Dolphins facing decisions on Williams and Needham. What’s involved. And personnel notes
A six-pack of Dolphins notes on a Thursday as the team moves ahead with interviews for head coaching finalists Mike McDaniel and Kellen Moore and owner Stephen Ross deals with the fallout of Brian Flores’ allegations:
▪ Among the mysteries of this Dolphins season: Why did Preston Williams’ playing time and production plunge, even when DeVante Parker missed time with a hamstring injury?
The only conclusion to be drawn is that the Dolphins believed receiver Mack Hollins - who brings more special teams value - gave them the better chance to win.
Hollins caught four touchdowns on 14 catches and played 340 offensive snaps. Williams caught no touchdowns on six receptions and played only 175 offensive snaps.
Before sustaining a season-ending foot injury in Week 9 against Arizona in 2020, Williams - despite some drops - had the look of a longterm rotation piece, producing 50 catches, 716 yards and nine touchdowns in 16 games and 14 starts.
That was essentially one full season of work over two seasons that were both short-circuited at the midway point -- by a knee injury in 2019 and the foot injury in 2020.
But his role diminished dramatically in 2021, and he closed with just six catches for 71 yards. He missed time in training camp and preseason with an injury, played in eight regular-season games, started three, was a healthy scratch for six games, dressed but didn’t play in another, and missed a game because of COVID-19.
Now he’s hoping to salvage his Dolphins career as he enters free agency.
“I had my ups and downs,” he said of his third NFL season. “I want to put in the work to get back to where I used to be. Having injuries isn’t what I expected.”
This season was filled with frustrations - not only the reduced role, but needing to spend 45 minutes or so waiting in his car for COVID test results five days a week, an NFL requirement for unvaccinated players.
He caught the virus for the first time in December and experienced more symptoms than several vaccinated teammates who tested positive. “I had fever, body aches, chills, bad for two or three days,” he said.
He said he never regretted not getting vaccinated, asserting that he didn’t have “the time” once the season started.
As an undrafted free agent with an expiring three-year contract, Williams made $850,000 in 2021.
Because he’s a restricted free agent, the Dolphins could place a $2.43 million right-of-first refusal tender on him or cut him loose. It’s more likely they don’t tender him and allow him to become an unrestricted free agent, which wouldn’t rule out a return.
Not playing much this year left him hungry to regain a prominent role.
“I want to be out there real bad,” he said. “Let’s start over and get back out there, getting reps at the same time as everybody else, being there for camp and not missing camp. My confidence never leaves. I still believe I’m that guy. Just waiting for my opportunity again.”
▪ Cornerback Nik Needham is by far the most important of the Dolphins’ small group of restricted free agents, which also includes Williams, running back Patrick Laird and linebacker Sam Eguavoen.
The Dolphins could place a second-round tender on Needham, which would assure him $3.98 million if he signed a one-year deal, per overthecap.com’s projections.
The Dolphins have the option of placing a first-round tender ($5.56 million), a second-round tender or the aforementioned $2.43 million right-of-first refusal tender.
There’s no question Needham will be tendered; the only question is the dollar amount.
Tending a player gives the team the right to match any outside offers.
Needham finished with an 81.4 passer rating in his coverage area - excellent from a defensive standpoint - and no touchdowns allowed, per Pro Football Focus.
▪ Charlie Campbell of Walter Camp Football reported this week from the Senior Bowl in Mobile that the Dolphins “have shopped” DeVante Parker. If that’s the case, that would be news to Parker.
General manager Chris Grier always has been a big supporter of Parker, who was limited to 11 games this past season because of hamstring injuries. He caught 40 passes for 515 yards and two touchdowns, two years after catching a career-high 72 passes for 1202 yards and nine touchdowns.
Parker is under contract at a reasonable $5.6 million next season, but none of that money is guaranteed. His cap hit drops from $8.7 million to $5.4 million if he’s cut or traded before June 1 - which is hardly worth the savings. His dead money cap hit drops to $2.7 million if he’s cut after June 1.
▪ As expected, Andrew Van Ginkel’s playing time increased following the February release of Kyle Van Noy. Van Ginkel’s snap counts on defense rose from 480 in 2020 (46 percent of Miami’s defensive snaps) to 801 (71 percent).
He was fifth in the NFL among edge players with 16 quarterback hits but had only four sacks, down from 5.5 in 2020. “Being there a half second earlier would change the game,” he said.
Van Ginkel forced one fumble in 2021, after forcing three in 2020. So he’s looking for more flash plays.
He said his goal is “being quicker with my trigger.”
▪ The Dolphins see potential with undrafted rookie guard Robert Jones, who played 10 snaps as a sixth lineman against the Jets on Dec. 19, then missed a game with COVID-19 and then started at right tackle in the finale against New England.
“It was very frustrating,” he said of being sidelined with COVID immediately after finally getting a role. “I hated it but it’s just the world we’re in right now.”
Jones said he has taken center snaps on his own, away from practice, so that he’s able to play any of the five offensive line positions.
He closed the season having played 79 snaps, including 62 in the finale. The Dolphins know Jones can play guard and wanted to get a look at him at tackle in the finale, replacing Jesse Davis. PFF said Jones allowed a sack and two pressures in that game against New England.
“I learned a lot,” he said. “I feel I can play anything.”
▪ Here’s a story from Mike Gesicki, which offered insight into how veterans handle young players, and what rookie tight end Hunter Long has done in practice:
“In the last preseason game this year against Cincinnati, I remember Hunter ran a flag and Reid Sinnett threw it up and it was a difficult catch, over the shoulder. To me, those are the hardest catches, over the shoulder. He didn’t come down with it. He came to the sideline and for like a split second he looked like it was over. I was sitting there and I didn’t say a word.
“I went up to him and ignored the fact that it happened and kept talking to him because I’ve been in that scenario before. Finally, I just said to him like, ‘Yo, I know what you’re thinking. It’s preseason three. You’re good. You are good. You are going to learn from this experience and then you are going to go make plays on Sundays.’ I think that was the one instance that stuck out to me.
“Now Hunter has done great things in practice, has got in and made the most of his opportunities in games and I’m excited for his future here in Miami. That’s just one small occurrence that kind of stuck out with me in terms of being a veteran and being through an experience like that.”
This story was originally published February 3, 2022 at 2:04 PM.
