Miami Dolphins making right free agent moves by not making moves
By Brian Miller
The Miami Dolphins are losing far more free agents than they are signing as a new philosophy grips the organization from within.
The free spending days of Jeff Ireland and Mike Tannenbaum are over. At least for 2019. The Miami Dolphins are taking a different approach to free agency making the right moves by making no moves at all.
It has not quite been a week into free agency yet and the Dolphins have signed two players. Both former Patriots. Tight-end Dwayne Allen and CB Eric Rowe. Both contracts are minimal. Allen’s deal is two years for $6.5 million max with no guaranteed money in 2020. Rowe’s deal is one year for $3.5 million. (Miami also added TE Clive Wolford formerly of the Jets for one year).
Miami has watched Trey Flowers break the bank as he signed with the Lions and smartly stayed out of it. Ja’Wuan James signed with the Broncos and became the highest paid right tackle in the league on a four year $51 million deal.
Cameron Wake left for Tennessee on a 3 year $23 million contract. Also gone is Danny Amendola who went to Detroit, Brandon Boldin who went back to New England, Frank Gore left for Buffalo, and Ted Larsen heads to Chicago.
The Dolphins released Josh Sitton, Andre Branch, and have allowed William Hayes and Stephone Anthony to hit free agency. The team is trying to get younger and as “re-build” gets thrown around so much, no one is certain where they will fill their roster for 2019 but it will include the draft as they prepare for the long-term viability of the franchise instead of the immediate future.
Miami has the right players in place for a franchise changing beginning. Not on the field but in their coaching staff and front office. Grier for the first time is running the show. Chad O’Shea is a first time OC, Patrick Graham a first time DC, Brian Flores a first time HC.
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They are all learning the ropes together with a team they will hand pick and coach with similar vision for the future and they all have one thing in common. They have time.
By not getting into the mix for free agent names and big contracts the Dolphins are keeping it simple and keeping it smart. They are trusting their process and whether or not that works out three, four, or five years from now isn’t clear but it is an intelligent move to sit on their hands instead of giving in to the temptations of a brand name.