Miami Dolphins Ultimate Free-Agent To-Do List
To-do lists are usually kept on the refrigerator with items waiting to be checked off.
If you're a super-procrastinator, there's a good chance it can remain on the fridge for months at a time—until you finally get to it and realize it's March and your Christmas lights are still up.
You might be able to afford to slack like that, assuming you're a single male. The Miami Dolphins can't afford to do such a thing; they need to get to work right away.
So what's on their 2015 offseason to-do list? Plenty. Enough to fill out this five-page slideshow—although I'm sure there will be plenty of things that I'll miss.
This is the Dolphins' ultimate free-agent to-do list, meaning I'll only cover what the Dolphins can (and should) do in free agency, with only minimal talk about the draft.
Figure out What to Do at Wide Receiver
1 of 5Wide receiver is a considerable hole for the Dolphins.
They need a game-breaker at wide receiver, not the likes of Brian Hartline or Brandon Gibson. The future of both players must be decided.
Then there's the Mike Wallace situation, which should be a no-brainer but now is all over the place.
Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald reports that the Dolphins are looking to trade Wallace, yet financially, this doesn't make any sense as the Dolphins would clear $6.9 million as a post-June 1 cut, while trading him would likely net a late-round pick to save $5.5 million.
My idea (as highlighted here) would be to draft a wide receiver in the first round (something the Dolphins should do no matter what) and keep Mike Wallace and try to work it out for one more year. If it doesn't work then the Dolphins would have the option to release Wallace and save $11.5 million in 2016.
As for Hartline and Gibson? If Wallace is kept, ship them both off.
From the looks of it, it's Wallace who's likely to be gone, and I don't see Gibson back either. This will clear the way for Hartline to return.
I'm against getting rid of Wallace, but pay attention to this news, for if the Dolphins can take advantage of this piece of news, it would salvage the receiving unit.
"Andre Johnson could be on the roster bubble if he doesn’t take a pay cut, per @RapSheet.
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) February 26, 2015"
Signing Andre Johnson (if released) and drafting a receiver, while keeping Hartline, would give the Dolphins a formidable unit.
Fix the Linebackers
2 of 5
The assumption was that the draft would be the time for the Dolphins to look for a linebacker.
From what Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald is reporting, free agency might be where they're looking.
"The Dolphins have told multiple people that they want to add a starting linebacker, and they’re expected to pursue the Jets’ David Harris, 31, who had 123 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 2014 and is considered the best free agent inside linebacker.
"
Harris would be a nice pickup, however there are two problems I see with Harris.
His age is the first issue. It wouldn't be worth it to sign him for four to five years at 31 years old.
The second issue is reality, which the Miami Herald's Armando Salguero brings us to:
"The Jets are replete with salary cap space. They may have over $50 million in salary cap space and that's with contracts such as Percy Harvin's on the books. And the Jets may clear that deal off the books by cutting Harvin. So New York will not lose any player they feel they must keep and that likely includes Harris, who is a defensive leader and a highly productive player.
"
I'd pass on Harris and let the Jets overpay to keep him. I'm more interested in a player six years his junior that Jackson also mentioned as a possibility:
"Miami is one of the teams that is believed to appeal to Harris, but it remains unclear how high the Dolphins will go in the bidding. If the Dolphins are outbid for Harris, they have interest in Tampa Bay free agent Mason Foster, 25, who has started 57 games with six sacks and five interceptions in four years for Tampa and was drafted by the Buccaneers when Dolphins GM Dennis Hickey worked there.
"
Foster might not have Harris' stats, but he's younger, has more upside and could use a change of scenery.
He'll be cheaper, too.
Signing Harris or Foster allows the Dolphins to move Koa Misi back to strong-side linebacker while Jelani Jenkins plays weak-side linebacker.
I'd also like to see Dion Jordan get some time at strong-side linebacker, but that's another article.
Either way, I'd trust a veteran a little bit more than I would a rookie at middle linebacker, which is the most important position on defense. The draft pick is better used at wide receiver, cornerback or guard.
As for the linebackers acquired in 2013? Here's what Jackson said in the same piece:
"Though Philip Wheeler and Dannell Ellerbe have not been informed of their status, many expect at least one or both will be released.
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Fortify the Secondary
3 of 5
The picture shown above is my dream scenario, and I'd love to see the Dolphins clear the cap space to sign 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver.
That's likely a pipe dream, but fixing the secondary isn't.
The question is how the Dolphins will do it.
From what the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson is reporting, the Dolphins will be doing this by bringing back the 2014 Dolphins secondary:
"The Dolphins have an interest in keeping two key free agents in their secondary—safety Louis Delmas, who played well before a season-ending knee injury in the 13th game against Baltimore, and safety/slot cornerback Jimmy Wilson.
The Dolphins' pass defense was much better before Delmas was injured, and the safety tandem of Delmas and Reshad Jones was generally a strength. And the Dolphins value Wilson's versatility.
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I'm in favor of bringing back Louis Delmas, who's 54 tackles and pick-six is supported by a minus-0.2 grade, per Pro Football Focus. Delmas was a major part of the defense, which fell apart upon his injury.
As for Jimmy Wilson, I'm not a fan.
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Re-Signing Charles Clay
4 of 5
I asked earlier this week if the Dolphins could afford to lose Charles Clay.
I'll paraphrase my opinion: If he asks for too much money, then yes.
However, according to Andrew Abramson of The Palm Beach Post, the Dolphins plan to re-sign Charles Clay.
No financial terms were detailed in Abramson's story, but the Dolphins should only sign Clay if he's willing to take a hometown discount. He's not worth elite-tight-end money and is much more replaceable than many people think.
Re-Sign Jared Odrick
5 of 5
This is job No. 1 for the Dolphins this offseason, and failure to accomplish this task would render the offseason a failure—proverbially leaving the Christmas lights up until Memorial Day.
Letting go of Odrick weakens what's already a weak part of the team, as it would force the Dolphins to not only draft a defensive lineman (a good idea for them anyway) but also hold onto Randy Starks, who declined considerably in 2014 and should be a candidate for release in 2015.
How determined are the Dolphins to keep Odrick? From what Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald is saying, price is an issue.
"Team would also like to keep Jared Odrick ('10 first round) but the price is issue determining whether he stays or walks.
— Armando Salguero (@ArmandoSalguero) February 23, 2015"
Price is an issue? No, not acceptable with Odrick.
Price should be an issue with Charles Clay. It should be an issue with Louis Delmas. It shouldn't be an issue with Odrick.
How much does Odrick want exactly? Armando explains that in this piece.
"I've been told Odrick's camp, meanwhile, is certain their client will also get a deal whose floor is $6 million a year before free agency is over because Odrick has proven himself valuable as either a 4-3 defensive tackle or 3-4 defensive end.
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I'm paying Odrick $6 million per year. He's worth that, and possibly more. If cost is an issue with Odrick but not with Charles Clay, I'll be extremely perplexed at this team.
Get that deal done Dolphins.
Statistics provided by pro-football-reference.com. Advanced stats provided by Pro Football Focus.
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