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Should Dolphins pursue Darren Sproles?

By Matthew Stevens

Jan 3, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants defensive back Trevin Wade (31) and free safety Landon Collins (21) tackle Philadelphia Eagles running back Darren Sproles (43) during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim O
Jan 3, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants defensive back Trevin Wade (31) and free safety Landon Collins (21) tackle Philadelphia Eagles running back Darren Sproles (43) during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim O /
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With a backfield consisting of mostly unproven players, should Miami inquire about the availability of the versatile Sproles?

Jay Ajayi, Kenyan Drake,Isiah Pead, Daniel Thomas, and Damien Williams. What do these names all have in common?  They have proven nothing at the NFL level.

Daniel Thomas has over three times as many attempts (409) as the rest of the backs combined (120).  However, his 3.6 career yards/carry and three starts in four seasons doesn’t speak highly of his NFL pedigree.

Sproles, on the other hand has averaged 5.0 YPC over his 11-year career.   At 5’6″ and 190lbs, he isn’t going to be your ‘workhorse back’ but HC Adam Gase believes more in a “running back by committee” approach anyways.

In addition to his prowess as a rusher, Sproles is widely considered a major threat as a receiving back.  He has 473 career receptions and has averaged nearly 9 yards per reception (8.8).  While Miami drafted Kenyan Drake in the 3rd round of this year’s draft, it wouldn’t hurt to have Sproles around for a year to teach Drake how to be a multi-dimensional back at the NFL level.

Finally, and possibly most important, Darren Sproles would give Miami, and Special Teams Coach Darren Rizzi, a proven commodity in the return game.  Miami drafted a few players with the ‘potential’ to handle return duties but nobody with the resume of Sproles.

While former HC Chip Kelly didn’t use much as a kick returner in Philly, Sproles has averaged 25.2 yards/return during his career and has averaged an incredible 9.4 yards/return on punts, with 7 TDs.

As for ‘drawbacks’ to acquiring Sproles?  He’s 32 yrs old, in the last year of his contract that carries a $3.5M cap figure, and would require giving up draft pick compensation to the Philadelphia Eagles to get him.

Is getting a proven, all-purpose back that can also take a major load off of Landry’s shoulders, by relieving him of his return duties, worth the price?  Alot depends on what Adam Gase thinks of the young players he has on the roster but it’s worth looking into.

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