The Dolphins know they need to acquire multiple new starters on the offensive line and appear likely to do it in both free agency and the draft.

What’s clear is they need a left tackle, one or two starting guards and potentially a center if they move on from Daniel Kilgore, which is a difficult call. They also must decide whether to leave Jesse Davis at right tackle or move him back to guard.

One NFL official who has spoken to the Dolphins said he was left with the impression that the Dolphins are inclined to fill left tackle in the draft — either in the first round (preferably) or second round, in part because of a dearth of appealing options in free agency.

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In Part 1 of a three-part series, we explore potential free agent options (all of these players are due to be unrestricted free agents) on the offensive line, with a word on the draft and our view on the best course of action.

Keep in mind that even though the Dolphins have nearly $100 million in cap space, they said Dec. 30 that they will be judicious in free agency, though general manager Chris Grier said during the season they’re not going to sit on a lot of cap space, either.

OFFENSIVE TACKLE

There’s no greater need on the roster than left tackle, which the Dolphins knew would be a likelihood after they traded Laremy Tunsil.

There are a several appealing tackle options in the first round — Georgia’s Andrew Thomas (Mel Kiper Jr.’s pick for Miami at No. 18); Alabama’s Jedrick Wills and Louisville’s Mekhi Becton and Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs, USC’s Austin Jackson and Houston’s Josh Jones. At least one of those should be available when Miami picks 18th, with Wills and Becton considered the most likely to be gone by then.

Keep in mind that it’s not a great class of free agent left tackles, and even it’s worse with The Athletic reporting that Colts left tackle Anthony Costanzo will either re-sign with Indianapolis or retire.

A look at the notable unrestricted free agents among tackles:

1. Tennessee’s Jack Conklin. With D.J. Humphries re-signing with Arizona, Conklin has emerged as the top free agent tackle on the market.

A very good run blocker, Conklin has allowed 3.8 sacks per season — on average — in his career and is coming off a solid year. He’s going to make a ton in free agency, and the question is whether the Dolphins would invest premium dollars in a right tackle, a position whose value would increase for Miami if the Dolphins end up with left-handed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

Davis played well at right tackle for Miami in December after an uneven performance earlier in the season.

Keep in mind that Conklin was a standout left tackle at Michigan State but has played right tackle in three seasons with the Titans and was rated 12th by Pro Football Focus among all tackles last season.

2. Castonzo. The best free agent left tackle on the market seems like an unrealistic option, based on his reported preference to remain in Indianapolis. He’s one of the best pass-protecting left tackles in the league and he was 16th among tackles in run blocking last year. Colts owner Jim Irsay said in recent days that there’s a “strong likelihood” Costanzo will re-sign with Indy.

3. The Jets’ Kelvin Beachum. He’s steady and competent, ranking 43rd in PFF’s grading of tackles and he’s only 30. He said he hopes to return to the Jets.

4. Seattle’s George Fant. He has started only seven games each of the past two years — playing more right tackle than left — but is intriguing because he’s highly athletic, versatile (can also play a bit of tight end), still young enough to improve (27), versatile and competent (rated 59th of 83 tackles by Pro Football Focus). Ideally, he could be a swing tackle. But in a weak market, somebody could pay him to be a starter.

5. Other right tackles besides Conklin, a group that includes Bryan Bulaga (Packers figure to do what it takes to keep him there), Tampa Bay’s Demar Dotson (32nd by PFF), the Giants’ Mike Remmers (50th), the Jets’ Brandon Shell (53rd) and Seattle’s Germain Ifedi (PFF rated him 70th).

6. There are also two old but still-effective longtime standouts: the Rams’ Andrew Whitworth (38) and the Eagles’ Jason Peters (37). Neither obviously is what they were in their prime, but still better than what Miami has at left tackle.

But even if they surprisingly wanted to come here, they would one-year stopgaps. Whitworth was beaten for just one sack last season, ranking in the top 10 overall among pass blockers, per PFF.

7. Carolina’s Daryl Williams, a second-team All Pro in 2017 who has been a mild disappointment the past two years. Carolina paid him $6 million to be their starting right tackle last season, and he ended up starting four games at left tackle, three at right guard and five at left guard. His versatility makes him appealing.

