At the moment of this writing, the Dolphins are not flush with cap space entering the 2018 NFL season’s Free Agency period. We currently stand at 29th, with a shade under $10M of cap space. Of course, that can radically change with a series of cuts and/or restructures, and I do expect there will be some of both which will positively affect our cap space for this season. That being said, I don’t expect us to be big players in FA, but that doesn’t mean we can’t add a couple of good depth players, and maybe one quality starter. Teams like the 49ers, Browns and Colts have 8 to 10 times the amount of cap space we have, so we won’t be bringing in the big name players, especially if those teams want them as much as we do.
Because free agency precedes the draft, it completely impacts our draft strategy. With the potential loss of WR Jarvis Landry, I’m first going to take a look at possible replacements for him. Each week, I’ll look at a different position, and go over the candidates I think might be in the running for our Dolphins.
WR Sammy Watkins 6’1 211 – 24 YO
Watkins is only 24 years old, and of course, isn’t the same type of WR Landry is, and just so you know, I’m looking at WR’s, not Jarvis Landry replacements. Watkins has been somewhat of an enigma. He has talent, and has speed to burn too, running a 4.43 40. He had a very promising rookie season with our rival Buffalo Bills, reeling in 65 catches for just under 1000 yards (982) and 6 TD’s. That was the only season out of 4 that Watkins played all 16 games though. His 2nd season with Buffalo he broke the 1000 yard mark with 60 receptions for 1047 yards and 9 TD’s. Then the nagging injuries started, and Watkins hasn’t been able to produce anywhere near as much since. In 2016, Watkins last season with the Bills, he played only 8 games and had a season to forget. He got new life after being traded to the Rams last season, but still couldn’t reproduce the numbers he put up in BUF. The difference in LA was he was one of many weapons, and the Rams biggest weapon was their star RB (possible MVP) Todd Gurley, so Watkins, and all the WR’s had to take the back seat to Gurley.
One thing has been consistent with Watkins, he makes big plays. Last season, 8 of his 39 receptions went for TD’s, and throughout his career, his YPR average is exemplary, at 15.9. Kenny Stills at 16.1, so he would be another player that stretches the field for MIA. Whether or not Spotrac is correct in their projection for Watkins market value, I can’t say, but if their right, at $5.9M per year, he’d be worth a look.
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WR Marqise Lee 6’0 192 – 26YO
Marqise Lee is about the same size as Landry, but is nowhere near the physical player Landry is. He’s had an up and down career with Jacksonville, somewhat stuck behind the 2 other talented receivers there, The Allen’s, Robinson and Hurns. It’s not that the former 2nd RD pick in 2014 isn’t good, the Allen’s were dynamic. Lee got some playing this season with the season ending injury to Allen Robinson, yet still put up modest stats, despite starting 14 games. Much like Watkins in LA, the new show in Jacksonville was RB Leonard Fournette. Lee’s best season, despite starting only 6 games, but playing in all of them was in 2016, where Lee 63 passes for 851 yards and 3 TD’s. He’s not a playmaker, nor a gamebreaker, but he’s an NFL WR with experience and talent. He’s projected to be around $7.5M per year, so he’s in the right range.
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WR Danny Amendola 5’11 183 – 32YO
We all know Amendola well, former St. Louis Ram and most recently, former New England Patriot, who BTW, stepped up his game big time taking over for Julian Edelman, especially in the playoffs.. Amendola is a lot like Landry in one way, he makes a lot of big catches for first downs, and is a very reliable pass catcher throughout his career, with an over 70% catch rate. Amendola doesn’t catch a lot of TD passes, he’s a slot WR, like Landry, and the most TD’s he has are 4 in a season, and that was 2 years ago. He has good short burst quickness, and knows how to get open, he’s a crafty veteran. Amendola hasn’t been a super durable player, and I wouldn’t expect that to change much at 32. If we were looking for a short term contract, Amendola might be an option.
