MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Here is the (incomplete) list of Miami Dolphins defensive players you definitely can expect back in 2024:
Zach Sieler, Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb, David Long, Jevon Holland, and Jalen Ramsey.
Will Miami Dolphins Move On From Xavien Howard, Jerome Baker?
Why can we say that? Because those are the players new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver mentioned during his introductory news conference when asked to name the players or units that he’s most excited about inheriting.
Notable names Weaver did not drop?
Linebacker Jerome Baker and cornerback Xavien Howard — who are both under contract but also at risk of being cut this offseason.
“On every level of defense, there’s somebody that you get excited about watching,” Weaver said. “I know guys I failed to mention that. I apologize to them. But the opportunity to come here obviously with a team that’s had the success they had, shoot, how do you pass on that?
“Mike [McDaniel] and that offense are gonna put up points, right? That’s definitely gonna happen. It’s our job to make sure that we give up less points to the other team. We plan on doing that every time you get out there.”
Baker has a $14.9 million cap charge in 2024, but the Dolphins can shed two-thirds of that obligation by cutting him next month.
Howard, meanwhile, has a whopping $25.9 million cap charge this year, and unless he agrees to a pay cut — which seems unlikely, based on his comments last month — he very well could be a post-June 1 cut.
The 2024 cap savings in such a scenario? $14.5 million.
While Weaver omitted those players who are under contract, he did unprompted bring up an interesting name who is not:
Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, who — short of a contract extension or a franchise tag in the coming weeks — is a month away from free agency.
We’ve speculated in recent days that due to the Dolphins’ cap situation — they’re $50 million-plus in the red — Chris Grier might elect to tag and trade Wilkins. The franchise tag figure for defensive tackles in 2024 is roughly $20 million.
And yet, Weaver included him in the list of players he’s excited to coach. Could that signal a long-term deal is close? Or that the Dolphins will find a way to keep Wilkins under the tag?
MORE: PFN Top 100 Free Agents — Which Dolphins Made the 2024 List?
“I love coaching good players, and obviously he is one of them,” Weaver said. “So I have a tremendous amount of respect for him — know that he’s positioned himself obviously for a huge payday, and as an ex-player, I completely understand the business of the league.
“So love Christian — I would love to have him, but man, we’ll see.”
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