Should Melvin Ingram Be Dolphins Big Purchase
Melvin Ingram trains in Miami in the off-season.
Rumors are Melvin Ingram wants to play for the Dolphins.
The Miami Dolphins will be gearing up for the off-season free agent market that starts in the beginning of March, and Melvin Ingram the cream of the crop as far as linebackers.
So, with large amount of cap space, will this finally be the year that the Dolphins address the linebacking position with more than band-aids?
Linebacker is a position that they have tried to fill over the years with big signings such as Karlos Dansby in 2010, and Dannell Ellerbe in 2013.
Neither of these players were able to perform up to their hefty contracts.
Since then, Miami has had too many other positions in need of upgrade instead of LB that the linebacker position never received the proper attention and upgrade.
One of the main reasons for the 2016 Dolphins defensive failures was because of the void at linebacker.
So after Ellerbe was released in 2014, the Dolphins did not address this position until last off-season when they traded for Kiko Alonso. Most pay per head bookie service fans would agree that Alonso played extremely well last season and was one of Miami’s best off-season moves.
Now Miami must give Alonso some help, because the LB core is still two starting linebackers short of having a quality group.
One player that must immediately be on the radar in 2017 Free Agency is San Diego Chargers Outside Linebacker Ingram.
Ingram just completed his 5th year in the league and will be one of the big free agents available. He had a slow start to his football career due to injuries over his first 3 seasons. But, over his last two seasons, Ingram has been healthy and a force to be reckoned with.
Ingram is a play maker who can get to the passer.
Part of his resurgence is due to his time in Miami: ” Ingram worked with a private trainer in Miami who completely revamped his diet and oversaw an intense workout program that included heavy cardio and boxing. Ingram learned to replace fatty meats, starches and carbohydrates with proteins and vegetables and as a result, he reported to camp 20 pounds lighter than he’d been in previous seasons, along with a body-fat count that dropped to eight percent,” Anthony Lynn, Chargers.com.
During his last two seasons he has played in all 32 games, amassing 125 tackles, 18.5 sacks, 7 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery.
He is a play making linebacker that has the ability to get to the Quarterback. This is exactly the type of linebacker that the Dolphins need to add to the defense. We do not have any linebackers on our roster that have the ability to get to the QB — including Alonzo — so, Ingram ‘could’ be a perfect addition.
Two problems migh be a blockade to this connection though: Ingram is not going to be cheap — not even close, which could also drive up Alonso’s price; and, Ingram played in a 3-4, so his skill set and history isn’t 100% correlative with his role on the Dolphins defense.
This second issue has been a problem in the past when Miami has spent big on player from a different system, only to find him unable to duplicate his previous successes.
But, Miami needs to spend either money on this position, or high picks, or both, if they want to get better at this position. Maybe big bucks on Ingram might be a lot of money well spent? Go Fins!!!
And by the way, Jason Garrett over Gase for coach of the year by the Pro Football Writers Association? Please, if Garrett endured half the injuries and worked with this O-Line he wouldn’t have even won his division or made the playoffs. Before anyone says it, “what about Dak”, yea, that was in the preseason, so he plenty of time to adjust, etc. If Gase had the Dallas O-Line; 1) J-Train would have ran for 2000 yds 2) We’d still be playing.
What a farce!!!
pretty much….
This guy already has a cruciate….he played last year at almost 270! and had to go to a fat farm to lose 20lbs. His workout regimen was two-a-days with a very restricted diet, not something you can maintain during the season. This guy can outgrow his OLB position with one visit to the drive-thru.
For this kind of money, I would pass on a fatty tendency gimpy LBer.
What would Belichek do?
Freak, he has started ALL 16 games the past 2 seasons. Know we can’t predict injuries, but his availability is worth the extra $.
I agree and disagree: he has maintained his weight for two years — great sign. And while he bounced back from the injury in an amazing 5 months, that much money is a concern with his conditioning and injury history. He is good and not great, so that has to be another consideration. I’m not a draft guy as I don’t watch college, so from what I’m told, this is a strong D class and bit of weak O class. I like some of the young and talent G’s in FA….maybe go there to fill those holes and go draft for D…if Ingram wants to really play for Miami and take a bit less, then I’d say that is a good sign. But, they have Landry to resign, maybe kiko and Jones….plus all the other spots and they must stay cap responsible…of course, if Ingram were to play SLB and be damn good and Kiko WLB and you add a MLB in the draft….that weakness could become a nice strength..of course, that word COULD is a bit troubling — given the huge pay out. So, I’m fencing jumping between you both.
