The Miami Dolphins are coming off back-to-back 8-8 seasons and enter a playoff-or-bust year in 2015. In order to accomplish that goal, they must fill several key needs.

ESPN.com’s Dolphins page wraps up its rankings of Miami’s top-5 needs.

No. 1: Linebacker

2014 starters: Philip Wheeler, Koa Misi, Jelani Jenkins

Top free agents: Justin Houston, Jason Worilds, Pernell McPhee

Why it’s an issue: Miami’s linebackers could not stop the run, missed too many tackles and didn’t make enough game-changing plays last season. At times, this group also struggled to cover slot receivers and tight ends, although the coverage was improved from 2013. It was just a below average year overall for this group with the exception of Jenkins, who was a nice find after replacing the injured Dannell Ellerbe in Week 1.

Walker’s solution: The first order of business is to create cap space. Therefore, I am cutting the high salaries of both Ellerbe ($8.59 million) and Wheeler ($3 million) before I do anything else at linebacker. That will provide some wiggle room to make improvements on the roster. I like Jenkins, who led the team in tackles last year with 110. Misi is decent, but the coaching staff loves him. So I doubt he’s going anywhere. Misi’s versatility to play inside or outside allows Miami the freedom find the best linebacker available via the draft or free agency, regardless of position. Outside linebackers such as Worilds or McPhee are good players who won’t come cheap. But I like the idea better of drafting a linebacker in the first round such as Shaq Thompson from the University of Washington if he’s available with the No. 14 overall pick.