Five bold moves the Dolphins can make ahead of free agency

The Miami Dolphins are weeks away from the start of the NFL league new year. As March approaches the Dolphins will have a lot of internal work to do.

One of the biggest jobs the Dolphins will have will be to re-sign some of their own players, release some players, and then get ready to sign some players to finish the roster ahead of the draft in April.

The next three and a half weeks will be busy followed by an intense period of two months where the Dolphins scouts and executives will be thrust into the chaotic world of pre-draft preparations.

Miami has 21 impending free agents but not all of them are unrestricted. Most of this has been covered in previous articles regarding the free agency period so we won’t rehash it again here. What we will do is look at five bold moves that the Dolphins could and maybe should make prior to the start of the free agency period. They may not be the most popular.

A look below will show you the unrestricted group of free agents courtesy of Spotrac.

Most of the buzz seems centered on two players from this list. Defensive end Andre Branch and wide-receiver Kenny Stills. And this is a good place to start.

Kenny Stills

Miami has reported that they would like to keep Stills but the price has to be right. As the days pass and free agency creeps towards beginning, Stills’ rumored contract figures are climbing closer to $8 million per season. That is an increase of almost two million since the season ended.

Now of course rumors are just that and for now it’s hard to determine what the market will be for Stills. That will likely become more clear when the teams gather at this years NFL Combine in Indianapolis and Miami will get more information from his agent.

Miami should strongly consider not getting into a negotiation with Stills’ camp. The Dolphins can allow Stills to leave and spend that money on the other side of the ball where it’s needed far more. Stills had a very good season in 2017 but the Adam Gase offensive system should be able to absorb the nine touchdowns that Stills gave the team.

Stills has value to Miami especially given the rapport he has with Ryan Tannehill but how much of that value can Miami actually afford to pay? The Dolphins still have to look at Jarvis Landry’s contract as well and that could hinder any deep negotiations with Stills if indeed his price tag continues to rise.

Aug 19, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) catches a pass while defended by Miami Dolphins defensive back Byron Maxwell (41) in the first quarter at AT&T Stadium. Dallas won 41-14. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Byron Maxwell

As the season progressed, Maxwell got better but there is no question that continued penalties and his inconsistency hurt the Dolphins all season long. Maxwell will cost the Dolphins $8.5 million in cap space this year but his contract balloons to $10 million in 2018.

Releasing Maxwell will only save the Dolphins $5 million and carry $3 million in dead space but the problem is that Maxwell has as much chance to find himself riding the bench in 2017 as he does starting. Let’s not forget that Maxwell was benched in 2016 and only got the job back when Xavien Howard was injured.

The Dolphins need better play from the secondary and especially the corner positions. Maxwell is a big problem with that unit and it’s an area that the Dolphins need to upgrade. Releasing Maxwell is a bold move because the Dolphins do not have a replacement on the roster unless they view Tony Lippett as a real contender to start.

Miami should look at the draft for another corner on day three and free agency should also provide some options that are legitimately as good or possibly better than Maxwell while coming in close if not less than his current salary.

Nov 9, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Miami Dolphins tackle Branden Albert (71) against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Branden Albert

When healthy Branden Albert is about as good as it gets on the left outside of the offensive line. When not healthy Albert is a liability in both run blocking and pass protection. That is if he is on the field at all.

For the Dolphins, a legit left tackle is already on the roster and ready to slide outside. The Dolphins would save $7.2 million of Albert’s $10 million cap number if they release him and that is plenty enough to sign a top free agent guard to replace Tunsil on the inside.

It’s time for the Dolphins to address the line and let it build. When the line plays together Miami is very good but only six games in 2016 had all of it’s starters on the field and that includes the injuries to Albert, Tunsil, and Mike Pouncey.

The issue here however is that Albert is getting older (32) and already having back issues. The Dolphins can’t afford to rely on him for a full season anymore and if they can’t count on him then they need to let him go.

Save the money and move on.

Nov 13, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Miami Dolphins center Mike Pouncey (one from right? looks on from the bench during the fourth quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Pouncey

The hip injuries are becoming more and more frequent with Pouncey and if he continues to need surgery then he won’t be on the field for the Dolphins. Center is the most important piece on the offensive line and as witnessed last season you need someone who can be consistent calling the blocking assignments at the line.

Pouncey is just shy of $9 million for 2017 and while releasing him would save almost $4 million the Dolphins would carry $5 million in dead money. So, draft or sign a new starting center and move Pouncey to right guard.

Pouncey is more than capable of playing guard and if he can stay healthy then the Dolphins will have a very good one but if he can’t stay healthy they should find it much easier to find a suitable if not at the very least a serviceable replacement to back him up.

With Ja’Wuan James struggling on the right side, putting Pouncey next to him could help the right side a lot. Miami would obviously need to find a replacement at center but consider the future of Mike Pouncey as it stands now.

Pouncey is under contract through 2020 with his salary increasing to $9 million in 2018, $8 million in 2019, and $9 in 2020. This is the final year that Miami would take a negative hit by releasing him. The most Miami will carry in dead money after 2017 is $2.2 million in ’18. Why is this important? Because if Pouncey can’t stay healthy the Dolphins very well may just call it quits and move on after 2017.

If they can address the center position this off-season they will lessen any blow that they will take in the next few years by still employing him at guard where he should find it easier to stay healthy.

Dec 7, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins defensive end Dion Jordan (95) tries to block the punt of Baltimore Ravens punter Sam Koch (4) in the first quarter of the game at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports

For the Miami Dolphins 2017 should be the year to finally clear out the clutter that is hanging around its roster. Too much money is being spent on players that simply don’t put out the effort or have the talent to continue to take away a spot from someone who might be able to make an impact.

For starters I wouldn’t re-sign but one of the impending unrestricted free agents. While 13 players is a lot to replace none of them really are must keep players. For my money, I would re-sign John Denny and if the price and structure is team friendly I would keep Andre Branch and Dion Sims. Maybe Michael Thomas. The rest? No value.

However the Dolphins can’t just stop there. Coming off a 2016 season that saw the Dolphins make the post-season most of the players on the UFA list made little contribution to the team overall on a season whole. Either injured or playing in a depth role, the UFA list is not going to drum a lot of initial interest when the market opens.

Turning to the current roster is no less of a challenge. Some players are needed and may not be easily replaced but there are some who should be easily removed and replaced with no drop in production but in reality their replacements should be able to provide more.

Dion Jordan – Jordan has done nothing in Miami except take the teams money. Releasing him saves over $3 million

Earl Mitchell – Mitchell is average when on the field. At best. Releasing him saves $4 million.

Mario Williams – The Dolphins are rumored to already have decided to give Williams the boot. Savings of $8.5 million.

Koa Misi – His neck injury is bad and some say career ending bad. Why risk it? Savings of $4.2 million.

Reshad Jones – Jones is on the final year of his contract and wants to get paid sooner rather than later. Truth be told, he is going to be expensive to keep and Miami will need to make him one of the top paid safeties in the league. If his contract demands get too high, the Dolphins should consider trade offers.