Personnel moves are really coming to a head right now. While the front office is working hard on the upcoming draft as the NFL Combine is in progress, there are two impending free agents that are absolutely huge parts of our team, DL Christian Wilkins and OG Robert Hunt. From what I’ve been hearing on the airwaves, it’s likely that DL Christian Wilkins will be tagged with the NFL Non Exclusive Franchise Tag, which is $22.1M for this season, but also allows other teams to negotiate with the player, and if the player receives an offer from another team, we have the opportunity to match that offer to retain the player. If we don’t/can’t match the offer, we would get two 1st RD picks in return over the next 2 years. So basically, other teams do the negotiations for us, and come up with a contract to pay Christian Wilkins, and then we have the option to match it, or receive the 2 first round picks. Listen, Wilkins is a key part of our defense, we drafted him, groomed him and turned him into a top defensive lineman, and now we need to pay him. We offered him lower contracts last season because he didn’t have the sack numbers, so this past season he finished with 9 sacks, his career high. He didn’t sign a devalued contract and bet on himself and won.
We all know that a big contract extension is in the works for QB Tua Tagovailoa. If this is the case, then you naturally would assume that protecting him is a priority, which then leads us to re-signing OG Robert Hunt. the 6’6 330 2nd RD pick in 2020 played every game over the his first 3 seasons, only to miss nearly 7 games this season. While we shuffled different players all around him due to injuries or poor play, Jones was the one constant. I think he should be the #2 priority of business immediately after DL Christian Wilkins. Hunt is a solid run blocker and pass protector, one of the most consistent guys on our line. We have a 1st RD pick and and a 2nd RD pick, #21 and #55, and boy do we have pressure to hit on those picks. We need players to come in immediately and fill spots. At the moment, the only OL you can realistically pencil in as a starter is RT Austin Jackson. It’s very likely that our first round pick is going to be an offensive lineman. OC/G Jackson Powers-Johnson and OC/G Graham Barton are two guys I’ve seen often going to us. This cap conundrum has us desperate to hit here, we simply can’t miss. Cornerback has to be a priority, but again, we need to protect our QB who will be getting big bucks shortly.
Jalen Ramsey is going to be starting at CB, but that’s what we got right now. Cam Smith, our first pick in the ’23 draft (#51), managed to play only 20 defensive snaps last season (2%). That has to be one of the most disappointing storylines of last season, that with multiple injuries to DB’s, that we couldn’t find a way to get this kid playing time. Fingers have been pointed to two things, grumpy hardass DC Vic Fangio and perhaps some immaturity issues with Cam Smith. New DC Anthony Weaver along with new CB Coach Mathieu Araujo have to find a way to have Cam Smith ready to start and play tons of meaningful snaps in the ’24 season. Xavien Howard has been cut, I thank him for his tenure here, he was a great player for a while here. Now, X will be playing elsewhere, and I don’t believe that fan favorite Kader Kohou is a boundary CB. Is it possible we spend our 2nd RD pick on a CB? I look at our roster and see lots of holes.
Our own Free Agent list is extensive, and of course, this comes at a time when we’re significantly over the cap, down to around $39M over or thereabouts. DL Christian Wilkins, OL Robert Hunt, NT Raekwon Davis, OLB Andrew Van Ginkel, OC Connor Williams, OLB/DE Emmanuel Ogbah, OL Isaiah Wynn, S DeShon Elliott, S Brandon Jones, and DB Nik Needham. There are more, but with the uncertainty at OLB with both Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips injured, who knows if either will be ready to play at the start of the season or even the middle. We know AVG wants to come back, but it’s going to be hard to find the money to keep him. Same goes for safety, because all we have is Jevon Holland back there. I know DeShon Elliott wants to come back, but again, where’s the money? I think it would be in our best interest to find an upgrade to NT Raekwon Davis, but now the cupboard is bare, so DL could be in play with one of our first 2 picks. We know there will be restructures and new contracts issued to get us below the cap and probably some cap space, especially if we do the big Tua contract.
If you missed it, this is my priority list for our Dolphins . . .
#1 – Re-sign DL Christian Wilkins
#2 – Re-sign OL Robert Hunt
#3 – Identify a plug in starter on the OL in the ’24 Draft
#4 – Identify a plug in starter at CB in the ’24 Draft
#5 – Try and re-sign some of our own free agents, like S DeShon Elliott, LB Andrew Van Ginkel, OL Isaiah Wynn, OL Kendall Lamm.
Of course before we do one through 5, the cap guys need to restructure, massage and rework a few contracts in order to get us in the black and out of the red. That has to happen, so we know it will happen. Then we sit back and watch with great interest to see how many players we like we can retain and how many we unfortunately lose. Our owner Stephen Ross is more than happy to pay down whatever he can, which is huge, because paying guaranteed monies lowers the cap, and Stephen Ross NEVER says no.
