The Miami Dolphins continue to make offseason moves to give themselves the best chance of making a meaningful impact in the AFC in 2024.
Everything about the Dolphins was planned for his early December.
The team went 9-3 and looked poised to win the AFC East championship.
However, three losses in the final five games of the regular season ended Miami’s hopes of winning the division, resulting in a crushing road playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the bitterly cold Wild Card Game.
The worrying trend of Miami struggling against the league’s top teams continued throughout the season.
Nonetheless, the Miami Dolphins had the NFL’s top offense in yards per game, headed by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and coached by Mike McDaniel. With such a powerful attack, and assuming slightly better defensive injury luck than in 2023, this is a club that should continue to win many games. But the first thing Miami and general manager Chris Grier have to face this off season is what to do with Tagovailoa.
sign him to his first long-term extension or exercise his fifth-year option and figure out the rest later?
The Dolphins have already lost in free agency or cut for salary cap reasons a handful of established, impactful veterans this offseason.
It is impossible to overestimate the loss of Christian Wilkins, who has become as one of the NFL’s top defensive tackles. This past season, he recorded a career-high nine sacks and was rated as the second-best run defender by Pro Football Focus. That’s the reason the Raiders of Las Vegas agreed to offer him a four-year, $110 million contract; Miami lost out because Wilkins was allowed to go west. Robert Hunt, an offensive guard for the Panthers who makes a significant salary, was also lost by Miami. Having signed a two-year contract with the Vikings, Andrew Van Ginkel.
The team also let Center Connor Williams walk after reaching a reported three-year deal with Aaron Brewer.
Between the free agency of Williams and the loss of Hunt, the Miami Dolphins could be left with a bunch of holes up front on offense, though veteran lineman Terron Armstead is expected to return and they addressed center with their pending signing of Aaron Brewer.
It’s also obvious that the team needs a dependable tight end who can catch passes to relieve some of the strain on Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, the team’s receiving combination. A two-year agreement was agreed with TE Jonnu Smith. The decision to remove Pro Bowl wide receiver Xavien Howard by the organization also makes cornerback an immediate necessity. According to reports, Miami intends to bring Nik Needham back.
Not at this time. Miami is expected to be $3.4 million above the cap by Spotrac. Naturally, the organization may stretch its budget into next seasons by reorganizing high-paid players like Hill, Bradley Chubb, and Jalen Ramsey, but the circumstances may also have contributed to the team’s inability to prevail in a bidding battle for Wilkins.
Miami Dolphins Sign Giants Special Teams Star Cam Brown Who Could Have Upside At LB
Miami’s strategy is to fill in with at least competent professionals as stepping stones to future players with high ceilings and avoid overpaying, particularly at the defensive tackle and guard positions.
That is what teams are compelled to do by the NFL salary cap. In keeping with this strategy, the Miami Dolphins signed former New York Giants special teams star Cam Brown on Wednesday. Brown was selected as a linebacker out of Penn State but hasn’t yet lived up to his full potential outside of excelling on special teams.
Brown was a 2020 sixth-round pick of the Giants and he spent the last four years with the team. He only played 103 snaps on defense, but racked up 1,328 snaps on special teams and was one of the team’s captains.
Cam Brown recorded 35 tackles, two forced fumbles and three quarterback hits in his 60 regular season appearances with the team.
The organization also signed former Bills special teamer Siran Neal as a free agent this offseason and both players should have prominent roles in the kicking game if they make it to the 53-man roster for the Miami Dolphins.
