The Miami Dolphins have already spent a boatload of money this offseason to bring high-profile free agents to South Beach.
So it makes sense that general manager Jeff Ireland says the Dolphins plan to draft "core positions" next month -- expensive positions that would cost a lot of money to fill in free agency -- and develop those players within.
"There is strength in core positions. Pass rushers, tackles, receivers, corners," Ireland said Wednesday, according to Omar Kelly of the Sun-Sentinel. "I like drafting when the core position meets a need, and it meets the grade."
With so much money already shelled out in the past month, the Dolphins could use some cheap, young talent at three of those four positions Ireland mentioned -- the signing of Mike Wallace and re-signing of Brian Hartline makes receiver less of a need.
One expensive position Ireland failed to mention is quarterback. Of course, the Dolphins already have a young promising signal-caller in Ryan Tannehill and a veteran backup they just re-signed in Matt Moore. But Ireland did leave the door open for the possibility of picking up a quarterback in the draft.
"[Ryan Tannehill's] consistency can improve ... but I'm very excited about the position," he said. "But I can draft another [quarterback]. You can always have another QB in the hopper."
Follow Kenny Legan on Twitter @kennylegan.
