Dolphins should say “No” to Poe
There is no doubt that defensive tackle Dontari Poe would improve Miami’s run defense. That being said, the Dolphins need to use their remaining resources elsewhere.
Per a report by NFL.com’s Jason La Canfora, Miami is among the teams interested in Dontari Poe.
The Financial Side
While only NFL teams and Poe’s agent know what kind of contract he is seeking, I believe it’s safe to say that acquiring Poe will not come cheaply. With Miami already having a sizable chunk of their salary cap (30% per Spotrac.com) tied up in the defensive line, the Dolphins cannot afford to pay big money to another lineman.
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The Football Side
While nobody is doubting that Dontari Poe is an upgrade over Earl Mitchell, and even Jordan Phillips, he isn’t the player that he’s hyped up to be. He has name recognition based off his Pro Bowl 2013 & 2014 seasons. That player deserves big money in the free agency market.
The Dontari Poe teams are getting in 2017 is one that has seen his tackling numbers declined every year for the last four years and has not been a pass rushing presence in the past two years.
This drop in production might explain why he is still on the market after the first wave of free agency.
Conclusion
Am I saying that Miami, under no circumstances, should consider Dontari Poe? Of course not. If he wants to come in and play under a one-year “prove it” deal (i.e. 1yr/$6M-8M) like Andre Branch did last year, then Miami should definitely bring Poe in. Teaming him for one year with Suh, and giving Jordan Phillips or 2017 drafted rookie time to continue to mature, would be a big win for Miami.
However, if Miami is thinking of signing him to a big money contract (i.e. 4yrs/$52M) then Miami needs to continue with its current “long-term” approach and just “Say No to Poe”.