Dolphins Positioning For Free Agency
The Dolphins are actively getting ready for the NFL’s official free agency period, which begins at 4pm eastern on Wednesday March 9th. However, teams are permitted to begin to contact and enter into contract negotiations with certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents on Monday March 7th.
The Dolphins have just announced that they have restructured Suh’s contract. The details have not been released, yet it is possible that the Dolphins may have been able to create around an additional $18 million by turning most of Suh’s 2016 salary into an up front bonus. In addition, Miami has just released Greg Jennings, which will create $4 million in cap space, and restructured Koa Misi’s contract, creating even a little cap relief there as well.
The Dolphins still have a few other big decisions to make that can additionally effect their cap space. For starters, they can cut or restructure Jordan Cameron, who’s $7.5 million is way too high for his level of production so far. Many football gambling fans will argue that cutting him will just cause another hole in the Dolphins roster. But couldn’t they use that $7.5 million in savings and sign one of the free agent Tight ends on the market and stilll have savings left over? The FA are several intriguing prospects out their to sign: Antonio Gates, Ladarius Green, Benjamin Watson, Coby Fleener, Dwayne Allen, Zach Miller, Jared Cook, and Vernon Davis. Saving at the TE position would make sense, unless Gase envisions great things from Cameron as his contract warrants.
Next the Dolphins will have to decide what they will do with both Brent Grimes and Cameron Wake. Grimes is on the books after dead cap money is included for $6.5 million, and Wake is on the books for $8.4 million. Both are very good players, but in the last stretch of their careers. Yet, their positions are very thin areas for the Dolphins, so their value is enhanced because cutting either player will just create an even bigger hole to positions that desperately need improvement.
The Dolphins have already been proactive and brought Defensive end Mario Williams in for a visit on Saturday. Fora reasonable price of a “show me” one year signing, this “could” be be a terrific signing. Williams still has more in the tank and has been a menace for Miami for the last 4 years. Williams is not going to be cheap, but it could offset the departure of Vernon, or Wake, or both. Personally, I think Vernon is a good player, but will downshift a bit once he gets his big payday this season. On the surface a combination of Wake, Suh, and Williams has a nice look to it with three potentially hall of fame players, each of them playing together with a chip on their shoulder due to criticism from last season. Then just for fun, the Dolphins could release Earl Mitchell and bring back Paul Soliai for a pick at McDonalds “Super-Sized” value menu at the DT spot.
In regards to the Cornerback position, don’t be surprised if the Dolphins kick the tires for Janoris Jenkins of the LA Rams, who is arguably the best available free agent at the position on the open market. Besides Jenkins, the Dolphins other options are Prince Amukamara, Pac-Man Jones, Casey Hayward, or Morris Claiborne. It would be nice if Miami could sign one or even two of these corners, so Grimes and his wife could be shown the door.
It appears that the Dolphins already have a solid plan in place to create around $30 million in cap space. The key for them is to not to be drunk with it and spend wisely and keeping developing a responsible approach to the cap. Spending sprees sometimes work as with the Broncos last season, but more often than not, they don’t! How Miami will respond begins tomorrow. Go Fins!!!
This is a large gamble on these two players. After reading the article I just posted The Cornerback is questionable and the Line backer has been injured two years. It could work but a serious gamble. Could this be holes in a five gallon can we are trying to used? Be careful! I would not make this deal and Grimes would be the better bargain. Your starting Cornerback cannot have performance questioned. Along with your starting linebacker cannot be on the side lines.
Typically, if a contract for a big signing is so obviously bad that the team that gave it out is already attempting to trade it after just one year, there usually is not a market for that player’s services elsewhere, and the team is stuck with a big mistake of a deal. But because the Dolphins are run by Mike Tannenbaum, whose M.O. is to get big names on big deals and worry about the rest later, there’s apparently a market. And that is also fairly crazy, even accounting for the fact that not all of the remaining money on the deal would go on Miami’s books because some would accelerate onto Philly’s.
Read more below site:
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25507552/report-dolphins-in-talks-with-eagles-to-trade-for-cb-byron-maxwell
Grimes, Cameron, Wake, are not worth their cap numbers. Either resign at value or let them go. See Belicheat for the example.
