Miami Dolphins tender four ERFA ahead of free agency

The Miami Dolphins are starting to make their pre-free agency roster moves as they tender four exclusive rights free agents.

With a week to go before the start of free agency and many lingering questions, the Miami Dolphins have started working towards their 2019 team by tendering for unrestricted free agents. Most of whom play on the offensive line.

Zach Sterup, Jesse Davis, Isaac Asiata, and defensive end Jonathan Woodard. The moves make a lot of sense as all four were exclusive rights free agents meaning only the Dolphins could negotiate with them. Davis is especially important having started much of last season at guard.

Sterup provides depth and could see an uptick in performance with a new coaching staff and a stellar offensive line coach in Pat Flaherty. He has yet to reach his potential and has quality talent that needs to be molded. The same can be said about Davis as well.

The tender to Asiata is interesting because he has not made an impression on the field spending most of his time with the Dolphins on the inactive roster. Perhaps with a new group of coaches he can realize the potential that the Dolphins saw in him when they drafted him.

Woodard is also an important signing given the likely depth concerns at the position. Cam Wake, Robert Quinn, Andre Branch, and impending free agent William Hayes could all be out of Miami by next week so keeping some quality youth at the position makes a lot of sense.

These four represented all of the Dolphins ERFA players. They now have three restricted free agents on their roster that they will need to make decisions on. Linebacker Mike Hull, WR Leonte Carroo, and center Jake Brendel.

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All three are likely to remain with the Dolphins in 2019 as Brendel is a versatile back-up on the offensive line and Mike Hull can make an impact on special teams. Leonte Carroo has been the subject of fans displeasure since being drafted but in late 2018 he was forced into the lineup after injuries decimated the receiving group. He played well enough to show that there is potential in him. The Dolphins could make several moves at wide-receiver next week that may include both Danny Amendola and DeVante Parker seeing their time in Miami end.

Free agency begins next Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. eastern time but there is a three-day legal tampering period that will begin on Sunday. Expect more moves by the Dolphins in the coming days.