GO DOLPHINS!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
LB Eric Kendricks released by Chargers
I posted a ‘Draft theory’ of mine here back in 2020, when we had 3 (THREE 1st round picks): what happens if ya hit on all 3 picks and they are all up for a new contract at the same time?
That has the potential to cripple a franchise as much as whiffing on 1st rounders for years on end. That is, unless ya hit the studs with a franchise tag and get legit compensation for the studs ya must part ways with for salary cap reasons.
We totally fucked up by getting NOTHING for Christian Wilkins. Oh… maybe a 3rd round compensatory pick. SMH
You don’t always get something for players who become FAs. You’re just speculating that other teams are looking to trade draft picks for our players. NFL teams know what the market is better than we fans do.
Regardless, now we have to find a replacement for Christian Wilkins. That is going to be a VERY tall task, my friend.
Oh yeah… and we only have a 1st and 2nd round pick to fill all these holes with, between day 1 and 2 of the ’24 Draft. *sigh at our misfortunes*
Yes we did. I think one reason some of these last minute tags were done was due to the realization of the interest from multiple teams on a specific player. Those smart teams tagged their player for the purpose of tagging and trading them to get more compensation.
There were 8 players tagged. I am going to watch to see who gets traded and for what.
It was reported that Panthers tagged Brian Burns with the intention of tagging and trading him. It won’t be for what he is probably worth but it will be more than just a 3rd round pick.
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————–
Oh, please do
Y’all,
Please don’t mind me this evening… I’m not a happy camper as a Phin fan right now. I don’t want to be so pessimistic, but I really thought we had a plan to keep Christian Wilkins. To me, it’s clear that we really didn’t have a plan, we just blew our load in overspending to try to vie for a championship for 1 mere year.
Our Defense is damn near in shambles as it stands.
And as it stands, we just may have to replace 4 STARTERS on our O-Line with next to no $$$ to spend.
Well, we still have just under 5 days before players/agents start negotiating with other teams. Maybe we see a miracle. I’m not counting on it though.
It’s too early to get overly concerned. Not much has happened yet. FA hasn’t started and then there is the draft.
As much as we all like Wilkins and Hunt, neither have ever made all pro or the pro bowl. We’re acting like we’re letting the best players at their positions go. Maybe they’re asking for more than what we value them as. I think there is too much emotion involved with both players because they’ve been good for us for 4 and 5 years. But at what cost?
We had plenty of holes to fill without losing Wilkins and Hunt. we don’t have enough draft picks nor a GM to properly draft for those needs. This could be Grier’s final failure. He’s been Houdini so far keeping his job, this might be the one that brings him down.
Tim – just curious. Say we don’t give Tua an extension. You comfortable with that?
Yes! I’ve said in the past I don’t care if we give him an extension or not. I just think we will.
M13, sometimes you reply to me as if I don’t know our team, cap situation or our draft picks. I told you the other day we don’t have a 4th round pick.
We’ll see what our roster looks like in May. It’s way too early to freak out. 😂
Kong,
That’s my biggest problem with Grier and something I agree with you and Mike on. Grier can’t seem to plan ahead except for doing an expensive, flashy signing every year. Usually as couple of them. On what planet is signing injury prone players to four-year deals smart?
Honestly, I’ve had issues since he first gave Howard that huge contract. There was absolutely zero possibility that he’d continue to produce like he had that one year so why sign him for big bucks for previous production? You sign for future production, don’t you? Then to top it off, he signed another CB for big bucks. WHAT?!
You sign homegrown talent early, and you manage FA signings so that your entire budget isn’t wasted on a few expensive FAs that you may have to dump in a couple years. Expensive dudes that may not even jell with the other talent. It’s common sense but he seems to like the gunslinger GM role too much. This team should have known what they had in Wilkins by Year 3. They should have a strong idea on Tua already. AVG should have been extended for cheap two years ago. Like you said, if we can see it, why can’t he?
I’ll see you and raise you:
Not only did Grier sign Jones to a huge FA contract, but he signed him to a contract where he was making MORE than Howard, our number 1 CB. So naturally, X wanted more, and he got it.
It’s going to be an interesting offseason filled with us losing good players and replacing them with cheap unproven talent we hope can pan out, lol.
I don’t keep my old posts like MF does, but I said either last offseason or the one before, we have the same philosophy as the Niners. We acquire talent regardless of injury history. The Niners have been potential SB contenders for years, but have been done in by injuries year in and year out. This year they finally overcame the injury issue.
