Phin Phanatic
FanSided

Miami Dolphins: 5 one-year contract players who won’t be back in 2022

By Brian Miller

CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 15: Will Fuller V #15 of the Houston Texans celebrates a touchdown reception by teammate Pharaoh Brown (not pictured) against the Cleveland Browns during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 15, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 15: Will Fuller V #15 of the Houston Texans celebrates a touchdown reception by teammate Pharaoh Brown (not pictured) against the Cleveland Browns during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 15, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Miami Dolphins have quite a few players on their roster that have one-year deals but with as much as $80 million potentially in cap space next season, the Dolphins are not bringing everyone back for the 2022 season.

While players like Emmanuel Ogbah, Jerome Baker, and Mike Gesicki all play out the final year of their current contracts, several players agreed to one-year deals and will not be back next season, or at least the betting odds are that they won’t be back.

The Dolphins seem to be focusing on drafting to build this team and supplement the roster with short-term players. This has been the case for the last two seasons under Brian Flores and Chris Grier. It’s a change from previous regimes. While it appears that the change is good, until the Dolphins can get into the postseason consistently, and eventually win games, it really is only a matter of what we look at on paper as being good or bad.

The Dolphins this year signed 23 players to one-year deals. These include some of their retained free agents as well as players that were not unrestricted who were re-signed or tendered. That being said, many players were added in free agency that was not on the team last year, and likely won’t be on the team next year. Here are five players that more than likely won’t be back.

Nov 26, 2020; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver Will Fuller (15) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2020; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver Will Fuller (15) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

Will Fuller was signed to a one-year $10.6 million contract. For all intent and purpose, his deal is 100% guaranteed. Fuller has a lot of speed and potential in this offense but the likelihood of the Dolphins keeping him beyond this year doesn’t really seem like much of a chance given the depth that the Dolphins have currently and will likely maintain on the practice squad.

Miami has a lot of money invested in the WR position. $44 million this year and $22 million next year.

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 03: Malcolm Brown #34 of the Los Angeles Rams reacts after his run for a first down during an 18-7 Rams win over the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium on January 03, 2021 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 03: Malcolm Brown #34 of the Los Angeles Rams reacts after his run for a first down during an 18-7 Rams win over the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium on January 03, 2021 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Malcolm Brown is a hard runner but the Dolphins don’t seem too devoted to keeping the position topped with blue-chip talent. Miami has passed on running backs the last two drafts and in free agency. Brown is an FA addition but he is hardly defining the unit, right now.

Brown could surprise this year but Miami still won’t likely extend him unless his fit within the offensive is really good. The Dolphins will still enter both the 2022 off-season and the draft season in need of a top running back.

The Dolphins have just over $7 million committed to the position this year. In 2022, that number drops to just over $3 million for the 2022 season.

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 22: Center Matt Skura #68 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on before playing against the Tennessee Titans at M&T Bank Stadium on November 22, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 22: Center Matt Skura #68 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on before playing against the Tennessee Titans at M&T Bank Stadium on November 22, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Matt Skura joins the Dolphins after a career with the Ravens. Miami wanted to keep Ted Karras after flirting with other centers but Karras didn’t want to wait and rejoined the Patriots. Now, the Dolphins will turn to Skura who struggled with his snaps last season. The Dolphins believe that the “hiccups” are over with Skura.

That being said, the Dolphins are waiting to see how Michael Dieter develops this year and if need be they will turn to the draft, something many thought would happen this year. Center, like RB, doesn’t seem to be a priority with the Dolphins as they have had three different centers the last three years.

Miami has invested $18.9 million on their offensive line this season. There is room for more money but Skura probably isn’t going to get it unless it is on another one-year deal.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JANUARY 10: Guard D.J. Fluker #70 of the Baltimore Ravens drops back to block during their AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on January 10, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Ravens defeated the Titans 20-13. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JANUARY 10: Guard D.J. Fluker #70 of the Baltimore Ravens drops back to block during their AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on January 10, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Ravens defeated the Titans 20-13. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

D.J. Fluker adds veteran depth to the offensive line but after seeing how the draft progressed, the trading up for Liam Eichenberg, it seems that the Dolphins may have added him as an insurance policy. Right now, Fluker doesn’t look to be part of the starting front line and if he sticks around as a depth player, there is nothing wrong with that. Fluker will make $1.075 million this year, that is not starter money, according to Spotrac.com.

The chances of Fluker sticking around through 2022, is a long shot. Making the 53 man roster in 2021 has to be the top priority because there is no guarantee that he will.

ORCHARD PARK, NY – NOVEMBER 24: Robert Foster #16 of the Buffalo Bills walks on the field during warm ups before the game against the Denver Broncos at New Era Field on November 24, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. Buffalo defeats Denver 20-3. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY – NOVEMBER 24: Robert Foster #16 of the Buffalo Bills walks on the field during warm ups before the game against the Denver Broncos at New Era Field on November 24, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. Buffalo defeats Denver 20-3. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

Robert Foster has speed and is a very good route runner. He has good hands as well but he lost his role on the Buffalo offense. The Dolphins see him as the potential 6th or maybe even 7th receiver on the roster, at least at this point.

There is no guarantee that Foster will make the team this year given how deep the unit is. He has only a $1.5 million contract and that isn’t going to guarantee him much.

Foster has to have a really good training camp and if he can make the roster, it will still be an uphill climb to get re-signed for the 2022 season.

If we are being honest with ourselves, the Dolphins signing any player to a one-year deal doesn’t typically mean that player is going to be back beyond that. This is similar to how the Patriots ran their rosters each off-season. So, we shouldn’t be surprised.

Home/Dolphins Roster