Many prospects finished up at the NFL Combine, and with free agency on the horizon, the Miami Dolphins have their work cut out for them to help build up the team.
While the Dolphins were sixth in the NFL in rushing yards with 2,308 and first in rushing touchdowns (27), Pro Football Network’s own Adam H. Beasley hypothesized that the team could make a run at a premier free agent running back.
Miami Dolphins News Today
News broke that the New York Giants would not place the franchise tag on Saquon Barkley. Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard, and Austin Ekeler are among the other running backs who will become free agents this offseason.
With four of the five (excluding Ekeler), earning over $10 million last season, Beasley hypothesized that they could earn less this upcoming season.
“And considering the Dolphins inquired about many, if not all of them last year, it would make sense that they would do so again now that the price tag should be significantly lower,” Beasley wrote.
“First off, Miami wouldn’t need to surrender any trade compensation this time around. All are free agents, meaning the only cost to add would be whatever salary and bonuses upon which the two sides agree.”
Barkley had a down season in terms of yards per attempt at a 3.9 mark. He had 247 attempts for 962 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
What’s Next for Miami Dolphins After Declining To Tag Christian Wilkins?
With the deadline passing on Tuesday at 4 p.m., the Dolphins officially declined to give defensive lineman Christian Wilkins the franchise tag.
Wilkins had 65 tackles (27 solo), nine sacks, two pass deflections, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries in 2023. While he’s clearly valuable to the Dolphins, he’s also set to potentially command $20.2 million per season, per Spotrac.
Per Over the Cap, the Dolphins have the third-lowest cap space in the NFL, with $18,827,846 remaining for free agents. If Miami were to bring Wilkins back, some money would have to be moved around to facilitate the move.
With general manager Chris Grier looking to build the team through the upcoming draft, it wouldn’t come as a total shock if Wilkins suited up elsewhere.
“Not including Xavien Howard, who will be a post-June 1 cut once the league’s new year begins next week, they have five players with cap figures over $20 million (Tyreek Hill, Jalen Ramsey, Bradley Chubb, Tua Tagovailoa, and Terron Armstead),” Beasley wrote.
“And they rolled over just $1.7 million from 2023, with $16.8 million in dead cap charges.
“Put another way: They spent too much last year and are on track to spend too much this year.”
Miami Dolphins’ Purge on Defense Continues With Jerome Baker Release
Speaking of potential cuts for the Dolphins, the team cut linebacker Jerome Baker on Tuesday, saving Miami $9.8 million in cap space.
The 27-year-old Baker could return to the Dolphins, but in the event that he doesn’t, Miami would lose a lot of production at the position. Baker has 587 tackles (205 solo), 31 tackles for loss, 22.5 sacks, 46 quarterback hits, six forced fumbles, five interceptions, and two defensive touchdowns in six seasons.
Miami just recently cut defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah and has a post-June 1 designation to cut Howard.
NFL Insider Has Dolphins Going OL in the First Round of Latest Mock Draft
NFL Insider Adam Caplan believes that the Dolphins will draft an offensive lineman with their first-round selection. At No. 21 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, Caplan has the Dolphins selecting OT Jordan Morgan out of Arizona.
Morgan, 6’5″, 325 pounds, started 41 games for the Wildcats over the course of five seasons in the program. He started all 12 games in 2023 and was named first-team All-Pac-12.
With the potential retirement of left tackle Terron Armstead, who is 33 years old, it would make sense for Miami to draft his replacement.
Miami Dolphins in Contract Talks With TE Jonnu Smith
The Dolphins are also reportedly in contact with tight end Jonnu Smith. With the Atlanta Falcons cutting the veteran tight end recently, he’s free to sign with any team before next week’s start of the league year.
Smith had 50 catches for 582 yards and three touchdowns for Atlanta.
KEEP READING: How the Franchise Tag Rules Worked Against the Miami Dolphins in 2024
Miami only has two tight ends under contract. Durham Smythe had 35 catches for 366 yards and no touchdowns in 2023, and Julian Hill had six receptions for 48 yards with zero scores.
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