Dolphins eyeing free agent offensive linemen, prepared to double down on big need
The Dolphins tried to survive last season employing low-salaried guards who were either on cheap rookie deals or earning the league minimum.
That doesn’t appear to be their plan any longer.
The interior line will be among several priorities early in free agency, and coach Mike McDaniel said Tuesday that there are a few offensive linemen that the team is eyeing in free agency.
Asked about plans to upgrade the offensive line, McDaniel said at the NFL Scouting Combine that “I’m excited because I think we have a tangible opportunity to improve that starts in free agency with a couple of guys that we have targeted that you think you can get a deal done with them, and that continues into the draft.
“I think it’s a very good time to have [that] need. I’s time for us to invest in that position and we’re excited to. I would expect it to surface itself in both free agency and the draft.”
Nearly 40 veteran guards will be free agents, including several very good starters. Among impending free agents, Pittsburgh’s James Daniels, the Colts’ Will Fries, Detroit’s Kevin Zeitler, Kansas City’s Trey Smith, Chicago’s Tevin Jenkins, San Francisco’s Aaron Banks, the Eagles’ Meckhi Becton, Baltimore’s Patrick Mekhari and Carolina’s Austin Corbett would all be appealing options.
Here’s more on all the prominent free agent guards available.
The Dolphins achieved some cap relief on Tuesday when Terron Armstead agreed to restructure his contract, freeing up close to $14 million in cap space. Miami could carve out another $24 million in cap savings by restructuring Bradley Chubb, Zach Sieler and Austin Jackson.
Another $19 million could be created by restructuring Tua Tagovailoa’s contract, but that would result in $5 million additional annual cap hits later this decade and it’s unclear if Miami is willing to do that.
But all of those moves would leave Miami with more than $55 million in cap space this offseason.
All of the Dolphins’ veteran guards - Liam Eichenberg, Isaiah Wynn and Rob Jones - will be free agents on March 10, unless they sign new deals with Miami before that.
If the Dolphins sign two starting guards in free agency, that would lessen the chance of Miami using the 13th pick on an interior linemen. The Dolphins generally don’t like using first-round picks on interior linemen, but there are three projected for Miami’s range: guards/tackles Armand Membou (Missouri) and Kelvin Banks Jr. (Texas) and Alabama guard Tyler Booker.
In his newest mock draft released Tuesday, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has Miami selecting Membou, noting the Dolphins “could lose both starting guards (Eichenberg and Jones) to free agency, and this is a chance to improve the pass protection as a whole.
“The Dolphins were 28th in pass block win rate this past season (55.7%), and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has had three diagnosed concussions over his career. This must be a priority. At Mizzou, Membou played right tackle (where key Dolphins contributor Kendall Lamm is also a free agent, by the way), but he can really line up anywhere, and some scouts think he’s a better fit inside. He allowed just one sack in 2024.
If the Dolphins can address both starting guard spots in free agency, that could allow them to use the 13th pick on a safety (Georgia’s Malaki Starks, whom Kiper has slotted 14th in the first round), a pass rushing (Georgia’s Mykel Williams, Marshall’s Mike Green, Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart), an inside linebacker (Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell) or a cornerback (Michigan’s Will Johnson) or a defensive tackle (Michigan’s Mason Graham, who Kiper has gone well before No. 13, or Mississippi’s Walter Nolen, who is projected anywhere from the early teens to the end of the first round).
This story was originally published February 25, 2025 at 3:06 PM.