How about this as a 2017 roster (not including Draftees)
http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/tools/roster/miami-dolphins/2017/5151166d44b91dd822b606d35541dc77/
Day dream believer
….daydream believer is right 🙂
….you’re low balling a fair number of those, you are
….think Moore gets traded for either a starter or a 2/3 pick and we keep Doughty, draft another prospect
…that all depends of course on what happens in the next 90 days with TH’s knee
…but Moore’s trade value will never be higher
….Stills and Landry will cost more
…you’re sniffing glue on Ingram’s price
…but yeah, it would be sweet if you were even close
I hear ya Lemmus, I just figured most their $ will be signing bonus and not so much base salary. Either way we have plenty of cap $ to do such moves. I like the Moore trade possibility for a third or forth.
Very bored these days. Check that tool out and try it, post the link, if your as bored as I am in the mornings.
those numbers are a little low…loooking over the FA and it would seem that guards offer alot of youth and talent for the price. hey need to get one of the big three needs in FA, unless they are going hardcore on the DRaft….but, that would be very risky for 2017…
Where’s Steve he’s the prospect guru!!!! He better get on here and tell me what to think…or I’m going to have to do the research myself!!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsbYx6hevoQ
Word on the street is that Ingram wants to come here, his words “Miami”. As a matter of fact, I think you will start to see a lot of players wanting to come here. Finally!!!
Yes, Ingram is going to get a hefty contract. In my opinion worth it on a 3 year deal +/-. Ingram STARTED ALL 16 GAMES for the last 2 years and that alone is worth the extra couple million. Let me say that again “STARTED ALL 16 GAMES”. Get Ingram in house and all we would need is a true “Mike” LBer. With Kiko at “Will” and Ingram at “Sam” we would be a decent “Mike” Lber away from having a very good LBer unit. 100 times better than this years unit.
Ingram had 8 sacks this year and 10.5 last year. He would compliment the “attacking” style that Matt Burke wants to employ. Ingram is as consistent as they come, and again his availability can not be expressed enough. Injuries can not be predicted, but would we still be playing if Pouncey/Jones/Isa/Maxwell/Misi/Jenkins/Cameron were playing in the playoff game, I would dare to say yes!
Bring him here, pay him his decent salary for 3/4 years, one position lock and loaded.
I heard that too about Ingram….
…Ingram will cost us ~10 mil a year (current 2 mil) and will be 28 yo…if we can get him at that price, we should probably go for it …doubt he will stick with the new LA Chargers …going to be a few years to rebuild them into a contender
…keep in mind that Alonzo is an RFA with a 1 mil salary and a come-back year performance …I’d bet its going to cost us 5-7 mil to keep him
…OTOH this draft is loaded with LB talent and starting quality LBs could be had as late as the 3rd …if it were me, I’d spend the top 3 picks on the best LBs available
…I’d much prefer the FO go all out on day 1 to land Guards T.J. Lang and K. Zeitler …they are PFF ranked 7/8 respectively …Lang is making 5.2 mil with GB and they will likely let him test the market …Zeitler is making 2 mil with CIN and will almost certainly test the market
…we absolutely need two starting guards since Tunsil is almost certain to move to LT and Bushrod just didn’t cut itas a starter
…and this is the weakest draft in years for OL
…so yes, if Ingram can be had at a reasonable price …but we still need those 2 FA guards and I’d still draft multiple LBs
…this is a strong draft for defense …on offense, only TEs look deep …and we do need to replace Jones …assuming Cameron is gone and we keep Sims
hey…I don’t know what your talking about with the OL and Bushrod…look how much we have improved over the years: as per PFF: 2014 32nd, 2015 31st, and 2016 30th!!! Now that’s change you can believe in! We’ll have a top ten OL by 2037 and ready to contend!! You’re just not patient enough.
Lemmus, Miami spent 8.3 million on the LBers this year, accounting for a whopping 5.4% of the teams salary cap, which by the way was the lowest in the league (go figure). Teams such as Denver, Greenbay, Steelers spent 19% of their cap on LBers, teams I think we all feel are playoff caliber teams. Miami needs to upgrade 2 of the 3 LBing positions, so spending 8.3 million on the whole unit must increase, with the possibility of spending 8.3 million on one LBer.
I know this has been causing you sleepless night, but now you can rest as snug as a bug in a rug: Dallas Thomas was signed to the Eagles squad. Sleep easy, my friend. 😉