What to do with Brian Hartline?
The Dolphins have to make quite a few difficult decisions this off-season regarding their players, and they must choose wisely, because unlike the last two years where the Phins were awash with money, the Dolphins need to have some financial wizardry to create some cap space to upgrade the talent at a few key positions. One of Miami’s areas of strength last season was the wide receiver position, however the phins will need to make a decision on three players at that position; Brian Hartline, Brandon Gibson and Mike Wallace. They all have high priced contracts going into next season, so most football gambling would say that probably one or two of them is not going to be a Dolphin next season.
Brian Hartline produced back to back 1,000 yard seasons in Tannehill’s first two seasons in the league. Hartline was Tannehill’s security blanket the first two years, and he always made the tough catch, and showed off his elusive speed after the catch. However, in Bill Lazor’s new offense this season, Tannehill spread the ball out a lot more, and Hartline was often a third or fourth option on passing plays. Hartline finished the season with only 39 catches for 474 yards and only 2 touchdowns. Definitely the biggest knock on Hartline is that he never really produced a lot of touchdowns.
Hartline is going to count 7.35 million against the cap next season, and to put it bluntly, a receiver that is a third or fourth option that only had 2 touchdowns and 39 receptions does not merit an expensive contract. There was a time when Hartline was the best receiver on the team, however the Dolphins have clearly upgraded their receiving core over the last couple of years, which is a good thing, but that also means that Hartline is definitely expendable. The Dolphins did a good job of drafting Landry last season, so they may decide to take a similar path and draft another young receiver early in this upcoming draft.
The bottom line is that unless Hartline takes a significant pay cut, then there is no reason to pay that kind of money to a receiver that can not be as productive in Miami’s new offense. The Dolphins need to replace Hartline with a cheaper option, but also an option that has a nose for the endzone. Miami is still missing that big bodied receiver that is a capable of getting open in the redzone.
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Hartline at that price? NFW. I like Gibson better. Fins need to find a redzone target in the draft, and trade picks for Wallace.
Get ride of all of them. Get a third round pick for Wallace, cut Hartline and Gibson. Pick up a WR in early round draft, and through free agency. As far as paying top dollar to pick up a top tier free agent WR. Use the money created through cuts and restructures and go and get Suh. Suh would change the face of our defense, pay what it takes, look how that mentality worked for Buffalo (M.Williams). Suh and Mitchell would be a great tandem for years and would change the dynamics of the entire team. At least try to land Suh, Detroit could match, but highly doubtful with the right deal.
Suh makes this defense top notch, despite Coyles short comings!!!
Well i would def get ride of Hartline and Gibson, but I would keep Wallace, 10 touchdowns is too much production to give up. Totally agree on Suh, that would practically fix the Dolphins run defense overnight, and he has a feisty attitude that will rub off and make the rest of the defense tougher.
I hate to see Hartline go, but I must agree. 7.35 million is a lot of $ with some real pressing other needs like MLB, OG, RB, CB, and maybe a safety. Take the money and use it to go after Demarius Thomas on Denver. Does this mean that Brandon Gibson would move outside instead of the slot? Do we now keep Gibson? The money needs to be spent on stopping the run and having a physical running game to compliment Lamar Miller. This team needs to stop the run and run the ball in the 4th quarter to really advance and be a solid playoff team. I agree that at tall physical WR like Thomas is needed.
Yes I agree I hate to see Hartline go, he was a great soldier this whole time, but like you said that money can be used to help fill other needs. We need to be better at stopping the run, so that money can be used to try to sign Suh. Would love to get Thomas but I am not sure if they are going to spend that kind of money on the receiver position in free-agency if there are more pressing needs
in my opinion hartline needs to go and they need to draft some one high. i like hatline but he really never scored touchdowns . time to let him go.
Yes Hartline was always lacking in the touchdown department. Can definitely find talent in the draft, and need to find a big-bodied redzone threat