The problem with that for us, is even though the philosophy is the same, the way we get there is totally different. The Niners have built through the draft and supplemented with FAs. They have a stacked roster and will continue to have a stacked roster for years to come. But like you allude to, we have built too much of this roster with top end contracts through trade, and supplemented the last couple years with the draft, which means our roster is getting gutted and having major turnover.
The great news is, our roster will definitely be weaker this season, and with the injury issues screwing our pass rush, Tua will have a whole litany of new excuses for poor play against good teams, lol.
Weaver gets a player he’s coached.
https://dolphinswire.usatoday.com/2024/03/05/dolphins-sign-isaiah-mack/
Mike E. says:
“…This could be Grier’s final failure. He’s been Houdini so far keeping his job, this might be the one that brings him down.”
——————-
Chris Grier is the Danny Crossman of GMs, lol.
Before Chris Grier, who was the last Dolphins GM to make the playoffs two years in a row? It’s kind of a trick question.
It has to be JJ or whomever took over right after JJ.
Nearly half the league makes the playoffs. It really isn’t that impressive, especially doing it by building a team trading for top players and signing a bunch of FAs for top dollar, then not being able to keep your own picks.
What is more impressive is just how woefully inept we’ve been for the past 20 years that we would consider selling out the future for a couple years of getting into the playoffs as a wildcard team as some standard of success.
If we sign Jonnu Smith at TE, it looks like him, Durham Smythe and Julian Hill are the group. Pretty solid. Not great but role players in our system.
Tim Knight
says:
March 5, 2024 at 9:22 pm
M13, sometimes you reply to me as if I don’t know our team, cap situation or our draft picks. I told you the other day we don’t have a 4th round pick.
We’ll see what our roster looks like in May. It’s way too early to freak out.
——-
Hey, if I come off that way to you, then that makes me feel bad. Sorry, for it’s certainly not intentional, man. I’ll try to do better.
And I’m sorry, but I AM beginning to freak out, Bro. I was riding high just a couple of days ago, but today really broke my confidence. I was CERTAIN we had a plan for Christian Wilkins, but now I’m just without words.
We’ll see what happens, but my confidence level is no longer high for our beloved Phins in the here and now.
Tim,
I’m honestly fucking bummed for our Phins right now, man.
I’ve been wrong COUNTLESS times before, but it’s not looking good to me right now.
Kong, yes it’s really Jimmy Johnson. One of the best football minds in my lifetime. Rick Spielman became GM under Dave Wannstedt. But Jimmy built the team just like he did at UM, Dallas and Miami.
I almost said Spielman, because I know we made the playoffs under Wannstedt before he ran JJ’s team into the ground, but I wasn’t sure when Spielman was GM; I know it wasn’t for all the Wanny years.
The last couple years of the 90’s into the early 00’s were my heaviest drug use years. I’m lucky I can remember I was a Dolphins fan during that era, lol.
😂
Spielman was a major talent evaluator from 2000-04.
M13, no worries but I don’t think the 1st and 2nd rounds is where it ends. You can find good players in 5-7 and as UDFAs. We’ve seen it.
You can, but to expect Grier to do it all in one draft is comical. He’s going to have to be magical this season
Not a lot of wiggle room to clear an additional 19m,
My guess is we’re going to re-sign Tua, cut Mike White and maybe even give Long a new contract
I was talking to a Dolphins fan on twitter who put up a Zach Sieler graphic of his 10 sacks and 63 tackles, and that’s why we’re letting Wilkins go. I mentioned to him that we have no one left on the line, and if Sieler is the only real talent on the D-line, then Sieler will get double teamed and taken out of the picture, and that he and Wilkins fed off of each other, and having Wilkins on the other side for the most part forced the opposing O-line to play them straight up.
He replies “watch the tape man, Sieler eats alone”
I say how can I watch the tape without Christian Wilkins in there, because he’s always in there?”
I then said, “I don’t think we can discuss this topic if you’re not comprehending the concept of what I’m talking about”
Some of you have said “Dark Mike” on here. I think I’m really “Dark Mike”. I’m literally so disappointed in what I perceive to be a complete failure by our GM. It felt wrong when he started saying early on that Wilkins and Hunt have earned the right to be free agents. Who cares whether they made a Pro Bowl or have been All Pro, these 2 players, unfortunately, are actually 2 of the best fucking players this GM has drafted, and he’s just letting them go? That’s bass ackwards. Good GM’s re-sign their best draft picks to 2nd contracts, and usually avoid trading tons of picks away and bringing in high priced free agents on the 3rd or 4th contracts. Now because of how many high priced players we traded for or signed in FA, we have no money available to pay our own. Let’s be serious for a second, if we weren’t in cap hell, or “The Capocalypse” as Omar calls it, would we be sitting here even remotely thinking about how much we have to pay Wilkins or Hunt? Fuck no we wouldn’t, we’d just expect it to happen. It’s fucking disgraceful.
