Dolphins offseason: 5 free agents pricing themselves out of Miami

The Miami Dolphins have a bunch of needs as they inch towards free agency and a few players that they were initially rumored to have interest in are all but pricing themselves out of the Dolphins plans.

More from Dolphins News

• Tua Tagovailoa practicing with teammates is everything a leader does
• 4 offensive tackles Miami Dolphins could draft at 51
• Miami Dolphins don’t need CB help but these 5 could be available at 51
• 4 players that could replace Wilkins if Miami Dolphins don’t re-sign him
• Miami Dolphins have a starting point with Wilkins after Simmons deal

Miami wants to spend their available cap cash and carried over $9 million unused cap into this year to give them more spending room. But having a larger check book this season doesn’t mean they can spend foolishly. Nor should they. Over the next three seasons, Ndamukong Suh, Brandon Albert, Mike Pouncey, and Ryan Tannehill are the top players that will account for over $40 million of yearly cap space so adding another high-priced veteran isn’t going to work.

Kelechi Osemele

The Dolphins have been a top rumored landing spot for this Ravens guard but as free agency approaches Osemele is starting to get aggressive offers to stay with the Ravens. That does not mean that he will stay but it’s being reported that Osemele is looking at the possibility of $8 million per season and that is a lot of money for a guard. Mike Pouncey makes around $10 million and Branden Albert is making $10 million adding another offensive lineman pushing the $8 million mark my not be something Miami can afford.

Von Miller

There were early rumors that Miller would indeed be a target of the Dolphins this off-season but his stratospheric Super Bowl has all but eliminated that possibility officially. It’s now being reported by many in the media that Miller is looking for a deal that starts where Ndamukong Suh’s left off. Miller expects and will likely be the highest paid defensive player in the NFL and frankly, Miami can’t come anywhere to touching that.

Reggie Nelson

The Dolphins are expected to pursue Nelson this off-season. Vance Joseph is very familiar with the Bengals safety because he coached him while serving as the secondary coach with the Bengals. Nelson is likely to sign a contract somewhere in the $4.5 to $5 million per season range and while the low end is affordable, it’s looking more than likely it will be at the higher end. Nelson is currently saying he wants to stay with the Bengals and if the two sides begin to work out a new deal, it will either eliminate Nelson from free agency or potentially drive up the price.

Olivier Vernon

Yes, the Dolphins have the first shot at retaining the defensive end but Vernon’s name is very popular right now and he has to be thinking that if he hits free agency, Miami’s pre-free agency offer, if they make one, will not come close. Vernon was expected to pull in around $9 to $10 million a season and the franchise tag for his position is set at $15 million. His current market value is around $9.5 but this is a very weak free agent defensive end class this year and if there is any type of bidding, Vernon’s number will surely go over the $10 million mark per season and frankly, he isn’t worth that amount and Miami shouldn’t pay that amount.

Danny Travathan

Another Denver Bronco impending free agent is starting to see his name mentioned more and more often. While not considered at the top of the free agent class list this year, he is a high 2nd tier linebacker or at worse a bottome tier one. Travathan is expected to make around $6 million per season after a very solid 2015. If Miami has interest in the linebacker they should target him early. After the top three or four linebackers are gone, the market value will be reset and Travathan who sits atop the 2nd tier list will see his value rise.