2010 NFL Free Agency: Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals Trade Linebackers

The Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins have now come to accords with players who spent 2009 on the other’s team.

Miami gets the benefit of unloading Joey Porter, an aging dissident who no longer appeared to fit into the team’s long-term plans, while adding Karlos Dansby, a stud run-stuffer in the middle who is in his prime at age 28.

Arizona augments the loss inside with Porter's pass-rushing boost to the outside—and it comes with a much nicer price tag than it would have taken to retain Dansby.

However, both players were signed as free agents—and not actually acquired by trade. 

Dansby entered into the offseason as a hot ticket—an unrestricted free agent in an uncapped year that increased the number of restricted tags tremendously.  This inflated his market value by a solid amount that led to Miami’s five-year, $43 million contract.

That is far above the norm for a defensive player who is not expected to put up big interception or sack totals.  Legendary Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis signed his last extension for three years and just more than $20 million.

The Dolphins proved to be a plucky group in 2009, overcoming an array of injuries— including to their starting quarterback, running back, and all along the offensive line—to briefly put a scare into the New England Patriots atop the AFC East.

Ultimately, they came up short of even competing for a playoff bid, netting only a 7-9 record as perhaps the most difficult sub-.500 team to face.

The 18th-ranked rush defense should now take a step forward.  They are still in search of an elite nose tackle following Jason Ferguson’s suspension—and Dansby should be a nice security blanket behind whatever young talent the Dolphins peg for the role.

Miami’s defense still has question beyond nose—especially within their young secondary—but assuming the offense can stay reasonably healthy in 2010 and Chad Henne can take at least a minor step forward, the Dolphins should again be in the playoff hunt deep into the 2010 season.

Arizona, playing in one of the more modest markets in the league, did not have the fiscal flexibility to try to retain Dansby while seeking to bolster other, more pressing areas. 

They instead latched onto Porter, the former Steelers standout who had soured on Miami.  Reduced playing time led to a rift with coach Tony Sparano that made Porter ask to be released.

He had expressed a desire to head west once cut loose—mentioning teams like the San Diego Chargers and San Francisco 49ers.  Arizona, the NFC West champion the past two years, fits the position of being a contender and a western team. 

If he can return to double-digit sack totals—his down 2009 still saw him put up nine sacks—Porter will break into the elite 100-sack club, catching 20th-ranked Jim Jeffcoat with a 10-sack year.

That and a strong revenge instinct will drive Porter, who should put at least two strong years together for Arizona.  How the team does after losing Dansby, Antrel Rolle, and Kurt Warner all in one offseason remains to be seen, however.