the type of team he wants to build, saying “It starts with the QB, and then we’ll build this team from the inside out. We have to be OL dominant, DL dominant.” Sullivan also talked about the Dolphins technically playing in a cold weather division and the need to build a team to win in those environments.
As for the players already on the active roster, Sullivan highlighted a few names he considers building blocks for the team. Namely running back De’Von Achane, receiver Jaylen Waddle, linebacker Jordyn Brooks, center Aaron Brewer and tackle Patrick Paul.
Finally, when asked about his draft strategy, Sullivan discussed his idea of a “best player available” approach, commonly referred to as “BPA.” “You really have no idea what your needs are going to be. As we build a board, subconsciously, with a team value approach, you’ll stack it based on need, if that makes sense. In free agency, we’ll be much more intentional about where we need to fill the gaps.”
The full interview is linked below and can also be viewed on the official Miami Dolphins YouTube channel.
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What did you think of Sullivan’s first interview? Did he impress you? Let us know below!
