Phins FA Starts Ugly, Some Hope Added Late
Miami lost some stars but also added some intriguing players too
The Miami Dolphins were gutted on the first day of Free Agency losing 4 key players with Christian Wilkins, Robert Hunt, Brandon Jones, and Andrew Van Ginkel all moving on to other teams. It wasn’t a feel-good day for me, even though it was expected. It was quite clear once they cut players such as Xavien Howard, Jerome Baker, and Emmanuel Ogbah and still not cap-compliant that we weren’t going the usual ‘big FA splash moves’ or even competing in the open market to keep our key free agents. But, the Phins didn’t make some smart moves late in Day 1, so there is some hope to hold onto.
Phins 2024 roster will look very different
Each of our 4 biggest free agents was paid handsomely, and the Dolphins didn’t didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell to keep them. Sure, it doesn’t take the Best Football Software to know that every offseason teams lose and gain players, but this hurt a bit more because all 4 players were drafted by the Dolphins, including Wilkins being a former first-round pick. It’s hard enough for teams to draft well, especially the Dolphins, but losing quality players that we drafted stings a bit more because Van Ginkel, Wilkins, and Hunt were the type of players you want to be around for the long term. When you add the Howard and Baker cuts, we lost 6 former draft picks in one offseason. That isn’t what the elite franchises do!
Now the Dolphins have even more holes to fill than when they started free agency, and with limited cap room, it will be hard to upgrade the roster over last year. That doesn’t mean the Dolphins won’t try, because they have already begun trying to plug the holes with recent signings such as Linebacker Jordyn Brooks, Defensive End Shaq Barrett, and Center Aaron Brewer.
The best signing of this group on paper is LB Brooks from the Seattle Seahawks, who has been a tackling machine in his 4 years with over 100 plus tackles in each of his last 3 seasons. Brooks appears to have the potential to be an upgrade over Baker!
Barrett is a veteran edge player who is a former two-time pro bowler and led the league in 2019 with 19.5 sacks! However, in his last two seasons, he only had a total of 7.5 sacks and he’s almost 32 years old. I wouldn’t expect him to put up double-digit sacks, he’s at least a quality depth player who can also add veteran leadership.
Miami has started to sure up their offensive line
The Dolphins will likely end up moving off Center Connor Williams with the signing of Titans’ former Center Aaron Brewer. He was a left guard his first three seasons in the NFL, so there is a chance Miami puts him back at Guard. Last year when he was moved to center, he allowed 6 sacks which was second most among players at that position, and was called for 5 penalties in 17 games. Sorry to say it, but Brewer doesn’t appear to be an upgrade over Williams. However, the Dolphins have their eye on one of the top two rated centers in the draft, Christian Haynes and Jackson Power-Johnson. If they select one of those two, they could move Brewer back to guard or one of the draft picks to guard. There’s a bunch of options if they land Haynes or Power-Johnson.
The Dolphins still have plenty of work to do with a decent amount of ammo remaining to start making up for what they already lost in free agency and cuts. A little silver lining in losing Hunt, Wilkins, and Van Ginkel is Miami will get 1 or 2 compensatory picks in next year’s draft. Something is better than nothing, I guess.
What are the rest of the Miami Dolphins News fans’ thoughts about how the Dolphins have fared so far with the start of free agency?
I know this won’t be popular but if they want to shave their roster costs they should start with Tua. I am just not a believer. He started out being a soft touch getting hurt all the time. now he just isn’t a winner.
Hey, that’s your eval brother… I disagree… but time will tell. For me, I don’t know if he is THE guy… but, I know our OL year after year is 100% not. I beleive the offensive line makes the NFL world go around and even MArino struggled behind poor OLs between the loss of Dwight and the drafting of Webb and Simms and the lack of a runnning game was more driven by poor blocking than poor RBs…so, if a better QB like Marino couldn’t carry a team witha poor OL and just passing, how can Tua? Maybe he could get the benefit of a much better D than Marino had… but, Kelly beat him more often than not and he was the lesser QB, but had the far better team… Soa pop, maybe you are right… but, any QB would not be their best with big play but inconsistent run game and a poor blocking OL…maybe some would do better..
Jimmy,
Steve Fab again. Most all pundits are saying Dolphins will take a step back and not make the playoffs in 2024! Unfortunately, we got crushed defensively with injuries, largely due to Fangio’s unwillingness to insert younger/healthier players to try and spell the walking wounded veterans. Apparently, he was excessively tough in practices too, further adding to the injury bug. I thought it was great when the guy came to Miami. However, it looks like he may have done more harm than good. I live in Denver and Broncos players were all too happy when he was relieved of his HC duties. I think DT is big in either FA or the draft with Raekwon Davis leaving too! Your thoughts.
Hey, this is MJ. Not sure why your comments needed to be approved, Stephen? “apparently, he was excessively tough in practices too, further adding to the injury bug” I didn’t hear that… but, I’m sure he’s had the same protocols his whole career. We heard Flores was a bad guy not X has come out and said he was a players coach and great… so much stuff is propaganda… We improved in every catagory except run defense… and is wasn’t far off and we broke the sack record. So, I think it’s a load of BS… Even McD said neither he or Fangio expected it to be a one year thing… that’s odd no? Seems like something outside those two created something to fracture it. Weaver is the new genius and perfect guy… let’s see how it plays out. Sorry about the delay in approval… and answering your comment Hope all is well on your end, brother.
Ohhh, I’ve said for the last 3 seasons that Miami will go between 9-11 wins… I’m thinking that again.
Tough losses day 1, but as you said Jimmy, it was to be expected. Wilkins was a bit of a mystery to me. Team offered him last summer about $20 million. He rejected the offer. Excellent player but $27.5 million with the Raiders? The Raiders are no way near settled at the QB position, HC is raw and will definetly have a learningn curve to find out just were the bathrooms are! Then there is the division with Mahomes and Chiefs, Chargers wll certainly be better with Harbaugh and Justin Herbert. My point is that Wilkins was in the playoffs two years in a row, and nearly winning our division. I see the Raiders D getting better, but this team needs a good deal to compete and be a playoff caliber team. Wilkins needs to accept that he ain’t see the playoffs for at least two years or more. Finally, I see draft needs at this point: DT, Edge Rusher, OL-Guard or LT. What are your thoughts Jimmy & MJ?
I think the Raiders have Minshew now… and he can do some good things. I think we could have had wilkins for around 23 if we signed him in 2022. Still, we are paying Chubb around 24-25 per and he hasn’t been worth it. 20 mill was a joke… a low ball offer esp when you traded for Chubb and gave him 24 plus… I agree DT and IOL. JPJ and Sweat are my targets. I could see T if the right one falls… I’m hearing now they are looking at edge and WR! That would be crazy in my eyes… It will be very interesting to see what Grier does.