Look, maybe Grier has a magic trick up his sleeve I don’t know about, but he better use it soon before things get really out of hand. In the back of my mind I’m hopeful that he does, but I can just see this roster looking way less talented than last year, and as Kong mentioned, we’ll have so many more built in excuses for when Tua and our team can’t beat a winning team. Ugh!
I take credit for Dark Mike 😃
I can almost guarantee I’ll get darker when they find $50M per for Tua, and then watch the stripped down roster struggle even more this season. Tua may have to play defense this season, maybe DE, or OLB. Then maybe he can actually earn the $50M
We are fine. Every team deals with these issues. The Patriots during their SB years constantly let good players go. This is life in today’s NFL.
Ken – Yeah, you go for it, and win a Super Bowl, fine. First of all, Brady didn’t ask for top QB money so the Patriots always had that flexibility. We’re gonna pay Tua more in one season than Brady made in 3 during his prime. We swung for the fences and got the 6th seed, and got blown out in the WC playoff game. That’s a huge difference. Can you honestly look at our situation now and think we’re going to be better than we were last season? I don’t see how you can
We were a punt return away from the 2nd seed
Or a QB away. It’s all perspective.
Ken – The Patriots were famous for trading players and getting draft capital. I recall them being consistent with letting good players go after their 2nd contract and getting comp picks. The good players going for their 2nd contracts were either signed or traded for a lot of picks.
they also cut good players and let others walk. It was just one example but there are plenty of other teams that do the same thing. Every team has to cope with the cap and every team loses some good players every year
But they had a plan.
Let’s not forget the lost first round pick from the tampering ruling. To play devil’s advocate, perhaps Grier was banking on the extra draft capital, especially if they kicked the can down the road and traded that pick for more picks the following year(s). That would have provided a little more cushion for what they probably knew was coming sooner or later (roster armageddon).
Hit on the CB Smith pick to replace X, and have enough picks (without the lost pick) to generally cover the losses would be a decent game plan. But it of course it didn’t quite play out that way.
Smith at TE would fill a want for McDaniel for the offense and frees up a draft pick for some other need. So I can get that if the money/contract details makes sense.
It’s all going to be interesting either way.
TE Smith is going to be very expensive. They are going to pay him close to what they could have resigned Hunt for.
We have no IOL and we make signing a 4th TE a priority?
We have Smythe, Hill and Conner on the roster right now.
I don’t disagree at all – it is a bit of a head scratcher. I guess McDaniel was pounding the table for a TE to fit into his plans, and didn’t see anyone currently on the roster or in their draft plans where they are drafting and targeting other needs in the draft) that would fit. The cost is the big thing. It doesn’t seem to make sense at the moment.
So, they are replacing Wilkins with a guy who did not play a snap last year and has only appeared in 2 games in each of the last 3 years before that in Isaiah Mack.
Let the filling of the roster with bargain basement garbage begin.
Can’t tell if they found this one at the thrift store or a garage sale. We will see.
Oh, but let’s take MM to the most expensive restaurant that we can’t afford and get him that nice beefy TE we don’t really need since we already have 2 solid ones.
I don’t believe that is the plan to replace Wilkins. I am also not sure Wilkins is definitely gone
I want to believe that.
Or maybe Hunt was taking one last look . . . Hopefully he comes back. I’d feel a lot better if he did.
Rosenhaus talking about a good meeting with the Fins regarding TE Smith, also says we’re players in the chase for Wilkins. Wanna believe, but keeping teams in play creates leverage so not sure it means anything when it’s the agent saying we’re alive. We really need to create cap space before any of this stuff is believable.
We have and need to clear much more. If you count the post 6/1 release of X, we are 2.9 million under the cap. Not in the negative anymore.
So, with the signing of DT Mack at probably league minimum we are still about 2 mil under the cap.
They could resign Hunt to a 4-5 year deal today and make his hit in 2024 around just over 1mil and we would still be under the cap.
I think we’re keeping Hunt.
The newest change to wordpress with these ‘blocks’ ini the comment box is another in a long string of dumb changes.
I still can’t find it in writing but when you designate someone as a post 6/1 cut you are allowed to be over the cap equal to but not greater than the amount of dead cap incurred by that player released. Meaning we can use that X money now and not have to wait until 6/1.
That was my understanding, but I am done looking. lol
It makes sense. Otherwise, what would be the point of having two players you can early designate as post 6/1 releases?
Right, I was just posting that any many don’t realize this. Even the media types.
That’s when I started questioning myself and now I can’t find anything on it.
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“If Manning were to sign Belichick, the idea of teaming with ESPN to create a Belichick and Nick Saban ‘Manningcast’ is expected to be broached.” That would be awesome.
