Miami Dolphins: Updated Free Agency Plan

About a month ago, I wrote "Plan for Miami Dolphins' $60 Million Shopping Spree." 

In my plan, the Miami Dolphins would re-sign Jake Long, Sean Smith, Randy Starks, and Brian Hartline while adding Mike Wallace, Jared Cook, and Chris Houston.  The 2013 draft class would then complement a team with no glaring holes.

Well, there is plenty of new information regarding free agents and, with a little more than a month before teams can sign these players, I will update my plan for the Miami Dolphins.

The Initial Plan

Taking the numbers provided by the Palm Beach Post's Ben Volin and making my suggested personnel moves, here is what we had:

	PLAYER	POSITION	2013 Cap Hit
1	Karlos Dansby	LB	8575000
2	Paul Soliai	DT	7375000
3	Richard Marshall	CB	5766667
4	Kevin Burnett	LB	5700000
5	Richie Incognito	G	5383333
6	Cameron Wake	DE/LB	5015000
7	Davone Bess	WR	3433333
8	Dan Carpenter	K	3012500
9	Ryan Tannehill	QB	2879205
10	Mike Pouncey	C	2525371
11	Jared Odrick	DE	1939868
12	Koa Misi	LB	1131905
13	Brandon Fields	P	1645000
14	Jonathan Martin	OT	1087333
15	John Denney	LS	1013750
16	Jason Trusnik	LB	931666
17	Daniel Thomas	RB	882652
18	John Jerry	G	789625
19	Olivier Vernon	DE	669520
20	Michael Egnew	TE	652239
21	Nolan Carroll	CB	622939
22	Reshad Jones	S	615075
23	Lamar Miller	RB	601500
24	Charles Clay	TE	583000
25	Jimmy Wilson	CB/S	566475
26	Kheeston Randall	DT	495612
27	Rishard Matthews	WR	493403
28	Marcus Thigpen	RB/WR	482500
29	Jorvorskie Lane	FB	480000
30	2013 First Rounder		2000000
31	2013 Second Rounder		1000000
32	2013 Second Rounder		1000000
33	2013 Third Rounder		700000
34	2013 Third Rounder		700000
35	2013 Fourth Rounder		500000
36	Mike Wallace	WR	11000000
37	Brian Hartline	WR	7000000
38	Randy Starks	DT	6000000
39	Jared Cook	TE	4000000
40	Sean Smith	CB	7000000
41	Chris Houston	CB	7000000
42	Jake Long	LT	7000000
43	Rookie		405000
44	Rookie		405000
45	Rookie		405000
46	Rookie		405000
47	Rookie		405000
48	Rookie		405000
49	Rookie		405000
50	Rookie		405000
51	Rookie		405000
		TOTAL	123894471
		PLUS DEAD $	125490339
		2013 NFL Cap	127000000
		Space Available	1509661

According to Volin, each NFL team's offseason salary cap number is the top 51 contracts.

Miami will be carrying over $6 million from 2012.

All rookie contracts have been conservatively estimated.  Fifth-rounders and players drafted afterward will be earning minimum salaries.

Many players with option contracts such as Dimitri Patterson, whose release does not create dead money, have been cut.

Reshad Jones and John Jerry Will Receive Raises

According to Rotoworld, both Reshad Jones and John Jerry will see their base salaries climb from $575,000 to $1,323,000 after hitting rookie contract escalators.

While this means that both players were productive in 2012, it will eat up an extra $1.5 million in cap space.

Greg Jennings Coming into Focus

We already know about the tweets from Greg Jennings' sister, urging the Dolphins to sign her brother.

Now, Jennings is selling his Green Bay home.

The connection with Miami head coach, Joe Philbin, is obvious just as Miami's need for a No. 1 receiver.

One of the main criticisms of my original plan was that Mike Wallace does not fit in Miami like Jennings would.  The argument was that Jennings already knows the system, is more of a team player, and is more well-rounded.

He would also be cheaper. 

Ok, Miami signs Greg Jennings instead of Mike Wallace for three years, $27 million.  This will save the Dolphins $2 million in 2013.

Brian Hartline Will Be Cheaper Than Anticipated

One of Brian Hartline's friends told the Miami Herald that Hartline was seeking $6 million a year.

I had conservatively estimated a $7 million a year contract for Hartline in my previous plan.  This saves Miami $1 million in 2013.

Hartline is a good young receiver and the Dolphins will not let him go.

Brent Grimes

ESPN's Adam Shefter reported that Brent Grimes may be seeking a one-year deal to prove he is healthy.  Apparently, Grimes is not expecting to receive a mega contract because of the achilles tear he suffered early in the 2012 season.

This sounds like a deal for Jeff Ireland.

A gamble worth $4 million guaranteed in 2013 may be enough.  In the new plan, the Dolphins sign Grimes instead of Chris Houston, saving Miami $3 million in 2013.

Welcome Back, Reggie Bush

With the money saved, the Dolphins bring back team leader and playmaker, Reggie Bush. 

While he intends to test the market, according to the Miami Herald, a third year in his new contract keeps him in Miami.

Bush signs a three year deal worth $4 million a year.

Here Is What We Have

	PLAYER	POSITION	2013 Cap Hit
1	Karlos Dansby	LB	8575000
2	Paul Soliai	DT	7375000
3	Richard Marshall	CB	5766667
4	Kevin Burnett	LB	5700000
5	Richie Incognito	G	5383333
6	Cameron Wake	DE/LB	5015000
7	Davone Bess	WR	3433333
8	Dan Carpenter	K	3012500
9	Ryan Tannehill	QB	2879205
10	Mike Pouncey	C	2525371
11	Jared Odrick	DE	1939868
12	Brandon Fields	P	1645000
13	John Jerry	G	1537625
14	Reshad Jones	S	1363075
15	Koa Misi	LB	1131905
16	Jonathan Martin	OT	1087333
17	John Denney	LS	1013750
18	Jason Trusnik	LB	931666
19	Daniel Thomas	RB	882652
20	Olivier Vernon	DE	669520
21	Michael Egnew	TE	652239
22	Nolan Carroll	CB	622939
23	Lamar Miller	RB	601500
24	Charles Clay	TE	583000
25	Jimmy Wilson	CB/S	566475
26	Kheeston Randall	DT	495612
27	Rishard Matthews	WR	493403
28	Marcus Thigpen	RB/WR	482500
29	Jorvorskie Lane	FB	480000
30	2013 First Rounder		2000000
31	2013 Second Rounder		1000000
32	2013 Second Rounder		1000000
33	2013 Third Rounder		700000
34	2013 Third Rounder		700000
35	2013 Fourth Rounder		500000
36	Greg Jennings	WR	9000000
37	Brian Hartline	WR	6000000
38	Randy Starks	DT	6000000
39	Jared Cook	TE	4000000
40	Sean Smith	CB	7000000
41	Brent Grimes	CB	4000000
42	Jake Long	LT	7000000
43	Reggie Bush	RB	4000000
44	Rookie		405000
45	Rookie		405000
46	Rookie		405000
47	Rookie		405000
48	Rookie		405000
49	Rookie		405000
50	Rookie		405000
51	Rookie		405000
		TOTAL	122985471
		PLUS DEAD $	124581339
		2013 NFL Cap	127000000
		Space Available	2418661

What do you think of the new plan?

Would you substitute Jake Long with another player?