Dolphins players can negotiate with new teams today

The Miami Dolphins have held exclusive negotiating rights with their free agents up until today. At noon, the NFL will allow teams and impending free agents to begin talking about contracts.

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Since the league implemented the “two-day” tampering window, teams were allowed to speak with a players agent about that players interest, but not about contract details. This year the NFL is allowing teams to talk contracts but they can not sign any deals until the start of the league new year which will occur at 4:00 eastern time on Wednesday.

For several Dolphins players, it’s the first time officially, they will be allowed to explore their market value.

Lamar Miller will be a hot name, potentially in Dallas who many believe are in the market for a running back. Dallas lost DeMarco Murray in free agency last year declining to pay him $5 million per year. That is reportedly the starting point for Miller in 2016.

Olivier Vernon will receive a lot of interest in a weak defensive end market. Miami’s failure to use the franchise tag on Vernon allows any other team to sign Vernon to a new deal with no compensation to the Dolphins. Miami would have five days to match that offer or lose him.

Rishard Matthews is coming off his best year as a pro mainly because he was finally given a chance to prove that he could play. While Matthews isn’t going to be a day one signing he will receive plenty of interest around the league. Miami had spoken to him about a return and it’s not unreasonable that Matthews brings a contract offer back to the Dolphins to match. He should receive and offer in the $5 million per year range.

Derrick Shelby won’t be a hot name initially and he would like to go to a team where he can compete to start. Miami has not expressed a lot of interest in bringing him back but the market could give Miami an opportunity and Shelby may opt to stay where he is if the interest is less than he expects.

The other Dolphins free agents won’t likely draw much initial interest in the market and the Dolphins haven’t shown much interest in their return.