———————–
Two of the most hated by us. lol TBH, their perspectives might be interesting.
Wow, BBM, I just found this.
Post-June 1 retirements and trades are treated the same way as a Post-June 1 release.
Can teams release players prior to June 1 and still get June 1 Cap treatment?
Yes, the 2020 CBA left in place a provision that allows teams to designate two (2) pre-June 1 releases for post-June 1 Salary Cap treatment. However, for the team there really is no great advantage to using this designation because the player still fully counts against the team’s Salary Cap until after June 1, at which point the player’s Cap number is treated as a post-June 1 release.
This provision is really in place to allow players to be released earlier than June 1 and hit the free agent market before teams have spent all of their free agent money and while teams are still looking to sign veterans to fill out their rosters.
https://russellstreetreport.com/salarycap/nfl-salary-cap-faqs/#:~:text=Post%2DJune%201%20retirements%20and,June%201%20Salary%20Cap%20treatment.
I’m really not understanding why the team bothers with designating that release then. Sure, it helps the player, but not us. As a matter of fact, if we release a guy like Howard post 6-1, there is probably a better chance we could re-sign him, because there’d be fewer teams with the money to sign him. IDK, weird.
I guess the only benefit is it’s spreads out the dead cap hit.
Oh right, gotacha. It does give some benefit there.
Well, that puts a wrench in things.
I am genuinely not getting it. Why limit the post 6-1 designation to 2 players? or.. Why bother having it at all?
They could resign Hunt to a 4-5 year deal today and make his hit in 2024 around just over 1mil and we would still be under the cap.
———————-
They can do this with Wilkins also.
Free agent signings start in 1 week. NFL draft starts in 50 days.
Ken – I would love some examples of good Patriots players that Belichick let walk going into their 2nd contracts. When I get home I can give you multiple examples of them letting guys go that were veterans into their 3rd contracts, or them trading guys and getting draft picks back. I honestly can’t think of any young players that they let go going into the 2nd contract
I feel like that whole process with the Pets trading vets instead of paying them started with Richard Seymour. I remember how surprising it was when they traded him. That was near the end of his 2nd contract. (maybe it started sooner, that is the guy I remember).
Van Noy, Trey Flowers, Rob Ninkovich, Chandler Jones, Jabaal Sheard. Lots of guys they either traded and cashed in picks, or let go, and got compensatory picks
I’m am not even 1/3 as hyped as Ryder about Jannu Smith. I also think he is wrong and will cost a lot. No way he comes at less than 7-8 mil per year after making 8.5 last year and having his best season of his career.
(16) Film Breakdown: Jonnu Smith would be a GREAT Fit for the Miami Dolphins – YouTube
One guy projecting where the top 2 FA DT’s will go.
Chris Jones to the Texans
Christian Wilkins to the Raiders
IF there’s any hope of retaining Wilkins and/or Hunt (or any other decent FA before they fly off the shelf once the FA signing period begins), we must get a new deal done with Tua, restructure all of ‘Reek, Ramsey, and Chubb… and hope T-Stead doesn’t retire.
That would give us close to $30M in savings (contingent upon what Tua gets paid in ’24 on a new deal… let’s say $15M) to get things done (including signing our rookie draft class and filling out our roster)… but then we’re kicking the can to 2025 in doing so.
We’re in quite the predicament, peeps.
ICYMI, this is why we don’t want T-Stead to retire…
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/nfl-salary-cap-2024-what-a-terron-armstead-retirement-would-do-to-the-miami-dolphins-cap/ar-AA1n4Z50
I’m frustrated that I can’t even do an <i>accurate</i> mock draft this year due to waiting on FA with the very delicate situation we’re in with our cap space. This is very uncharted water for me.
Sure, I could do speculative mock drafts and there’s nothing wrong in doing so, but I don’t know where to begin (other than O-Line) until we actually know what we’re dealing with.
At the moment, I’m none too pleased with Chris “Grief” Grier.
I mean, if we have to replace Christian Wilkins (it’s not over yet), that changes the whole dynamic of even working out a plan via a mock draft.
didn’t they just re-sign him last offseason?
The same cannot be said about our Phins…
if we resign Tua, there will be the same clear path bc the new contract will be a similar structure and will lower his 2024 cap hit
and by doing so they will make his future cap hits 61M, 58M, 51M & 47M
Quarterback salaries are fucking ridiculous.
My “panic” over the cap situation started on Madden when I finished the season and tried to start re-signing guys. Even in video game world it was impossible to fill out 53 man roster. I had to quit my franchise and start over from the beginning of the season rather than continue to play “future seasons”
That made me take a step back and think. If I can’t do it in make believe land, what are the chances Grief can do it in the real world where players have feelings?
did the Bills just release their entire secondary to get complaint with the cap?