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WR Jordan Matthews 6’3 212 – 25YO
Jordan Matthews started out looking very promising with Philadelphia Eagles in his rookie season in ’14. he played in 16 games, starting 10, and finished with67 receptions for 872 yards and 8 TD’s. He improved the next season to 85 catches and 997 yards and again, 8 TD’s. In 2016, Matthews fell off some, catching 73 passes for 804 yards and 3 TD’s. Teh Eagles, desperate to improve their secondary, traded Jordan Matthews (who replaced Sammy Watkins) to the Bills plus a pick for CB Ronald Darby. Matthews had a quiet season in BUF, and ended up with only 25 receptions for 282 yards and 1 TD, before being placed on IR with a knee injury on December 14th. Matthews is a solid player, who has played both outside and in the slot. After a disappointing ’17 season, Matthews price will be dinged, and I think he’d be a good player to check out. He had surgery on his knee and ankle at the end of the season, but expects to be healthy for the start of the new season. I think the former 2nd RD pick is definitely worth a look.
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Paul Richardson 6’0 175 – 25YO
Richardson was mostly overlooked in SEA, with WR’s Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse and Tyler Lockett. Despite being drafted in the 2nd RD, Richardson didn’t get hsi chance to shine until the Seahawks traded his fellow WR Jermain Kearse to the Jets. Richardson had somewhat of a genesis in his 4th season, with 44 catches for 703 yards and 6 TD’s. That’s nearly as many catches, and more yards and TD’s than he accumulated in his first 3 seasons. Richardson, who played in all 16 games last season, started 13 of them. Richardson has excellent speed, running a 4.4 at the combine. He only has 1 year of production, and that’s a little worrisome, but it also should keep his price down. Spotrac projects Richardson at $6.3M per year, which is very manageable.
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WR Ryan Grant 6’0 199 – 27YO
Ryan Grant, somewhat similarly to Paul Richardson, had a big season last year, after being somewhat buried on the depth chart. Grant played all 16 games, but started only 7, playing in the slot. Grant caught 45 balls for 573 yards and 4 TD’s, which is more than double of what he did the previous 3 years. Grant just turned 27, and his production last year might earn him a job as a slot receiver as a starter, and who knows, it might be here. After all, how hard would it be to change L-A-N-D-R-Y to G-R-A-N-T on the back of your #14 uni? 😉
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There are some other WR’s that might interest us, or at least interest me, but I’m going to keep it at 6 for every position. Honorable mentions are Donte Moncrief, Taylor Gabriel, and Kamar Aiken.
Finsmob Unleashed 
Another great run by Ajayi!!! Oh wait, that was LeGarrette Blount! 🙂
Vision to cut it back inside. Something Ajayi rarely does….he’s always just trying to pop it outside.
Go Eagles!
for those who buy squares for the superbowl… two failed xtra point attempts really throw a wrench into the pool. 🙂
I’m cheering for Ajayi to have a good game. Don’t know why. Just want him to do well.
I’m cheering for him too
I don’t know why anyone has aminomosity towards him
I miss watching him run
Cooks isnout for remining game
It’s the fact that the Eagles have Ajayi that’s allowing LeGarrette Blount and Alshon Jeffery to score. It’s all about Ajayi. Ajayi, Ajayi, Ajayi. The Philadelphia Ajayi’s. They can’t be beat.
Lol. The announcers were acting like it….
Piggy – I’m rooting for Ajayi to have a meaningless SB because I’m tired of hearing how important he is. He’s just not a big factor in their offense, that’s pretty obvious. He’s just another player in this offense, he’s not the straw that stirs the drink. I hope that clarifies
There he finally hits the hole…squeeze thru untouched. Nice run
They were winning without him
But I miss Ajayi as a Dolphin
https://twitter.com/1sarahrose/status/960218992358100992
Horses….. you’ll never catch me on one. You ever see elephants do that shit?
When a suplex goes wrong…
Jeffrey almost had another incredible catch instead it’s an ugly tip up
I don’t think it’s wrong to root for Ajayi, I just want the people who think he’s the greatest thing since sliced bread to realize that he’s just a small cog in the machine in Philadelphia, not the major cog. He’s not a great player, or they would feature him constantly.
