The Miami Dolphins did an excellent job of accounting for future needs in last weekend’s NFL Draft. But it’s reasonable to wonder how much the seven players they drafted (and the dozen or so UDFAs they signed) can help them in 2024.
That’s why, beginning late Monday afternoon, we expect Miami to again address deficiencies with veteran free agents — particularly in the trenches.
Will Miami Dolphins Sign Free Agents?
Why is Monday important? Because after 4 p.m., any free agent the Dolphins add will not count against the team’s compensatory pick formula. The NFL is projected to award Miami two third-rounders in 2025 — one each for Christian Wilkins and Robert Hunt.
“We always look at opportunities and work through it,” Dolphins GM Chris Grier said Saturday.
“We’re always looking to add to the roster and have the most competitive roster we can to make the team better, as we’ve always talked, competition is what breeds excellence. For us, we’ll keep looking like we’ve said post-draft like we’ve done here in the past. We’ll keep looking and talking to people and see what happens.”
Mike McDaniel was even less opaque when PFN asked him and Grier about revisiting free agency now that the draft is over.
“It’s like, ‘Check my track record,'” McDaniel said, speaking for Grier.
Certainly, they’ll have to be strategic, given their finances.
Per the NFLPA’s salary cap database, Miami has just $3.8 million in available cap space, and that doesn’t account for the $8 million or so in total rookie contracts that still need to be negotiated.
But Grier will operate with the knowledge that after June 1, Xavien Howard’s contract comes off the books, which will free up another $18.5 million in usable cash.
Plus, the Dolphins could create even more space, if needed, by adjusting Tyreek Hill’s contract. His current cap charge — $31.3 million — is the second-highest of any non-quarterback in the NFL in 2024.
And now that the draft is over, conversations between the Dolphins and Tua Tagovailoa’s agent, Ryan Williams, about an extension should heat back up. A long-term deal would also likely bring down Tua’s 2024 cap figure (currently $23.2 million), although probably not significantly.
Dolphins Needs
Entering the draft, the Dolphins knew they had to address offensive tackle and EDGE defender in the long term and wide receiver, safety, and guard in the short term.
They checked four out of five boxes, taking two EDGEs (Penn State’s Chop Robinson and Colorado State’s Mohamed Kamara), two wide receivers (Virginia’s Malik Washington and USC’s Tahj Washington), an offensive tackle (Houston’s Patrick Paul), and a safety (San Diego State’s Patrick McMorris).
KEEP READING: Dolphins 2024 NFL Draft Recap
So that leaves interior offensive line as the No. 1 remaining need, but don’t count out Grier signing a receiver, a defensive lineman, and/or a safety as well.
Here are the top remaining options for those three positions.
Potential Dolphins Targets
Guards
- Mark Glowinski
- Phil Haynes
- Tyre Phillips
- Justin Pugh
- Dalton Risner
- Greg Van Roten
- Trai Turner
- Halapoulivaati Vaitai
Defensive Linemen
- Tyson Alualu
- Calais Campbell
- Lawrence Guy
- Linval Joseph
- Bryan Mone
- Mike Purcell
- Hassaan Ridgeway
- Al Woods
Safeties
- Jamal Adams
- Quandre Diggs
- Micah Hyde
- Eddie Jackson
- Jayron Kearse
- Marcus Maye
- Justin Simmons
- Tracy Walker
Wide Receivers
- Tyler Boyd
- Odell Beckham Jr.
- Michael Gallup
- Mecole Hardman
- Hunter Renfrow
- Michael Thomas
- Marquez Valdes-Scantling