Buffalo Bills
SIGNINGS
ROSTER CUTS
Good grief, what is Word press doing now? I just got a notification to approve this….
WTF???
It exceeded the number of links allowed in a comment. Each of those player names is a link. Watch your links lol
TE Zach Ertz is signing a one-year deal with Washington worth up to $5 million, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported, per a source.
———————————
That means Jannu Smith will cost us way more and probably around where I predicted, 7-9 mil.
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The #Bills plan to move Connor McGovern to center this upcoming season. Meanwhile, David Edwards, who just signed a contract extension, is in line to start at guard.
did you mean to put links for each of those players BBmike
or is that just a new WordPress thing?
No, it’s this new wordpress thing.
Also, when I post a youtube video, it just posts the link now.
It was just a simple cut and paste. It never posted the info as links before.
copy and paste
the Bills link too me to a link of raw sewage
coincidence?
lol
There are quite a few good centers available in FA now. Oh, wait… we can’t afford them.
Signing Jonnu Smith is like buying floor mats for your car that doesn’t run and has no engine
^
Or in my early days at 16 years old, the car stereo was more expensive than the car itself! LOL
I don’t get it. He’s already a FA so it’s just a head start before other players become FAs.
What don’t you get? We’re gonna pay a #2 TE $7-9M per year when we only have 1 OL, and 1 DL, 1 LB, 1 S, 1 CB
I have no idea what we’ll pay him but if they like the player and think he’s a good fit why is that a bad thing?
Those other positions aren’t available yet.
M – sound system is of utmost importance! 😄
Tim – we’re in the capocalypse and we have no money. you don’t sign a non starter for that amount of money when you’re so far away from even fielding a legitimate starting 11 on either side of the football. I think it’s crazy.
good news for Damar Hamlin
after the bills cut their entire secondary
he’s going to be eligible to be come back player of the year again next year when he’s actually forced off the inactive list
🤣
Mike, the Dolphins FO is just biding their time. They’ve got a plan…
https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/ac187401-cf69-4ec9-90ef-369f78c3e5d1
LOL! Love Rocky Horror
Mike E,
I’m also a little depressed with the Jonnu Smith talk. We are probably losing two of our best players and we hear about an average TE in negotiations. It’s like KC finding a way to lose Mahomes but someone saying that Russell Wilson is still out there! WOOT! Where do I sign up for this sweet winning!?
I love how Dolphins twitter is rejoicing that the Bills are cleaning house. Oh, they’re pumped up at the number of players and who the players are. I still see #17 on that team though, and as long as he’s still there, they can still kick our ass. I can honestly say I’ve never felt that way about Tua. Yeah, Allen turns the ball over a lot, and he’s not as accurate as Tua, but when the game is on the line, Allen will do whatever it takes to win. Tua, pfffffffffffffffft.
that I agree with
we’ll pay Jonnu 3 or 4m no more
Signing Jonnu Smith is like buying floor mats for your car that doesn’t run and has no engine
that was his signing in NE, we have a QB and an O
If we’re only willing him to pay him that, he’s not signing here. He just had his best season, he’ll get more elsewhere. We should have our priorities laid out better.
Then you have nothing to worry about with Jonnu
Pitt and GB have always played the next man up game, letting players walk, let’s hope one day it works for us
Key is to have a QB, that makes others better
Tua will be that some day, hope he isn’t Gannon
So X was on the Joe Rose Show this morning. Joe asked him if the door was still open, that Chris Grier said he would take him back for the right price. Joe also mentioned Houston (Where X is from) as a possible destination.
X said ” That door is closed man, I want to go to a winning team, and go on a playoff run”
Ouch
Yes, ouch indeed!
Steve – It’s not so much Jonnu as the Dolphins FO. They best be looking to re-sign some of there own important players before seeming scatter-brained looking at #2 TE’s. I have nothing against Jonnu Smith other than the fact that we have no money to pay our own guys, let alone a 2nd TE.
The Bills also have picks in every round, and I believe they have 3 5th RD picks, 3 6th RD picks, and one 7th. Seems like they’re in better shape to retool than our Dolphins, but some Dolphins fans are laughing at each release. They won’t be laughing once the games resume
@RapSheet
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FA DT Foley Fatukasi is scheduled to visit the #Bills today, source said. Should land with a team soon.
Bills are signing Taylor Rapp and Mitch Trubusky, per
@adamschefter
Broncos releasing safety Justin Simmons after eight seasons
Adam Beasley did an article that makes a little sense in why they are talking to Jannu Smith.
