Miami Dolphins free agent history
By Brian Miller
The 2013 – 2014 transition was not what the Dolphins had hoped for. Internal strife and tension had grown throughout the 2013 season leading to a rift between executive Dawn Aponte and Jeff Ireland. Joe Philbin took up sides with Aponte and Ireland was released of his contract. Joe Philbin was forced by Stephen Ross to fire offensive coordinator and long time mentor Mike Sherman.
The Dolphins search for a general manager was at best comical. It was widely reported that at least four candidates had turned the job down. After two weeks of searching the Dolphins hired Dennis Hickey to run the teams front office. Hickey had no experience at this level but had served with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for over a decade climbing his way up the ladder. Much the same way today’s Dolphins’ GM Chris Grier did.
2014
Hickey began his off-season signing left tackle Branden Albert to a big contract. Joe Philbin had wanted Jeff Ireland to trade for Albert a year earlier but Ireland refused to meet the draft pick compensation of the Chiefs. Albert would spend most of the 2013 season injured. In addition to Albert, Hickey brought in tackle Jason Fox, defensive tackle Earl Mitchell, running back Knowshon Moreno, guard Shelley Smith, and wide-receiver Damian Williams.
Moreno would be injured in week two and return a few weeks later only to get injured again and miss the season. Earl Mitchell’s career in Miami has been extremely inconsistent, and Jason Fox was the worst rated tackle on the Dolphins roster in 2014.
Miami would lose Nolan Carroll, Chris Clemons, John Jerry, Chris Owens, Paul Soliai, and Austin Spitler to free agency. The team would also depart with Jonathan Martin who had walked out on the team in 2013. Trading him at the start of the 2014 free agency period.
2015
Miami felt that they were close to making a return to prominence. Joe Philbin who’s 2013 season was borderline disastrous was given another year to turn the team around. Miami entered the off-season with several needs and made the largest offer to a defensive lineman in NFL history, signing Ndamukong Suh days after the free agency period opened. With a $104 million dollar contract in hand, Miami made the biggest splash of the off-season. But Suh wasn’t the only player they signed.
Hickey, now under the watchful eye of football czar Mike Tannenbaum started the new year by trading Mike Wallace after two seasons to the Vikings for a 5th round pick.
The Dolphins added top tight end Jordan Cameron, veteran corner Zach Bowman, C.J. Mosley, Spencer Paysinger, Jacques McClendon, and Jeff Linkenbach. Linkenbach would have no impact, Paysinger was unable to crack the starting lineup even with injuries and poor play at the linebacker position, Bowman would be released midway through the season, Mosley was ineffective, and McClendon was signed, cut, re-signed, and cut again.
The biggest disappointment was the signing of Jordan Cameron. Despite the athleticism and history with the Browns, the Dolphins couldn’t figure out how to use their tight end and Cameron’s season was extremely disappointing.
Following a 1-3 start, Ndamukong Suh began complaining of the defensive system and after Joe Philbin was fired after week five, Kevin Coyle was released a few days later. The play of the defense slowly improved but too many issues remained on both sides of the ball.
Miami lost Charles Clay, Jason Trusnik, Jimmy Wilson, Daniel Thomas, and Jared Odrick to free agency.
Looking back
Over the last ten years the Dolphins have made poor free agent decisions and have overspent on players who had one solid season on their resume. The Dolphins failures are highlighted by poor coaching, poor draft picks, and an inability to develop young players. All of which add up to free agent additions that have not panned out.
The 2016 off-season finds the Dolphins with some money to spend and a lot of holes to fill. The importance of finding scheme fits is high for new head coach Adam Gase and his relatively inexperienced staff consisting of first time coaches at key positions. Gase will need to work closely with Chris Grier and Mike Tannenbaum to fit new pieces into the teams dynamic. If they can’t fit those pieces, the Dolphins will be struggling once again.