Miami Dolphins add to treasure trove of cap space. What happens now
A six-pack of Miami Dolphins notes on a Friday:
▪ The Dolphins picked up more than $7 million in cap space this week, leaving them with nearly $25 million and in good position to sign free agents if a need arises.
Even so, the Dolphins could opt to carry over much of that space to the 2021 offseason, when cap space around the league will be less than originally expected because of an anticipated large drop in league revenues amid the pandemic.
The decisions of receivers Albert Wilson and Allen Hurns to opt out of the 2020 season, combined with the release of defensive back Cordrea Tankerley, leaves Miami with $24.7 million in space under the cap. Only Cleveland, New England, Washington, Denver, the Jets and Tennessee have more.
So even though the Dolphins now have the seventh-most cap space in the league — according to the NFL players union figures — it would be surprising if they shower a free agent with a big-money deal.
Would Miami sign defensive lineman Jadeveon Clowney or cornerback Logan Ryan on a reasonable deal if either player comes to them? That would absolutely be discussed. Miami appreciates the skills of both.
But a big-money deal that would erode a lot of Miami’s cap space? That would surprise me, with Ryan reportedly seeking $10 million earlier this offseason.
Signing a veteran wide receiver or two - which is expected in the next few days - will consume a bit of that cap space, unless they’re minimum deals, when the cap hit would be negligible. Miami has 86 players under contract, but only the top 53 contracts count against a team’s cap.
The Dolphins also will need to use about $2.5 million of their cap space to sign a 16-player practice squad.
Incidentally, by opting out before Thursday’s deadline, Wilson’s contract, which was due to expire after the 2020 season, instead will extend through 2021.
Wilson is due to make $2.1 million (of which $1 million is guaranteed) in 2021, with a $5.2 million cap hit. There would be $2.3 million in dead money if Miami releases him before next season.
Hurns, meanwhile, also will see his contract roll over after opting out.
He is due to make $1.9 million in 2021, with a $2.9 million cap hit and $2.2 million in dead money if cut before 2021.
He is due to make $2.5 million in 2022, with a $3.6 million cap number, but only $433,000 in dead money if he’s cut.
▪ With Ereck Flowers on the COVID-19 list, we hear Miami has been using rookie fourth-rounder Solomon Kindley at left guard in walk-through work this week.
Though Kindley could always be moved to the right side, the right side competition appears to be Jesse Davis and Robert Hunt at right tackle, and Davis, Hunt, Danny Isidora and Shaq Calhoun at right guard.
Michael Deiter remains an option at right guard, though the Dolphins want to see what they have with him at center.
▪ Even with two of the NFL’s highest-paid cornerbacks, Pro Football Focus rates the Dolphins’ defensive backfield 15th in the league, which is middle of the pack. Miami wasn’t rated higher because PFF isn’t terribly bullish on Miami’s safeties. Here’s what PFF said:
“At safety, the Dolphins have two former corners slotted to start in Bobby McCain and Eric Rowe, giving them plenty of flexibility when matching up against opposing offenses. McCain played 446 snaps at free safety last year, where his 67.7 coverage grade ranked in the bottom third of the league.
“Rowe played all over the field in 2019, including 445 snaps in the box, 226 in the slot and 254 on the outside. He finished with a 58.9 overall grade and eight penalties. Rowe did his best work when playing in the box, and that could be his best fit moving forward. Third-round pick Brandon Jones is also a player to watch. He works well around the line of scrimmage and has the size and physicality to match up with tight ends…. The Dolphins don’t have a great safety group on paper, but they’ve built a versatile unit that should increase its defensive flexibility.”
▪ Regardless of what veteran receiver is added, I’m eager to see what Gary Jennings and Isaiah Ford can do in the slot.
In 2017, Jennings had 1,034 slot receiving yards for West Virginia, second most among all FBS wide receivers who returned in 2018. (Jennings’ numbers were down a bit in 2018 because of injuries.)
According to Pro Football Focus, Ford played 68 plays in the slot last season; he had 11 targets, 7 receptions, 65 yards in receptions and four first downs and no drops. Of his 65 yards, 39 came after the catch.
▪ Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa continues to impress everyone.
“Tua, he’s definitely a people person,” Jordan Howard said. “Just a chill guy. I guess being from Hawaii, he just hangs loose. He’s definitely — people are going to gravitate toward him like ‘Fitz’ [Ryan Fitzpatrick]. He’s hungry. He’s being patient right now, but he’s definitely hungry.”
▪ Matt Breida was stunned, but then pleased, that Miami traded for him.
“When I first got traded I woke up in the morning, it was on draft day, and it was a bit of a shock to me because I know the Niners were doing everything in their power to try and bring everyone back for another year,’ he said. “Just the way things worked out obviously with them, the cap space — but I’m happy that I’m here. I’m glad that I’m able to play back in my home state for a great organization. I’m just trying to be an all-around complete running back in this game, prove to everyone that I can be an every-down back.”
Is he the fastest player in the league?
“You guys [have] seen the Next Gen Stats for the past two years [which indicate he is the fastest],” he said. “I always get this question and until someone beats my time — beats me out in that same year — then I’m still the fastest guy.
“It’s a great honor to be known as one of the fast guys in the league. Just coming in undrafted, it’s pretty cool because it shows that no matter where you came from, you can still be one of the top guys in the NFL.”
Teammates, naturally, want to race him.
“Me and Jakeem [Grant] haven’t really talked about [racing to determine who’s faster] too much, but Kalen [Ballage] got on me yesterday. He wants to race in the 100 meter and stuff, so I might have to race him. I think me and Jakeem will eventually race, but we haven’t talked about that yet.”
And Breida makes this clear:
“I think you play football with an actual football and shoulder pads on, so I’m more than willing to race anyone without shoulder pads. It would be easier for me, but we play football with all of the equipment on, so I don’t see a lot of guys who can run that fast with a football in their hand and full equipment.”
This story was originally published August 7, 2020 at 3:11 PM.