There’s also Chris Clark, a swing tackle for the Titans who started seven games for them this season.

Though he was serviceable the final two weeks, the Dolphins cannot realistically project Julien Davenport as anything more than a No. 3 tackle; he allowed six sacks and 32 pressures in eight games.

A trade for Redskins seven-time Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams, 31, appears an unlikely option. Williams sat out part of last season because of unhappiness with the team, then failed to pass a physical exam after experiencing discomfort with his helmet due to his scalp having postsurgical soreness. New Redskins coach Ron Rivera appears determined to repair the relationship with Williams, and Williams might be receptive.

The view here:

I would opt for drafting a left tackle in the first round, though I would be curious what Fant could do with more extensive playing time at left tackle. Besides the aforementioned five tackles, others expected to be early round picks include Connecticut’s Matt Peart, TCU’s Lucas Niang and Boise State’s Ezra Cleveland.

Though everything is fluid, my strong sense is Miami will find a starting long-term tackle in the draft, not free agency.

CENTER

A decision looms on Kilgore, who could be retained because he is modestly priced for 2020 ($3.1 million) with a $3.6 million cap hit. The Dolphins also like his leadership. But his entire salary and cap hits are eliminated if he’s cut.

PFF ranked Kilgore 17th among all centers, grading him 12th as a pass blocker and 23rd as a run blocker. Among impending free agents, only Denver’s Connor McGovern was rated higher than Kilgore overall (10th).

Another interesting free agent option: Patroits starter Ted Karras, who was rated 21st among centers by PFF.

Perhaps Miami keeps Kilgore for a year (or least into camp) and drafts a center such as Washington’s Nick Harris, Western Michigan’s Luke Juriga and Arizona State’s Cohl Cabral. Wisconsin’s Tyler Biadisz and Michigan’s Cesar Ruiz are considered borderline first-round centers who can also play guard.

GUARD

If Davis stays at right tackle, there’s a need for two starting guards, or one quality starting guard and another potential starter (to compete with Michael Deiter and others) at the other spot.

And the free agent class has no shortage of options, led by New England’s Joe Thuney (rated fifth among all qualifying guards by PFF), Washington’s Brandon Scherff (seventh), Detroit’s Graham Glasgow (ninth), the Chargers’ Michael Schoefield (33rd), Seattle’ Mike Iupati (47th), New Orleans’ Andrus Peat (71st; can play tackle and guard).

And keep an eye on former UM tackle Ereck Flowers, 26, who struggled as a tackle for the Giants, but was PFF’s No. 33 guard for the Redskins this season.

The view here: Even though it will be very costly, the Dolphins should be open-minded to spending on Scherff (an excellent run blocker) or Thuney. With no free agent left tackle worthy of big dollars, you would like the line to add one high-level veteran, and that will be costly.

Scherff is a very good run blocker who rated 28th as a pass blocker last season (per PFF). One concern: He was missed 15 games due to injury over the past three seasons. Thuney, a converted tackle, allowed only 16 pressures all of last season and is now one of the best guards in the league.

Glasgow could emerge as an interesting option because he shouldn’t be quite as expensive as Scherff and Thuney.

The other alternatives, if you can’t land Thuney, Scherff or Glasgow, or potentially Schoefield or Peat:

1. Sign a more reasonably priced veteran guard, a group that should include Flowers; Tampa’s Earl Watford, a part-time starter rated 24th by PFF; former Dallas starter Xavier Su’a Filo (rated 48th) and Rams center/guard Austin Blythe, who was solid at right guard in 2018 but less so last season, among others.

2. Use a second-day pick on a guard such as Clemson’s John Simpson or Oregon’s Shane Lemieux, though as we’ve noted, Miami hasn’t found a long-term offensive line starter in the third round or later this entire century.

Problem is, Miami needs at least two starting caliber guards, because the Dolphins cannot assume that Deiter, Shaq Calhoun or free agent Evan Boehm can be counted on as a starter. Deiter and Calhoun deserve a chance to compete for the job, but Miami must have another viable alternative under contract.

I would expect for the Dolphins to add at least one established starting guard in free agency.

Coming Tuesday: A look at Dolphins front-seven options in free agency