Most 2024 free agents will become FA on 13 March. The players lost by a team due to FA will gain possible comp picks. For the dolphins, that will mainly be Wilkins, Hunt and Williams. A 3rd for Wilkins and probably 4th and/or 5th for Hunt and Williams.
If the Dolphins sign any FA who becomes a FA at the start of the new league year on 13 March, up to 2 May, that FA will count against any 2025 comp picks. So, don’t expect to see Miami sign any of these FA’s until after 2 May. They may negotiate as soon as they become available but won’t sign them until after 2 may.
The exception is any player released by a team prior to the new league year can be signed and NOT count against 2025 comp picks. Jannu Smith fits this exception and same with any other player who has already been released.
Still, what does not make sense is signing a 4th TE at around 7mil to the roster and not trying to resign our own core players. If you don’t think it will be that much then you are wrong. That 7 mil is only top 15 TE money. As of right now, Smythe will be the 19th highest paid TE at 4.9 mil. Smith won’t be paid less than that unless it is pushed forward and has a minimal hit in 24′.
If they really cared about pick compensation they should have tagged Wilkins. Also, I think Hunt should be a 4th RD pick at worst. of course depending on who we sign
Figuring Hunt gets a contract for around $12-14M per and that should be worth a 4th RD comp, maybe even a 3rd.
Yes, I think what is factored in is the contract they get, the % of snaps played this season and any awards the get for or during the season.
Right Mike, I don’t the formula exactly in order, but I think contract amount, and playing time are two big factors.
Lol at X. His best days are well behind him, he’s got generational wealth. Time for him to see if he can get a chance at a ring.
dolphins just signed Jonnu Smith
New floor mats! Let’s go!
🤣 Step on it! Whoops, still no engine! lol
https://x.com/flasportsbuzz/status/1765809234568998970?s=46
Question: When does Tanner Conner ever make the roster? How is he still around?
Hmm, you don’t have an OL to block for your QB so you sign a 4th TE who can’t run block for shit.
Is Joe Biden our GM????
𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭: Iowa TE Erick All has drawn a lot of interest from the #Dolphins, #49ers, #Chiefs, and #Vikings, per
@TonyPauline
—————————————-
Not anymore for the Dolphins.
The worst part of Jannu Smith’s game is run blocking. So, when he is in there, teams will be thinking pass like when Gesicki was in there.
Yeah, I don’t get it either. I thought they were looking for their “Kittle”?
LOSING WILKINS MOCK DRAFT – Trade down
I think adding both DT’s Murphy and Fiske would make us miss Wilkins much less. Murphy in the middle with Fiske and Seiler on the edges would be nice!
31. Graham Barton OT/OG/C Duke
55. Byron Murphy II DT Texas
63. Braden Fiske DT Florida State
157. Aaron Casey ILB Indiana
176. Javion Cohen OG Miami (FL)
186. Jarrian Jones CB Florida State
200. Nathan Thomas OT Louisiana
237. Mark Perry S TCU
239. Rasheen Ali RB Marshall
249. Jordan Strachan EDGE South Carolina
I LIKE THIS!
I could run with that!
I’m thinking outside of the box on this, NOT endorsing to do as much, alright?
The Broncos owe Russell Wilson $36M this year alone. The thinking around league circles is that Wilson could be had close to veteren minimal $$$ due to that fact.
What IF we traded Tua for two 1st rounders and some change after signing Wilson for close to vet minimal $$$? That would save us roughly $25M, put us in prime position for the next two Drafts, and Wilson doesn’t suck.
Maybe would could bring either Wilkins or Hunt back, right? We’d have to do this very, very soon… before FA begins.
Would ya do this?
Tempting. For me, it would depend on how high that 1st is this year.
Rumors out there that Wilson and Steelers have mutual interest.
I can confirm that the Stealers* and Wilson have a meeting set up soon. I can also confirm that Wilson has spoken to one other mystery team other than the Stealers*.
How can I confirm? LOL, it was all on the Pat McAfee Show today.
I feel much differently about the Jonnu signing then some of you
I think it’s a good signing and gives us flexibility in the draft
we can probably draft a development TE You n day 3
I’m hoping to find the next kittles at TE but there doesn’t seem like a lot of room
Bowers is out of reach and when you get into 2nd round graded guys, it doesn’t seem like there’s a huge difference between 5th round guys
we can probably focus up front on OL and DT
If smith puts up the same numbers he did last season, he will be our 3rd best receiver – and we really need a 3rd option
he’s not going to be a superstar but he gives us some breathing room and flexibility that we seriously need with limited assets to spend
We have 4 TE’s on the roster now with other areas of MUCH greater need. I can’t even see thinking about drafting a 5th TE on day 3.
