Top NFL free agents may not be fits for Miami Dolphins but some are
By Brian Miller
The Miami Dolphins need to get some veteran help on both sides of the ball but the street free agents that are available, may not be fits, others might be.
Now that the NFL Draft is in the rearview mirror for the Miami Dolphins and on Tuesday signing free agents will not count against the compensatory pick formula, many of the remaining veteran free agents will finally find a team to train with, but not with Miami.
Many believe that the Dolphins will hit that market quickly to fill in their roster with cheaper veteran options and to fill holes on the roster. The problem is that what Brian Flores is trying to accomplish and Chris Grier is trying to build, may keep the Dolphins away from being as active as some might have you think.
Two of the top players that are left on the market make sense for the Dolphins based on their roster but make no sense based on the player.
Ndamukong Suh is still without a team after spending last year with the Rams. Suh did not have a great season until he ramped it up heading down the stretch and into the playoffs. That has led many to believe that Suh is phoning it in now. All about the money and he isn’t ashamed to admit it. If you are thinking that a Suh reunion in Miami might happen to pair with Christian Wilkins, don’t, while that bridge isn’t burned because Adam Gase isn’t here, the Dolphins are not going to want to pay Suh a one year salary in the neighborhood of $12 million.
Former Lions defensive end Ziggy Ansah makes a lot of sense given the fact Miami’s defensive end situation is horrible but the 30 year old DE can’t stay healthy and won’t be a bargain priced veteran. If the Dolphins could somehow convince him to play for a low salary there might be some reward to the risk but at this point, the Dolphins need to watch both their cap and get their youth valuable playing time.
Offensive tackle Donald Penn used to be elite but now he just thinks he is. At 35 Penn is no longer a viable option on an offensive line but he will not be a cheap option for a team looking to add another tackle. A bit too old, a bit too injured now, and a bit too expensive doesn’t make for a good fit in Miami.
One player to watch is former Green Bay Packer OLB Nick Perry. Perry is 29 years old so is right at the cut line but he is a familiar player to Dolphins defensive coordinator Patrick Graham who coached in Green Bay last year. Perry could add depth and may not be an expensive addition. Since joining the league as the 28th overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, , Perry has 32 sacks and 213 total tackles.
Another former first round pick, linebacker Shane Ray, is another option that still has youth on his side. At 25 years of age, the 2015 23rd overall pick is now a free agent. He has visited a couple of teams but likely won’t be added until teams can add players without comp pick consideration. He could be an option for Miami as a change of scenery is really need for Ray. He could be a low end low risk high reward type of player.
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Perhaps the biggest option may be former 2013 draft pick Jamie Collins. Collins was a very good linebacker in New England and was coached by Dolphins HC Brian Flores. Collins was traded to the Browns in 2016 for a conditional 3rd round pick but like most players heading to the Browns the last few years, he failed and was not part of the new rebuild. Collins knows the Dolphins defensive system from his time with New England so keep an eye on him. At 29 years of age and not likely an expensive option, Miami could find a veteran to help the youngsters on the roster.
Defensive tackle Danny Shelton could be a target for the Dolphins as well. After joining the Patriots after a stint with the Browns, Shelton is familiar with Brian Flores and the Patriots style of defense. He won’t be too expensive and will add another body to the defensive line rotation.
How active the Dolphins will be in the next round of free agency will depend on how they view their needs vs. the rebuild they are undergoing. If they believe that evaluating the youth is more important they won’t be all that active but if they believe that veterans can help that youth, Miami could add a few players for depth.