Miami Dolphins: Who Stays and Who Goes in 2015 Free Agency
The Miami Dolphins have 19 impending free agents this offseason, meaning they have 19 tough decisions as to who should stay and who should go.
These free agents range from big fish that expect big paydays (Jared Odrick and Charles Clay) to guys hoping to remain on the team.
Who stays and who goes will depend on the need the team has for said player at their position, and we're going to go through all 19 of these players in this slideshow and decide who should stay, who should go and, most importantly, why said player should stay or go.
Jordan Kovacs, Safety, Early-Restricted Free Agent: Stay (For Now)
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This says more about the depth in the defensive backfield for the Dolphins than it does about Jordan Kovacs.
Kovacs bounced between the Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles last season. While he was impressive for the Dolphins in training camp, he was one of the final players released when it came time to trim the roster down to 53 players.
He was quickly signed to the Eagles' practice squad after his release by Miami, only to be re-signed by the Dolphins in November after a string of injuries plagued the defensive backfield.
Kovacs would play in eight games with the Dolphins in 2014, amassing six tackles, mainly on special teams.
He'll likely stay until training camp and be allowed to compete for a spot on the team.
Michael Thomas, Defensive Back, Early-Restricted Free Agent: Stay
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In 2013, Michael Thomas became a Miami Dolphins folk hero after his interception of Tom Brady led to a Dolphins victory over the New England Patriots.
The interception earned him the AFC Defensive Player of the Week that day and was a springboard to a great training camp in 2014 which earned him a roster spot and significant playing time.
Thomas would go on to have a good half-season, starting two games and recording 15 tackles and grading out at minus-0.1 via Pro Football Focus.
Thomas would get hurt following Miami's Week 11 victory against the San Diego Chargers, and his injury would get him placed on injured reserve and force him to miss the rest of the season.
With a good half-season under his belt, Thomas will likely be retained by the Dolphins in 2015. He knows the playbook well and seems to have a good relationship with the coaching staff.
R.J. Stanford, Cornerback, Restricted Free Agent: Stay
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R.J. Stanford only played in five games for the Dolphins this season, as he was signed late in the season due to the injuries that ravaged the secondary.
In those five games, Stanford had nine tackles and an interception, despite being thrown into the fire as the second starting corner in his first game back.
Stanford's good play will get him re-signed by the Dolphins this offseason and given the chance to compete for a job in training camp.
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Jonathan Freeny, Linebacker, Restricted Free Agent: Stay
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Linebacker Jonathan Freeny was a tremendous special teams player for the Dolphins last season and was also a part of the Dolphins' linebacker rotation.
Freeny will likely come back in 2015 while competing for a spot on the team.
Derrick Shelby, Defensive End, Restricted Free Agent: Stay
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A restricted free agent, Derrick Shelby had an up-and-down season in 2014.
His down came off the field with an arrest in October for trespassing and resisting arrest without violence after an incident at a Ft. Lauderdale nightclub.
On the field it was mostly up, as Shelby recorded 20 tackles and three sacks in Miami's defensive line rotation.
The statistics and the fact that Shelby has been clean both before and after the incident says that Miami will probably retain the restricted free agent; however, be wary of the New York Jets attempting to make an offer as their new defensive coordinator is Shelby and the Dolphins' former defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers is also on staff.
T.J. Heath, Cornerback, Unrestricted Free Agent: Go
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T.J. Heath was a necessary signing for the Miami Dolphins at the time they signed him.
Signed to the practice squad in October, just one month later the Dolphins promoted him to the main roster to fill in for an injury-ravaged secondary.
Heath didn't see much playing time, and the only reason he would likely stay is to compete for a job in training camp.
Other than that, I don't see him sticking around through the offseason.
LaMichael James, Running Back, Unrestricted Free Agent: Stay
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The Dolphins signed LaMichael James midseason, and despite the fact that he could've been a major asset on offense and on special teams, they barely let him see the field.
James could've been a tremendous asset on kickoff and punt returns and would've been a better option there than Jarvis Landry. Playing James there would've freed Landry to play offense while not subjecting him to further injury risks.
James' destiny in the league should be as a return man and a nice running back who can catch passes out of the backfield. With a full offseason to give him a shot in that position, James could prove that.
He should remain with the Dolphins and likely will.
Daniel Thomas, Running Back, Unrestricted Free Agent: Go
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Daniel Thomas was released after the preseason and brought back just two weeks later after Knowshon Moreno suffered his first injury of the season.
In coming back to the Dolphins, Thomas had a career-high 3.8 yards-per-game average in 44 attempts.
He did fill out his role as a change-of-pace back well, but he won't be back next season.
The Dolphins will either keep Moreno, sign a veteran, such as Frank Gore, or check to see the progress of Mike Gillislee this offseason (likely a combination of two of those), and because of that, there won't be much room to bring Thomas back.
Kelvin Sheppard, Linebacker, Unrestricted Free Agent: Go
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Kelvin Sheppard was brought onto the Dolphins last season in order to strengthen their linebacker depth and provide some help on the special teams unit.
Sheppard wound up starting one game and finishing the season with 15 tackles in 14 games, including one start against the Patriots.
Most of his time was spent playing on special teams, a unit where, save for a few players, the Dolphins will likely go elsewhere to find someone who can fill Sheppard's role.
Jason Trusnik, Linebacker, Unrestricted Free Agent: Stay
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Jason Trusnik makes for a nice special teams player and a nice player off the bench for the Dolphins.
