The Miami Dolphins acquired running back Matt Breida in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers, offering a huge boost to a backfield that struggled in 2019.
The Miami Dolphins’ backfield was a mess in 2019, so they made a big move to make sure that is not the case in 2020.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Miami acquired running back Matt Breida from the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a fifth-round pick (No. 153 overall). San Francisco spent that selection on tackle Colton McKivitz.
Last season, the Dolphins had only one back, Mark Walton, record over 200 rushing yards on the season. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick incredibly led the team in rushing with 243 yards.
The acquisition of Breida should ensure Miami’s backfield is much more productive in 2020.
An undrafted free agent find by the 49ers, Breida is a true home-run hitter with the speed to take it the distance from anywhere on the field and the elusiveness to string cuts together and make defenders miss.
Breida has averaged five yards per carry in three seasons in the NFL and has also displayed upside as a receiver. He made 67 catches for San Francisco at an average of 8.4 yards per reception.
However, Breida was scarcely used down the stretch of the Niners’ Super Bowl run last season, with fumbles and the emergence of fellow UDFA Raheem Mostert leading to Breida spending much of the postseason on the bench.
In Miami, though, Breida should provide an excellent complement to the more bruising running style of Jordan Howard, whom the Dolphins acquired in free agency.
Between them, Howard and Breida have the ability to make life much easier for franchise quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
The success of the Dolphins’ rebuild will largely hinge on Tagovailoa’s ability to stay healthy and transform Miami’s passing game.
Tagovailoa, as he showed at Alabama, can have an impact with his legs. But thanks to the acquisitions of Howard and Breida, he shouldn’t be the Dolphins’ leading rusher in 2020.