Fins need, again, need OL, both G and T, need CB, and LBers.
DE’s also
FinFans
How does a team get to needing to field so many position or how does a team get to this point in the NFL?
The Fins are positioning themselves for some flexibility in free agency. Not sure if they will be day players (4:01 pm) as in the recent past. I don’t believe there will be a HUGE signing, a marque name. I’m thinking that they will let the market correct itself and then act accordingly. Then again, that has not been Tannebaum’s style.
I see Miller coming back, I don’t see Grimes going any where, his departure would only clear 6.5 (know that is a good chunk, but still believe Grimes is worth 6.5 tops for one more year). Should they cut Grimes, I believe that could indicate that Hargraves could be the pick at 8. I wouldn’t mind seeing them depart w Grimes and bring in 2 new CBs. How about bringing in Jenoris Jenkins and PacMan Jones. Jenkins is an ascending player and is only 27 years of age. Pac Man may have had his best year as a professional last year and looks as though he could have at least 2 good years left (out of say a 3 year contract?).
We still need 2 new guards, and if Miami only gets 1 via free agency, I believe that tells us what position the second round pick will be…. A Guard! They can not wait any later in the draft because that has NOT resulted in a day 1 starter for us, but 42nd overall in the second round should be 1 of the top 2 or 3 guards in the draft (day 1 starter). Should they address both guard positions via free agency, that should tell us that they will wait till the later part of the draft to address OL (unless a tackle is taken).
I don’t see them matching any offer for OV. They may even retract the restrictive tag should they sign Williams or a William Hayes (LA). The moves for the DE position really doesn’t give us a clear indication for the draft, unless 2 DEs are signed. I can see them parting ways w Wake (:(), he would clear a whopping 8.4 million, right there is the money needed to sign Jenkins. They could also use the 8th pick in the draft on a DE, which would get 1 of the top 2 DEs in the draft (day 1 starter), on the cheap for 4 years.
This leaves us the LBer position, and the reason why I believe the 8th pick will be a LBer, as well as a possible the third or forth round pick (Mike LBer). There are not many options via free agency at his position, unless they want to spend BIG money, and I don’t think that will be their approach this year. So that would leave the LBer position as the most needed position via draft, and at 8 overall you could get the top rated LBer in the draft (day 1 starter).
Will be interesting as Miami positions themselves for free agency, just don’t believe it will be a frenzy as it has been the past 4 years.
I expect the Dolphins have made all this CAP room because they are planning on signing several free agents.
I hope that they are also looking at the Guard position. It will be an interesting week to see who they are after, and who we actually sign. If we do sign two corners and a middle linebacker among the free agents that we seem to be targeting, then can probably assume that we are going to trade back and get more draft picks ?? or go with offensive line with our first pick ?. But we are all guessing and hopeful at this point. I hope that we pick up some good players that will help solidify our offensive line. Plenty of defense in the draft. I really hope we get 2 proven guards this time.
Why do they have to sign several? Two top tier players would do. Guard/CB/DE
Amazed if the go O-Line in the first. Just don’t see it. To much is needed defensively.
Jimmy
Maybe Josh Norman would be a nice addition and just keep Grimes.
Josh Norman, cornerback, Carolina Panthers
•2015 Salary: $1,591,750
Norman has seemingly come out of nowhere over the last two seasons to emerge as one of the best cornerbacks in the game. Given that he is just now entering the prime of his career, we are fully expecting Norman to land a contract that will pay him an eight-figure annual salary – something that will likely come from the Panthers.
Solid starters
1. Brent Grimes, Atlanta Falcons
2. Sean Smith, Miami Dolphins (UPDATE: Agreed to terms with the Kansas City Chiefs)
3. Aqib Talib, New England Patriots (UPDATE: Agreed to deal with the New England Patriots.)
4. Chris Houston, Detroit Lions (UPDATE: Agreed to re-sign with the Detroit Lions)
5. Antoine Winfield, Minnesota Vikings
6. Keenan Lewis, Pittsburgh Steelers (UPDATE: Signed with the New Orleans Saints)