No, the Miami Dolphins should not look to sign Saquon Barkley

Let’s just get this right out of the way, if Saquon Barkley does end up getting signed by the Miami Dolphins, I will 100% eventually convince myself that Barkley was a missing piece and now the Dolphins have positioned themselves to take the AFC East and more. I’m a fan and I have conditioned myself to turn any move this team makes into a positive move no matter how bad deep down I disagree with it. But, I would rather the Dolphins not look to sign Saquon Barkley.

I love how Saquon Barkley came out this year and completely dominated and pretty much was the only guy on offense doing anything. Essentially, he was the Giant’s offense no matter how many are, weirdly, out there trying to convince me and you that Daniel Jones is a real difference maker. He isn’t and his whole game is predicated on QB rush yards. That’s not a sustainable business model.

Barkley looked like his old self even though I don’t think he’s as fast or explosive as he once was. Still, Saquon Barkley had 1,312 yards rushing, 10TDs, along with 338 yards receiving. That’s a very good year that warrants him getting paid excellent money. I just don’t want the Dolphins to be the ones paying that money.

I understand the cap is fake and all that. I realize that teams manipulate the cap to do pretty much whatever they want. They use the same move every time which is taking a player’s extra years and converting a portion of it to guaranteed money. So, when you start seeing teams signing players when you think they can’t that’s the Jordan fade-away jumper of a move that always works.

But eventually, just like Baron Mordo said in Doctor Strange, the bill comes due, always. Even when you keep converting salaries into guaranteed money, you eventually are going to run into having older players making tons of money thus leading you to inferior teams. Go look at the Rams and what they’re dealing with. Not saying I wouldn’t take a Super Bowl with all that wheeling and dealing but if you don’t win that Super Bowl, it really is going to leave a mark.

Here’s what the Dolphins’ cap situation currently sits at. I didn’t do the math, but many others have. The Miami Dolphin’s projected cap will be around $16M over the cap.

Even with the NFL season still going on, the rest of the league that’s not in the conference title games is in the baseball equivellant of “hot stove” time. With that being the reality we’re in, every free agent that’s worth a damn and even ones that aren’t are going to be pontificated on and put in a Dolphin’s jersey. I get it. It’s what we do.

Saquon Barkley is only the latest big-time free agent to be fitted for an aqua and orange jumpsuit. Trust me, he looks damn good in it.

But, I’d rather Miami, when they eventually get under the cap after cuts and restructuring, allocate that money in positions other than running back. I think by now we have enough evidence that paying high priced running backs, 5 years into their career is not an intelligent move regardless of how talented they are.

Yes, Christian McCaffrey is doing very well helping the 49ers continue on their quest to the Super Bowl. Let’s not lose sight of the fact the Panthers have already paid most of McCaffrey’s salary. That matters.

It has been reported that Saquon Barkley turned down a $12M per year contract from the Giants this past fall. That makes you think that he’s looking to get close to that McCaffrey contract.

But then he said this;

So is he looking to break the bank with a McCaffrey or is he being completley honest when he says he undersntands where he stands in the league based off his injuires the previosu few season?

I think the Dolphins are going to address the running back position this offseason. Whether it be in free agency, the draft or both, I wouldn’t expect it to be soley Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. in the backfield.

If the Dolphins can somehow get Saquon Barkley under contract with some kind of magical, not so detrimental to the cap deal, sign me up. I just think Saquon knows this is probably the only time he will ever have to cash in. If I’m him, I’m getting every last dollar possible. I just don’t want to be the Miami Dolphins. And if it ends up being the Miami Dolphins, I will be telling everyone that with Barkley on the team that Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle will be even more open than they were this season.

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