BB Mike,
What if we traded Tua to either the Falcons (R1P8), the Vikings (R1P11), the Broncos (R1P12), the Raidahz (R1P13), the Seahawks (R1P16), or the Stealers* (R1P20)?
The Falcons would be ideal… trade down a few spots and land a late 1st rounder. We could possibly come away with T-Stead’s replacement, JPJ, and Barton.
Same could apply with the Vikings.
And remember… we might be able to bring Hunt back with the $$$ saved. Our O-Line would be SICK!!!
That would work!
Concurred, but I don’t see Coach McDaniel signing off on as much.
We shall see… it’s one of the only ways we can get out of our cap situation.
I like ILB Casey a lot. He is not the fastest, but he is a thumper. They say he doesn’t have good instincts. I don’t see that. Also, how does one become the #1 ILB in tackles for loss and 4th overall (20 TFL) in the country and have no instincts?
(18) 2024 NFL Draft Highlights: LB Aaron Casey | Indiana Football – YouTube
This is awful.
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/some-chiefs-dolphins-fans-who-attended-record-cold-playoff-game-now-need-amputations-per-report/
Thank you, Tim. I just sent your link to Roger Goodell…
This cat has undeniable TALENT. I’d take a flier on him somewhere on day 3. I believe Coach McDaniel could transform Milton into a very dangerous weapon over time.
Maybe this is the plan.
yeah, F that. if we brought in a guy to catch screen passes they deserve to have the headquarters burned to the ground.
More bargain basement players. We are going to be great this year! NOT
We’re loading up with never been DT’s. BYE BYE WILKINS!!
We needed depth anyway and we also have a new DC who’s been a DL coach most of his coaching career. He really believes in being stout up front, tough against the run to force teams to pass. Those are his words from his press conference.
I’m sorry Tim , I’m just getting really bad vibes from our team. I know we need depth, I just hope that this is all these guys are. I don’t want to sit through a season and watch this defense take 5 steps backwards. It feels like that’s what we’re doing. Time will tell.
So, we signed 2 DT’s that didn’t play at all last year.
Nice
Roster fodder/development projects
Jonnu Smith is solid signing. It is not an exciting one but definitely an upgrade
Upgrade in the passing game. Liability in the run game. We have no OL to block therefore we will need our best blocking TE in there to block.
“Oh, Smith is back in there, it’s a pass play.”
It doesn’t really work that way. Empty backfield usually signals a team is passing, not necessarily in 12 personnel.
I do not see an upgrade here at all.
M13, the first throw was only about 58 yards. The second one was 70 yards and some say it was 70+ yards as he threw from his 10 yard line on the second throw instead of the 12 yard line like on the first throw.
(18) Joe Milton III launches it deep during the 2024 NFL Combine – YouTube
We needed depth anyway
————
We need starters.
We ain’t got no money for starters!
https://youtu.be/4c_Nqlnn40w?si=HElo1QEYbyxPlWl5
These are additions every team makes during this time of year. These additions aren’t anything more than adding competition and building a roster. It doesn’t mean replacements for other players. These are pre-free agency moves. Happens every year.
Mike, the biggest issue for me is Phillips and Chubb coming off of their injuries. Those were two devastating injuries to key players. Very difficult to compensate for that.
development projects
—————————-
This will be Isaiah Mack’s 6th season trying to make an NFL team. I think he is past the development stage.
Still a development project and or roster fodder. These are low value signings that could possibly give a high yield and if they don’t then no big deal
^
we don’t have the cap to tag Wilkins
That’s what a lot of people were missing. It would have restricted anything we wanted to do in FA until he agreed on a contract. The two parties aren’t on the same page.
Jonnu 2 years up to 10m, should mean incentives, I’d expect about 3m to count for this year’s cap
like the signing, gives Tua the outlet, that Berrios wasn’t, playing the slot lessens the need for another productive WR
It allows us to play big and fast. 12 personnel – Smythe/Smith TE, Hill/Waddle WR and a RB. You don’t know what we’re running.
You can add Ingold into that type of mix too. Just flip it to 21 personnel. You can line up big but still have major speed on the field with Hill, Waddle and Achane.
After Duram Smythe and Jonnu Smith maybe Julian Hill is our young developmental TE. One year under his belt. That’s three not sure we need much more.
I’d like to add Conner Tanner to those 3, 4 TEs and 5 WRs
I see Hill taking the next step, he seems primed to take the year 2 leap giving us 2 good blockers and 2 good receivers
Our packages could include lots of 12 personnel with a TE in the slot
Braylon Sanders should be given a chance at WR
One year deal to extend Elijah Campbell. Wooo hooo! Our season is saved…
Holy Crap UK!! Your Bobbies really take traffic stops to a new level! I’m not EVER driving in the UK!
NEW BLOG UP!!!
no….
Oh YES!!!!