Ranking Miami Dolphins Best Remaining Free-Agency Options

The Miami Dolphins have already been busy in free agency. The new league year has brought them a new defensive tackle in Ndamukong Suh and a new tight end in Jordan Cameron.

But despite the two high-profile signings, the Dolphins are not done yet. According to Dolphins vice president Mike Tannenbaum, via Andrew Abramson of The Palm Beach Post, the Dolphins are still in need at wide receiver, cornerback, offensive line and linebacker.

Unfortunately for the Dolphins, their early spending has put a sizable dent in their funds for the 2015 season. But there are still plenty of options left at all of those positions and more, and the remaining options won't be nearly as expensive now that we have hit the second wave of free agency. 

Here's a look at some of the players the Dolphins could be targeting. 

5: Tramon Williams

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Even after signing cornerback Brice McCain, Mike Tannenbaum admits that the Dolphins need to add more firepower in their defensive backfield. 

The Dolphins were not shy about signing an aging veteran cornerback last offseason, when they brought in Cortland Finnegan. Tramon Williams will be 32 at the start of the 2015 season, but his experience and ability to play on the perimeter would be worth the price of admission as a one-year stopgap solution.

Williams had one of his worst seasons in coverage in 2014, allowing completions on 63.6 percent of the throws into his coverage and 10 touchdown catches, according to ProFootballFocus.com. With so much youth in the secondary, the Dolphins could use an experienced corner who can play every down like Williams (2,092 snaps).

4: Stevan Ridley

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The Dolphins are no stranger to one-year prove-it contracts in free agency. In fact, they are no stranger to such value deals at running back specifically, after signing Knowshon Moreno last year.

Even though it appears they have faith in Lamar Miller, the fourth-year back will need some backup to help keep his legs fresh. 

Former New England Patriots running back Stevan Ridley is a good option to complement Miller's scatback style. Ridley has had fumbling issues in the past, but he stayed fumble-free for 98 touches in 2014 before a season-ending knee injury. 

Of course, it's the injury and not the fumble issues that have cooled the market for Ridley's services, but the Dolphins could always sign him to a one-year deal and allow him an opportunity to compete for touches—and to stick it to his old team.

3: Mason Foster

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Originally, the Dolphins were reported to have interest in linebacker David Harris. But according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Dolphins were expected to have interest in linebacker Mason Foster if Harris signed elsewhere.

After parting ways with linebackers Philip Wheeler and Dannell Ellerbe, the Dolphins may need to find better options all over the second level. The 6'1", 241-pound Foster struggled with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers since being drafted with the 84th overall pick in 2011, but he was one of the league's more efficient coverage linebackers last season, allowing a reception every 15.2 snaps he played in coverage. 

Wheeler has struggled in run defense, though, where he tied for the league lead in missed tackles in 2013. The Dolphins already added Ndamukong Suh to their front seven, which means they may have a little more leeway to add coverage linebackers instead of pure run-stuffers at linebacker. 

2: Dwayne Bowe

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The Dolphins have purged a couple of veterans from their wide receiver group over the past few weeks, parting ways with Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson. That may signal the Dolphins' desire to build in a newer, younger direction. However, one trait they are missing is size.

Signing tight end Jordan Cameron gives the Dolphins one good red-zone threat, but wide receiver Dwayne Bowe could give them another. At 6'2" and 221 pounds, Bowe has the build to win one-on-one perimeter battles and jump balls. He's not a huge threat to score, though, and his last touchdown catch was Dec. 8, 2013. 

The Dolphins lack a possession type receiver for the boundary, though, and could immediately find use for Bowe in the offense. It would have to be at the right price, but Bowe could be a nice bargain. 

1: Brandon Spikes

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Middle linebacker Brandon Spikes has been making the rounds through the AFC East, beginning with the Patriots from 2010 to 2013 and taking a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills in 2014. Now, with the Dolphins in desperate need of linebackers, the time may be right for Spikes to make it three out of four in the division.

Spikes' role may be somewhat limited. His strength is run defense, and his glaring weakness is in coverage. What he lacks in foot speed and quickness to run with receivers and tight ends over the middle, he makes up for in toughness and instincts to shed blocks and make tackles in the backfield. 

With the addition of dominant defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, the Dolphins have already taken a big step toward improving their front seven. Spikes may not be an every-down linebacker, but while his value to the Dolphins' run defense would not be commensurate with his coverage ability, his contributions on first and second downs would be worth his price.