The Miami Dolphins and Chris Grier still have work to do with the roster. They have added draft picks and undrafted free agents. Now, they need to hit the streets for veterans.
With the draft over and mini-camps ready to start ramping up soon, the Miami Dolphins should start "kicking the tires" on several free agents. We have discussed the potential interest of adding Dalton Risner to help with the guard depth, and now Odell Beckham Jr. has signed a one-year deal.
Other options would help the Dolphins in 2024. So, which available playmakers should Miami and the front office target? We've got five guys in mind:
4. WR Zay Jones
Zay Jones has played eight years in the NFL after being drafted in 2017 by the Buffalo Bills. The former second-round pick spent two seasons with the Bills before splitting his 2019 season with Buffalo and the Raiders. After 2.5 seasons with the Raiders, he spent the last two with the Jaguars.
Jones isn't going to break any records, and his best days are probably behind him, but he could find new life with the Dolphins and take over the slot receiver role while providing outside depth for Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. While Jones only posted 325 yards in nine games last year, he had 823 receptions the year before in 16 games.
Miami should be appealing to him if the Dolphins call. They are a short drive down I-95 and he would be joining a team that many believe will compete for the division and are ready to make a playoff run in 2024.
3. Safety Justin Simmons
Justin Simmons is still on the market, and most expected that he would be gone in the early days of free agency. Simmons reportedly wanted a big contract, but it didn't come. The draft allowed teams that needed help to address the position.
The Dolphins didn't really add to their roster. Patrick McMorris is the only defensive back that was added and he came on Day 3. Miami added a couple from the undrafted pool, but the two starters are Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer. Holland missed a lot of time last year banged up and the Dolphins could use a safety that can play as a 3-high safety and then take over for Holland if he gets hurt again.
There has been speculation that Miami may use Jalen Ramsey in more of a safety role in 2024. The thinking is Anthony Weaver would have his roaming safety on the field and then use Cam Smith or whoever wins the job opposite Kendall Fuller. It's risky if Weaver opts to go in this direction, but they would have to assume that Ramsey will be a full-time safety. Otherwise, they still need to add a quality player.
Simmons has spent his entire eight-year career in Denver, making the Pro Bowl twice, once in 2020 and the second in 2023. He would improve the Dolphins' defense immediately if Miami can agree to terms with him on a cheap contract.
2. TE Ross Dwelley
Mike McDaniel knows Ross Dwelley better than the Dolphins front office would, as they both lived in San Francisco together prior to McDaniel coming to Miami. Jon Embree also coached Dwelley in San Francisco.
The Dolphins signed Jonnu Smith during free agency and also added Jody Fortson, who could be an intriguing option. However, the roster is thin after the two of them and Durham Smythe. Miami has Tanner Conner and Julian Hill. Miami seems to be high on Hill's potential, but Dwelley adds six years of experience.
Dwelley has taken a backseat to George Kittle in recent years, which has limited his starts to just 17 of 84 games. He isn't a primary receiver, either, and most of his work comes in the trenches, which is something that McDaniel should love.
On the other hand, the fact that Miami hasn't touched on adding Dwelley could be a sign that McDaniel and Embree don't feel he will add more to the roster than what they have. If the contract is good for the Dolphins, though, they still bring him in for training camp to compete and be available should someone get injured.
1. CB Xavien Howard
If the Dolphins were to move Ramsey to safety, they would have a huge need for a cornerback. Cam Smith is not proven enough to start. His 2023 season may have been a result of Vic Fangio's attitude and disdain as much as Smith's immaturity, but Miami can't afford to not look into adding someone who can start should the plan evolve to Ramsey playing a safety role.
Xavien Howard said that he wouldn't return to the Dolphins, but he has yet to sign a contract with a new team, and interest around the league has been lukewarm. Howard still lives in South Florida, so that makes sense, and the Dolphins made a business decision.
Howard is an option only if he can put personal emotion aside and realize that he isn't going to break the bank anymore. The Dolphins are still paying him after they released him in early March. They will get $18 million from that post-June 1 designation. Could they bring him back? Sure.
He may be a better option than some of the players still available. Stephon Gilmore is riding his name far more than his current talent. Patrick Peterson has been around forever, and J.C. Jackson has bounced around far too much over the last couple of years.
Could another WR be added by the Dolphins this offseason?
Aside from the four players already mentioned, another wide receiver would make sense for the Dolphins. Right now, the WR market is pretty good. I will continue to pound my desk for Hunter Renfrow, who is known for his great hands.
Tyler Boyd would have been a great target for the front office, but he ended up signing with the Titans. If Miami wants to add a veteran before the summer gets here, we can't forget about Michael Thomas.
When Thomas hit the market, Hill took to social media, saying, "Come to Miami." Hill would clearly like to have Thomas as a teammate, and the Dolphins would have a savvy veteran who, while no longer the same player he once was, is still pretty good in the right system when used. A Dolphins move would make sense for him.