Wow, what a huge catch and run by Ajayi!!! Oh wait, that was Corey Clement! 🙂
The patriots defense is junk tonight
Over 6 first half yards between both teams
600
Lol
Take that Brady! Foles can catch! Lol
What the Fuck was THAT??? LMAO!!!!!!! Belicheat didn’t have that ONE on film
Touche
Belicheat wearing a brand new “old” cutoff sweatshirt…
You get a SB box with 2-2 and you’re thinking you’re f*cked. Then you win the halftime score. lol
3 failed xtra point attempts… that’s gotta be a record.
Justin Timberlake halftime… Really? We’ve seen The Who, Sprinsteen, Tom Petty, The Rolling Stones, U2, Prince, and Paul McCartney…. and now, Justin Timberlake. lmao. Maybe he’ll be wearing his “whatever, whatever shoes”.
I hope he sings “D*ck in a Box”. lol
I’m wondering if we’re going to see the rumored Prince ‘hologram’ performing with Justin Tittielake at Halftime…
Malcolm Jenkins might be MVP for the first half 😉
Fun game, I expect more weirdness but Brady looks bad. Many of his passes are wobbly.
psi is hard to gauge indoors. 😉
+ 5.9
go Collinsworth calling Brady out. “They completed the pass that the Patriots couldn’t.”
I just watch halftime for the potential “wardrobe malfunctions”… but the only malfunction might be the fringe on the jacket. lol
There he is!!!
When in Minnesota, it would be unacceptable not to honor Prince.
There it is MF13.
That was GRAND!!!
THOSE OF YOU who took Philly and the 4 and 1/2 point spread looking good right now. Absolutely MIND BOGGLING CALL ON 4TH AND GOAL BY PEDERSEN!!! And, as predicted, Eagles troika of running backs having big success on the ground. Those expecting a repeat of Atlanta’s collapse last Super Bowl should know that this Eagles’ squad is a far better conditioned and a far better coached team than were the Falcons. Rather than folding, I look for Philly to pull away in the 4th quarter and win this game. PROF LOU, are U watching???
———————-
DON”T KNOW if NBC touched on this during the pre game show. But, when Shula’s Dolphins defeated Philadelphia to make Shula the NFL’s all-time winningest coach, the winning QB was Doug Pedersen, who was replacing an injurfed Scott Mitchell, who had stepped in for Marino when he blew-out his achilles in Cleveland earlier in the season. Doug Petersen will always have a special spot in the hearts of many Dolfans!!
I’m ok with whatever Ajayi does. He’s just a guy on the team I want to beat the Pats. So in that respect I hope he has a monster second half.
I’m hoping Vinny Curry gets an INT. He was close a couple of times in the first half. And of course the Pats lose.
Also hoping I don’t have a massive hangover tomorrow. 🍷
Holy cow, what a catch in the end zone by Ajayi!!! Oh wait, that was Corey Clement!
…. and a call goes AGAINST the Patriots….. (that sound you heard was me fainting and hitting the floor).
LOL. ikr
Steven Tyler is 69 or 70 and still wearing eyeliner. Not sure if that’s ‘cool’ or ‘disturbing’ lol
Anything goes in Rock and Roll
Old rockers never die….they just have someone else apply their eyeliner
I wish I could apply my eyeliner as well as Stephen Tyler.
Dude looks like a lady
Is either team gonna play defense today. geez.
Where is this big time Philly D I’ve heard about? Getting destroyed by Hogan and Amendola? Wow
Seeing a free agent like Jenkins work out so well for the Eagles makes me angry
Why not us!
I am so tired of watching X Dolphins players excel in the Super Bowl for the New England Patriots
Watching Ajayi Excel doesn’t bother me so much because it’s the Eagles and not our arch enemy
I rather see former Dolphin Jay Ajayi score a TD than former Dolphin Chris “7-11” Hogan. JUST SAYIN’…
Did any of these teams practice defense the past 2 weeks?
I hear ya. And this makes me question a great many things.
Lot of receivers wide open
900 yards so far in this super bowl
If I was Eagles…. I’d be running Blount over and over and letting him angrily wear down the Pats defense …. tire them out for the last part of the 4th.
I think they have to be real careful not to get too conservative too early
Blount was running with a rage. Big dudes like that get better with more carries. But Foles IS playing a great game.
