Phins could add experience and talent to their pass rush in Free Agency
The Miami Dolphins are stocked up with 14 draft picks and over $90 million of cap space to use in offseason ammo. Considering the Phins were the NFL’s worst pass rush with 23 sacks last season (5 less than the second-worst team), getting quality edge presence is crucial for their 2020 success. While Miami will select pass rushers in the draft, it could also be wise to add a talented and experienced pass rusher in Free Agency.
Yes, a Free Agent pass rusher will be expensive. Top Free Agents are always overpriced and premier positions even more so. But because pass rusher is such a critical need, Miami must get the position headed in the right direction. At least with Free Agents have an NFL resume to work off.
Top Free Agent Pass Rushers
Jadeveon Clowney, 27: PFF Grade 80.8
Dante Fowler, 26: PFF Grade 72.1
Bud Dupree, 27: PFF Grade 77.7
Matt Judon, 28: PFF Grade 69.2
Robert Quinn, 30: PFF Grade 68.5
Emmanuel Ogbah, 26: PFF Grade 70.1
Shaq Barrett, 27: PFF Grade 76.6
Yannick Ngakoue, 25: PFF Grade 72.0
Quinn and Clowney aren’t in the cards
We can disregard Robert Quinn since this regime parted ways with him last season. And even though Clowney is the biggest name and one of the top players in Free Agency, he’s off the list too. Clowney killed Miami’s trade talks for him with the Texans and wants to play on a Super Bowl contender. Also, Miami traded away a top talent in Minkah Fitzpatrick because he was more interested in his wants than team needs… so Clowney will get zero consideration.
Plenty of young and talented Pass Rushers are available
One name most frequently tied to the Dolphins is Yannick Ngakoue from the Jaguars. Ngakoue is the youngest player in this group and has a total of 37.5 career sacks. The lowest amount of sacks in a season was eight in both 2016 and 2019. Ngakous is a young, talented, and a consistent pass rusher. However, his major weakness is in the run game and this might limit Miami’s interest. We all know that Coach Flores likes his edge defenders to also provide quality run support.
One year wonders too risky?
Shaquil Barrett led the league this past season with 19.5 sacks. Barrett wasn’t too bad in run support either. Unless he gets franchised by the Buccaneers, he’ll have a bunch of teams looking to pay him handsomely. However, so far he’s been a one-season wonder. It took Barret four season to break out before he produced his best total of 14 sacks this season. He never had more than 5.5 sacks in a season before that.
Was last year an anomaly because he was playing in a contract year? The concern could be that once he gets paid, he’ll return to form as a pedestrian pass rusher? Personally I’d pass on him. Sports betting software has the better odds for success for the Phins by using the huge amount of money it will take to sign him on multiple players instead.
Dante Fowler has a similar history to Barrett. He’s been in the league for 5 years and only had a breakout season in his contract year. Last year, he notched 11.5 sacks, but before that, he had a total of 16 over 4 years. So it’s tough to say which player he’ll be after a big payday.
Bud Dupree also falls into this same category of a player having a breakout season in a contract year. Dupree had 11.5 sacks this year but never had more than 6 sacks in 4 previous seasons in the league.
The Phins must determine if the breakout season was the beginning of a bright future or was it their career year?
Two interesting edge players…
Matt Judon is an interesting option because even though he isn’t a household name, but over his four seasons years he has continued to consistently improve each season. His total of 28.5 career sacks came from 4 sacks in his first year, then 8, 7, and last year 9.5 sacks. In addition, Jodon has been developed by the Ravens, who have successfully developed quite a few quality pass rushers over the years. Judon also might cost a smaller price than some of the other bigger names in this group.
Lastly, Emmanuel Ogbah is recovering from a torn pectoral muscle that shortened his season. But, he did have 5.5 sacks in 10 games this year and in his three previous seasons, he registered 5.5, 4, and 3 sacks. These aren’t the same eye-popping sack numbers as some of these other players. Still, Ogbah’s only 26 years old and could be a cheaper option.
What to do, what to do?
Whatever Miami does in Free Agency, they can’t pay through the nose for a mediocre player. Signing no one is better than falling into the trap of paying a ton for a one-hit-wonder. This is what Miami has done for decades and what this new regime must avoid repeating this mistake at all costs. It would be a nice change of pace though if the Phins could nail the decision and land the right Free Agent.
What do Miami Dolphins News fans think Miami will do to addressing their pass rush in free agency?
My feeling is that the Dolphins will get a relatively young FA as an Edge-rusher. One who can qualify as having a tireless motor and be able to express an interest in being a team player and an asset. In addition to that, I suspect that they will draft another Edge with the attributes above, but with a greater inclination to become “The New Wake” for the Dolphins. Hey, I can hope can’t I ? On a different note, I prefer that they send Bobby back to Slot Corner and get either an up and coming FA at CB ( opposite Howard ) or a MLB like the kid from Clemson. My fervent hope is that with the ammunition that the FO has, at least 8 starter positions can be filled this year between Free Agency and the draft. That could be continued next year with our draft and another round of FA’s. I may not be here to see it, but I firmly believe that the FO and HC are firmly grounded in common sense and experience. I believe that our GM has learned from his experiences. Let’s hope so anyway.
Hey, Fred!! I think they could very well double dip in FA and the Draft… they certainly will in the draft. I like Judon… Ravens have a good D and he’s well rounded. I think having a bunch of good guys is better than an elite with chopped liver. Isaiah Simmons does look interesting. I’ve been high on him for a bit. Think he might be rising in the draft and if he nails the combine he surely will. Agree with Bobby at Nickel… he’s so small and was real antsy back there… thought he was a better slot..
My feeling is that the Dolphins will get a relatively young FA as an Edge-rusher. One who can qualify as having a tireless motor and be able to express an interest in being a team player and an asset. In addition to that, I suspect that they will draft another Edge with the attributes above, but with a greater inclination to become “The New Wake” for the Dolphins. Hey, I can hope can’t I ? On a different note, I prefer that they send Bobby back to Slot Corner and get either an up and coming FA at CB ( opposite Howard ) or a MLB like the kid from Clemson. My fervent hope is that with the ammunition that the FO has, at least 8 starter positions can be filled this year between Free Agency and the draft. That could be continued next year with our draft and another round of FA’s. I may not be here to see it, but I firmly believe that the FO and HC are firmly grounded in common sense and experience. I believe that our GM has learned from his experiences. Let’s hope so anyway.
Hey, Fred!! I think they could very well double dip in FA and the Draft… they certainly will in the draft. I like Judon… Ravens have a good D and he’s well rounded. I think having a bunch of good guys is better than an elite with chopped liver. Isaiah Simmons does look interesting. I’ve been high on him for a bit. Think he might be rising in the draft and if he nails the combine he surely will. Agree with Bobby at Nickel… he’s so small and was real antsy back there… thought he was a better slot..