Dolphins top 20 2016 moves: number 18
By Brian Miller
Today we continue Looking back at the 2016 off-season for the Miami Dolphins and the 20 moves that could impact not only the 2016 season but beyond.
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Number 18: Free agency downer
The Miami Dolphins entered the 2016 off-season on a free spending roll. In the previous four seasons the Dolphins were a very active free agent buyer and with Mike Tannenbaum clearly at the helm entering the 2016 season, it appeared that the Dolphins would again, hit the market running.
When free agency finally did arrive, there were virtual crickets. The bigger news was the fact that the Dolphins were not going to continue negotiations with Lamar Miller and the pulled tag from Olivier Vernon.
The Dolphins not only quietly went about their business but they didn’t really host anyone on the upper end of the market. With Vernon gone the Dolphins turned to troubled Mario Williams and evantually made a trade with the Eagles that turned out to be the big spending of the season.
Unlike previous years the Dolphins free agency period was tepid with the team hosting players who could compete rather than immediately start or play.
Through training camp the Dolphins lack of top pursuit has left questions at corner back where the team is struggling, linebacker, and running back where the tailbacks have each taken a turn on the injury list.
Whether this was the right move or the wrong move remains to be seen but in a way it’s nice to see the Dolphins pull back a little instead of giving up large contracts to players that don’t really fit a system. Even as camp arrived, the Dolphins opted to sign Danny Lansanah than the more well known Brandon Spikes.
How that helps or hurts the 2016 Dolphins will be known come January 2017 when talk about the next free agency begins among the fanbase.