This season, Trusnik had to start at middle linebacker six times due to injuries to Koa Misi, racking up 34 tackles and grading out at 3.1 on Pro Football Focus.
He has also been one of Miami's best special teams players since signing with the Dolphins in 2011.
The Dolphins will likely keep Trusnik as he provides good depth at a position where it's needed and because of his work on special teams.
Samson Satele, Center, Unrestricted Free Agent: Go
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Samson Satele was a good pickup for the Dolphins at first.
Satele was brought in during training camp to fill in for Mike Pouncey as the latter recovered from a hip injury that forced him to miss the first four games of the season.
In those first four games, Satele graded out at 3.1, 0.1, minus-3.1 and 1.2.
Nice job of filling in for Satele; however, by then Pouncey was ready to return and played at guard, where he had his struggles, grading out at minus-17.6 at the position, while Satele finished the season being graded at minus-11.9.
Mike Pouncey is a Pro Bowl center who should be moved back to his position in 2015. This leaves Satele without a place on the Dolphins roster.
Knowshon Moreno, Running Back, Unrestricted Free Agent: Go
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This one will be a difficult decision for the Dolphins.
Where do they go for a running back to pair with Lamar Miller? Re-signing Knowshon Moreno is one option, but there will be others available in free agency if they want a seasoned veteran.
The Dolphins could also look to the draft in order to find Miller's complement, which will likely be a cheaper option than re-signing Moreno.
When one option is potentially better and the other one is cheaper, it leaves a player like Moreno stuck in an unsatisfying middle.
For now, I'll say Moreno is gone, but that could change.
Daryn Colledge, Guard, Unrestricted Free Agent: Go
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Much like Samson Satele, Daryn Colledge's signing was one of necessity due to problems with Miami's offensive line.
Like Satele, Colledge was effective at the start of the season before trailing off, finishing with a Pro Football Focus grade of minus-22.8.
In fairness to Colledge, his numbers did trail off after Branden Albert was injured.
Due to his age, as well as a potential draft pick and the possible emergence of Billy Turner, Colledge is a very expendable piece.
Jason Fox, Offensive Line, Unrestricted Free Agent: Stay
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Why would Jason Fox be retained by the Dolphins and not Daryn Colledge?
Fox only played in nine games, starting two, and finishing with a Pro Football Focus grade of minus-7.2.
However, unlike Colledge, Fox is versatile and can play guard or tackle, which is key for Miami's offensive line and the reason why Nate Garner has stayed on the roster.
Fox will remain on the roster for that reason, along with the fact that he is still fairly young.
Matt Moore, Quarterback, Unrestricted Free Agent: Go
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The Dolphins have a quarterback.
That quarterback is not Matt Moore.
Moore is entering free agency this season, and one has to wonder why the Dolphins would hang onto him.
Miami's 2015 season will depend on the play of Ryan Tannehill. If he continues the acendance that we saw in 2014, the offense at the very least is in great shape.
If he doesn't, the administration in charge of the Dolphins are out the door, which would be a good thing for the team.
All Matt Moore could do is prolong the inevitable. While he's a good backup quarterback, he's not a starter and not the future of the franchise.
Because of that, why keep him on for the price he'll likely fetch, especially when so many teams are in need of a quarterback?
I'd bet Moore leaves, and the Dolphins don't try to hold onto him.
Jimmy Wilson, Defensive Back, Unrestricted Free Agent: Go
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This will be a controversial pick no matter what prediction I make.
On one hand, Jimmy Wilson has been productive in each of his first four seasons with the Dolphins, playing safety, cornerback, nickelback and special teams fairly well.
On the other hand, Wilson has a major issue with missing tackles, and at times he looks lost on the field.
Wilson will have a long NFL career, but I could see him leaving, potentially heading to the New York Jets.
The Dolphins will likely be content to let him go.
Louis Delmas, Safety, Unrestricted Free Agent: Stay
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Louis Delmas made an enormous impact on Miami's defense this season with his 54 tackles and interception. More importantly, the secondary seemed to be better coordinated, forcing more turnovers.
After Delmas got hurt, the secondary started to wilt, not forcing as many turnovers and looking much more lost on the field.
Factor that into how hard it is to find a good safety in either free agency or the draft (especially with the other needs the Dolphins have) and it's likely that, despite a knee injury and Delmas' previous history with knee problems, the Dolphins will retain him.
Charles Clay, Tight End, Unrestricted Free Agent: Stay
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Skill players are fairly hard to find, which is why it's foolish to let a good one go once you have one.
Clay was ranked 81st on the NFL's Top 100 list, and while his 2014 season was disappointing, keep in mind that though he dealt with injuries all season long, he heated up at the latter part of it.
As a major part of Miami's offense, the Dolphins will fight to retain Clay this offseason.
Jared Odrick, Defensive Tackle, Unrestricted Free Agent: Stay
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The top priority for Miami's 2015 offseason.
The Dolphins are shallow as it is at defensive tackle, and without defensive line coach Kacy Rodgers, it will be tough to develop players as well as they have been developed at the position.
Odrick is the toughest player to replace in this free agent class, and it doesn't help that he's the second-best defensive tackle available on the market behind only Ndamukong Suh.
Odrick will be sought after by any team that loses out on Suh, and the Dolphins will attempt to lock him up before other teams get to even bid on him.
It's safe to say that Odrick will stay, as long as the Dolphins pay.
Statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com and Pro Football Focus.
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