The end around looks easy
Look at all that space
OMG to the Eli and Odell commercial. LMAO that was funny
That was a GREAT commercial
Best commercial of the night
Just get 11 guys to start on D focus the talent on the offensive side of the ball
Eagles need a defensive stand at some point. They won’t win a shoot out here in the 4th.
Nice push off….arms fully extended….
My buddy just called this game the Carmello Anthony of football…lol
LOL
HUGE first down
WOW…. what a freaking gutsy call and execution of a 4th down play. DAMN
I SWEAR the Patsies* are stealing the Offensive play-calls from the Eagles, despite that 1st down.
Back-to-back plays now, they were ALL OVER the Eagles.
And now again on 1st and 10.
c’mon Eagles. My heart can’t take another Pats SB win. ahhhhhh. I hate even typing that.
Too bad Prof Lou isn’t watching his guy NICK FOLES having the game of his life!
Tension is high!!! MF13 is posting and replying to himself repeatedly. LOL
😆
Ertz could be MVP
He wasn’t catching!!! he was RUNNING you dumb fucks. then he broke the plane. Such an easy call.
Right? That’s not a football move? My gosh
He caught, turned up filed and done in….jeez
*field
No SHIT…. lol
Glad Collinsworth isn’t an official
He’ll “tell ya what”!!! LOL
😆
I can’t believe they called that a TD!!! And YES… it was the CORRECT call!!!
oh damn. here we go. 2:21 to go… 5 pt difference. Brady to Gronk with :32 left, blah, blah, blah.
Didn’t look back and shoved the receiver. How is that not pass interference?
Yep.
DEFENSE DEFENSE DEFENSE
Yes yes yes yes
Wowza
HOLY SH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That might be the answer to our prayers!!!!!!!!!!
Finally some defense
Fuck yeah!!!
Tuck Rule 2.0 coming up
THERE IT IS!!
I’m really torn. I really don’t want Philly fans to have anything to celebrate.
I was hoping for Bane to blow everything up
Brady can’t blow enough Refs to change that turnover. LMAO
If they miss this field goal, I’m gonna hide in the bathroom for 30 minutes before looking at the tv again.
The city of Philadelphia could be burnt down tonight, if they hold on. LOL
Who the hell would be MVP for Philly…. rookie kicker? backup QB? Clement? no clear pick, imo.
I’m thinking Ertz.
Nick Foles.
Patricia is one creepy looking dude. I’d cross the street if I saw him coming.
Not that this has anything to do with the game. Just thought I’d share. 😂
GO 🦅
Brady to refs: “wtf, don’t you know who I am… my wife is HOT, I know about the physics of psi, my coach worships satan… “
Woooohooooooo
HELL YEAH!!!
Game over.
YES!!!! Great job Eagles!!!
Great Job Ajayi!!
Lol
Now let’s hope they all turn on each other in Cheatriotville…….
WOW. I feel dirty for watching a SB with the ONLY intention of cheering AGAINST a particular team. But… I will sleep better tonight. 🙂
We’re all dirty then. Wallow in it. Lol.
Jay Ajayi MVP!!!
Your MVP? JAY AJAYI!!!
New blog up
It’s not about the super bowl
I TOLD YOU SO!!!!!!!!!!
Jay Ajayi has a SUPER BOWL ring because he found a coach who knows how to rotate his running backs AND KEEP THEM ALL HAPPY!! –AND Miami doesn’t!
—————-
New England is now 5-5 in 10 Super Bowl appearances, including two “GIFTS” from Seattle and Atlanta. All of a sudden, the great “CHEATRIOTS” Dynasty doesn’t look so great.
—————
Nick Foles deserves the MVP in my book. And Pedersen out coached Belicheat!! THIS off season is going to have a different flavor to it. The Pats now look very beatable, tho’, perhaps, NOT in their own division.
LOL @ Mike
Ajayi MVP LOL
I can’t believe all these guys are kissing the trophy during FLU SEASON lol
MF13 is correct. MVP Foles
ahhhhh yessssss
Patsies* lose!!!!
feel like i just got laid
wait …