Dolphins must rebuild the offensive line, and should add more playmakers to compliment Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane on offense
The Miami Dolphins are headed into one of the most difficult offseasons in franchise history because of how cap strapped the team’s books are, and how many contributors are impending free agents.
That means it will be a challenge to renovate the 2023 roster that finished 11-6 with a first round exit in the playoffs this past season, improving on it for the 2024 season.
Even though Miami’s $49 million over the projected cap, and needs to make a number of cost cutting moves, anything is possible when a franchise has an owner like Steve Ross, who is willing to hand out substantial signing and roster bonuses, which could allow the Dolphins to skirt the NFL’s restrictive financial model, pushing the team’s debt back another season.
When we begin the offseason, which officially starts on March 11 with the legal tampering period, it’s always important to assess the talent that is already in-house because it helps us determine what’s likely on the shopping list.
Here’s a breakdown of the Dolphins’ existing offensive roster, and a snapshot of the impending free agents.
Analysis: Tagovailoa, who led the NFL in passing yards (4,624) and had a 101.1 passer rating, produced the type of season that earned him the AFC starting spot in the Pro Bowl. White was solid in his limited snaps, and Thompson spent most of the season running the scout team. Tagovailoa is slated to play on his fifth-year option, which is worth $23.2 million, and the Dolphins plan to offer him a multi-year deal, which would help create cap space this offseason. But it’s going to be a challenge nailing down a price-point per season with Tagovailoa and his camp. Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson, Dak Prescott and Trevor Lawrence, four veteran starters who will either be seeking new deals, or receiving a contract extension this spring, could help set the market for Tagovailoa on a multi-year deal.
Signed: Raheem Mostert, Devon Achane, Jeff Wilson Jr., Chris Brooks
Free agents: Salvon Ahmed and Darrynton Evans
Analysis: Mostert had the best season in his nine-year career, rushing for 1,012 yards and scoring a franchise record 21 touchdowns in the 15 games he played. But the 31-year-old was unable to finish yet another NFL season because of injuries. While Achane remains a team leader, don’t be surprised if the backfield is handed to Achane, who set an NFL record for highest yards per carry average (7.8) for a back with a minimum of 100 carries, and was named to the All Rookie team. Wilson sparingly contributed this season, which puts him and his $2.9 million salary in the potential purge zone because releasing him creates an identical amount of cap space. Brooks impressed Miami’s coaches as an undrafted rookie, and was a core special teams contributor.
Signed: Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Erik Ezukanma, Braylon Sanders, Anthony Schwartz, Matthew Sexton
Free agents: Cedrick Wilson Jr., Braxton Berrios, Chase Claypool, Robbie Chosen, River Cracraft, Freddie Swain
Analysis: Hill and Waddle produced 2,813 receiving yards and scored 17 touchdowns on 191 catches, and that’s despite collectively missing four games, and each being slowed by ankle injuries in the final month of the season. They clearly make up one of the NFL’s best receiver duos, but the Dolphins had little behind them. Wilson was Miami’s third best receiver, but he wasn’t impactful (22 receptions for 296 yards and three touchdowns) in his 545 offensive snaps. And Berrios, Claypool and Chosen were all disappointments. However, it’s possible one or more could return for veteran minimum salaries. Ezukanma spent most of the season on injured reserve, but has fallen short of expectations in his first two seasons. And Sanders and Schwartz haven’t proven they are anything more than practice squad talents. Don’t be surprised when the Dolphins extend Hill’s contract to create cap room, and opt into Waddle’s fifth-year option this offseason.
