Kiko Alonso

Alonso led the Dolphins' defense with 125 tackles in 2018 and has logged at least 115 tackles in each the past three seasons with the team. Alonso played 100 percent of defensive snaps last season before being ejected during the third quarter of a season-finale loss to the Bills. Despite his overall versatility, Alonso's occasional errors in pass coverage could prompt new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham to position the 28-year-old up and down the line of scrimmage in an attempt to push him to the next level.

2017 was Alonso's first year transitioning to outside linebacker, and he struggled in pass coverage at times -- particularly against tight ends -- contributing to the Dolphins allowing the second most passing yards to the position. Alonso's struggles can also be partially attributed to being stretched thin with MLB Raekwon McMillan having missed the season and Lawrence Timmons under-performing. Nonetheless, Alonso managed to record 115 tackles for the second year in a row. With another offseason at OLB under his belt and 2018 first-round pick Minkah Fitzpatrick to assist in tight-end coverage, the 27-year-old seems poised for a bounce-back performance in 2018.

Alonso hasn't regained the form he showed during his remarkable 2013 rookie season when he totaled 159 tackles, two sacks and four interceptions, but at least he appears to be over the knee injuries that all but wiped out his 2014 and 2015 seasons. Playing 1,050 defensive snaps in his first year with Miami, Alonso averaged just less than eight tackles per game with his new team and remained a factor in coverage with two interceptions, returning one for his first career touchdown. He should hold down a three-down role in 2017.

Miami will be the third team Alonso has been on in three seasons. He was once considered to be one of the better young linebackers in the game but injuries over the past two campaigns have taken some of the bloom off that rose. That being said, with defenses constantly double-teaming Ndamukong Suh, Alonso won't have to shed as many blocks, so he might be able to return to being a high-volume tackler if he can stay healthy.

If a full-time three-down role was guaranteed, Alonso would rank much higher. Traded by the Bills for LeSean McCoy, Alonso likely will become the leader of the Philadelphia defense, though things are a bit uncertain at press time. Inside linebacker is crowded, and Mychal Kendricks and DeMeco Ryans could eat into Alonso's workload. If those two don't get in his way, though, Alonso should pick up where he left off in 2013 (159 tackles, two sacks, four interceptions) before an ACL tear sidelined him last July. With plenty of time to recover, only Alonso's playing time can limit his IDP upside.

The Bills obviously had high hopes for Alonso when they selected him 46th overall in the 2013 draft, but no one could have foreseen the truly enormous rookie season ahead. Alonso finished the year as one of the three best IDP linebackers, piling up 159 tackles (87 solo) while adding two sacks and making a huge impact in coverage, intercepting four passes. He posted double-digit tackles eight times, including one 22-tackle effort. Alonso has good speed and elite quickness for his size, and his huge tackle total from last year indicates he's quick to recognize plays. Unfortunately, his 2014 season came to a grinding halt, when it was revealed in early July that Alonso had suffered a torn ACL, leaving Nigel Bradham, Keith Rivers and Preston Brown as the top candidates to handle the team's weak side linebacker duties.

Alonso might be the rawest out of the rookie group of Brown, Ogletree, Minter, Manti Te'o and Gerald Hodges, but he's probably one of the three most naturally talented players of the group, too. Despite starting just one year at Oregon, Alonso showed enough upside on tape for the Bills to select him in the second round. With Nick Barnett and Kelvin Sheppard no longer in Buffalo, Alonso should find himself a Week 1 starter. Alonso's athleticism and motor allowed him to make big plays at Oregon, and he's especially intriguing for his sack and interception potential after posting 14 tackles for loss and four interceptions in 12 games last year.