Where Dolphins free agents rank. And network voices concerned about what’s done to Tua
A 10-pack of Dolphins notes on a Thursday:
▪ Pro Football Focus compiled its always comprehensive list of the top 100 impending free agents, and there are two Dolphins on the list, who happen to be ranked back-to-back:
Tight end Mike Gesicki is rated 21st on the list. PFF predicts he will get a four-year, $55 million deal, noting he has “emerged as one of the better tight ends in the league. He’s done most of his work in the slot or out wide, and that’s where he’s at his best, so teams looking for a true in-line tight end need not apply.”
Defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah is rated 22nd. PFF predicts he will secure a three-year, $46.5 million deal and says: “An average edge defender for the first five years of his career, Ogbah is trending in the right direction, and he’s effective against the run and rushing the passer from multiple alignments. His career production projects him as a low-end starter or high-end rotational defensive lineman.”
Among many unrestricted free agents on the list that would help the Dolphins: Saints left tackle Terron Armstead (No. 2 on the list), Tampa Bay receiver Chris Godwin (No. 3), Packers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell (27th), Colts left tackle Eric Fisher (34), Tennessee center Ben Jones (46), Jets right tackle Morgan Moses (58), Rams center Brian Allen (68), running backs Leonard Fournette (68) and James Conner (71) and New England left tackle Trent Brown (79).
▪ Tua Tagovailoa has had a lot working against him with the Dolphins: a poor offensive line, a substandard running game, not enough weapons on offense. And ESPN’s Dan Orlovksy cites another:
“Tua will be on [his] third system in three years, third coordinator in three years, third voice in three years. He’s gonna have to be an outlier and overcome some serious odds if he is gonna become good in the NFL.”
NBC analyst and former NFL coach Tony Dungy, responding to Orlovsky’s tweet, added: “That is the perfect formula for failure for highly drafted QBs. Continuity is so important but this happens quite a bit in the NFL. Some QBs are able to overcome it but many don’t.”
▪ The Dolphins’ pick from San Francisco will fall in the early 20s if the 49ers lose at Dallas on Sunday, and PFF has the Dolphins selecting Ohio State receiver Garrett Wilson at No. 22, noting he’s “another much-needed quick separator in the Dolphins’ quick passing offense. He finished 2021 with 371 yards and six touchdowns in his final three games.”
The Dolphins will send Philadelphia the 15th overall pick as part of last spring’s trade in which Miami moved from 12 to six in the draft.
▪ Lost in the shuffle of Sunday’s finale was rookie Robert Jones starting ahead of Jesse Davis at right tackle. Jones played 62 of the 68 offensive snaps.
“I think Robert Jones deserved some time, too,” Davis said. “I tried to help him as much as I could. He went out there with courage, and I thought he did a really good job... It sucks for me, but I’ll move on from it. I’ll learn to get better.”
PFF said Jones allowed one sack and three pressures.
Davis had knee issues going back to training camp. “I didn’t think I needed it scoped,” he said.
Was he ever 100 percent? “Was anybody?” he said. “I don’t know, I feel like I was.”
Ousted coach Brian Flores was a big supporter of Davis and started him all season before Sunday.
None of Davis’ $3.1 million salary next season is guaranteed and his $4.6 million cap hit would be reduced to $1 million if he’s cut. Whether he’s back or not, it would be surprising if he returns as the starting right tackle.
▪ Per Pro Football Focus’ Ryan Smith, the Dolphins’ five highest-graded players overall this season were, in order, Zach Sieler, Jevon Holland, Christian Wilkins, Jaylen Waddle and Emmanuel Ogbah.
▪ Wilkins tied Pittsburgh’s Cameron Heyward for the most tackles in the league by a defensive lineman (89). That was the highest tackle output by a Dolphins defensive lineman since Jeff Cross had 93 in 1993.
▪ Gesicki tied Randy McMichael’s team record for receptions by a tight end in a single season (73) and fell 11 yards short of his team record for receiving yards by a tight end (791).
▪ The final piece of the Dolphins’ 2022 schedule was firmed up Sunday night when the Chargers’ loss to the Raiders left them third in the AFC West, meaning they will host the Dolphins (who were third in the AFC East) next season.
Besides the usual home and road games against the New York Jets, New England and Buffalo, the Dolphins also have home games against Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Green Bay, Minnesota and Houston.
Besides the AFC East opponents, Miami’s road games in 2022 include dates at Baltimore, at Chicago, at Cincinnati, at Detroit, at San Francisco and at the Chargers.
▪ The Dolphins ended the season with six straight home wins, the first time they have won that many home games in a row since 2001 and 2002.
▪ Xavien Howard’s five interceptions tied for fourth most in the league, and Waddle finished eighth in the NFL in receptions with 104 and 25th in receiving yards at 1015.
Here’s my Wednesday piece on where Tua Tagovailoa finished in 25 statistical measures, including some surprises.
This story was originally published January 13, 2022 at 1:02 PM.
