Two names Dolphins should be interested in

The Miami Dolphins are closing in on the start of the 2016 NFL league year. March 9th kicks-off the season when free agency begins and the Dolphins are expected to be active once again.

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The last four seasons the Dolphins have been one of the more active teams in free agency and while 2016 will be no different it should be considerably less substantial in terms of the high-end product they bring in. There will be no Ndamukong Suh types for the Dolphins this off-season, they simply don’t have the cap space in place to allow for it. And that’s a good thing. That doesn’t mean they won’t have money to spend however.

Two players who will definitely hit the open market because they have already been released are two players that could upgrade two important positions on their defense. James Laurinaitis and former Dolphins Paul Soliai.

Soliai is getting his walking papers from Atlanta because he will not take a pay cut over his $5 million salary due in 2016. He would be a potential addition for the Dolphins. Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald believes there will be mutual interest in his return.

Laurinaitis on the other hand is a very productive linebacker who was surprisingly released by the Los Angels Rams late last week. Laurinitis is still playing at a high level and recorded over 100 tackles last season. The Dolphins have a huge need at middle linebacker and the former Ohio State Buckeye would solve their middle linebacker woes.

Laurinaitis is going to be expensive but how expensive isn’t really known. He does climb into the top five linebacker free agents however. Soliai on the other hand will likely receive a deal that could max out at $5 million with incentives. Paring the defensive lineman with Ndamukong Suh would make the defensive line better and Miami could afford to move Earl Mitchell to a back-up role or even release him all together.

Another name that could surface is Randy Starks. The former Dolphins defensive tackle who left last off-season was released by the Cleveland Browns. Starks is not the same player he was but he is better than the back-ups Miami has on the defensive line.

Laurinaitis and Soliai are intersting options because they both would be day one starters and significantly improve the play at their positions filliing needs that the Dolphins have. It’s something to keep an eye on as the start of free agency gets closer.