NFL free agent blog: Dolphins still looking for a starting tackle. Here’s who’s left
Welcome to Day 5 of our Dolphins-flavored NFL free agent blog.
In four days, the Dolphins have re-signed their two best free agents (Emmanuel Ogbah and Mike Gesicki), upgraded at running back with Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert; upgraded at receiver with Cedrick Wilson Jr.; augmented their offensive line with guard Connor Williams, brought back their group of inside linebackers, found a backup quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater and signed some depth.
What they haven’t done is addressed their biggest hole: offensive tackle. At the moment, Liam Eichenberg and Jesse Davis remain the starters.
Here’s a look at what’s left in free agency at that position (and refresh all day for the latest Dolphins news as we move this blog along in Day 5 of free agency):
1) Terron Armstead. The Dolphins are believed to be interested, but Armstead reportedly has been awaiting Deshaun Watson resolution, and some reports say he prefers to stay in New Orleans. Miami has the cap capability to sign him.
Armstead missed nine games last season, two the previous season.
2) La’el Collins. The Dolphins could have had a high-end right tackle under contract for three years if they had been willing to trade a second-day draft pick to Dallas.
Instead, they haven’t pursued him aggressively enough after his release, and Collins is spending the day with the Cincinnati Bengals, who are the front-runner to sign him.
3) Trent Brown. The former Patriots starting right tackle - who has left tackle experience - reportedly has visited Seattle. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, suggested on television last Sunday that the Dolphins try to sign him. Like Armstead, he has battled injury issues. Brown has missed 24 games over the past three years.
4) Duane Brown. Seattle’s left tackle last season is 36 and allowed eight sacks last season. So would he really be much of an upgrade?
5) Eric Fisher. The 31-year old left tackle graded out very well as a run blocker for the Colts last season but permitted seven sacks. He would be more of a stop gap.
6) David Quessenberry, who wasn’t tendered by the Titans this week. Quessenberry, 31, played every snap for the Titans at right tackle and graded out well as a run blocker. But he permitted a league-high 11 sacks. So he’s not a longterm solution, if any solution.
7) Jason Peters. The longtime Bills and Eagles left tackle, now 40 years old, started 15 games for the Bears last season and yielded six sacks. He was most recently second-team all NFL in 2014. At the very least, he would be a stopgap. The Dolphins haven’t called him.
8) Daryl Williams. The 29-year-old lineman was released by the Bills last week after starting 17 games last season, playing both right tackle and right guard. The former fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma played 600 snaps at right guard and 571 at right tackle last season and permitted four sacks. He’s a player worth monitoring for Miami.
9) Billy Turner. The former Dolphins third-round pick, now 30, started 13 games at right tackle last season, missed three games with a knee injury, and then started at left tackle in Green Bay’s playoff loss to the 49ers. He allowed only three sacks. He’s actually one of the better remaining options.
10) Cornelius Lucas: A solid veteran who played in 15 games with seven starts for Washington last season. Lucas, 30, has started at right and left tackle in his career and was PFF’s highest-graded lineman in Week 11 last season. He’s one name on Miami’s radar that the Dolphins are monitoring, among others.
11) Nate Solder: The longtime Patriots starter, now 33, started 16 games for the Giants last season and allowed six sacks.
12) Geron Christian: The former third-round pick out of Louisville played in 14 games and started eight for Houston last season. He allowed only one sack last season.
13) Brandon Shell. Started 13 games at right tackle for the Seahawks and permitted three sacks. The former Jets fifth-round pick is 30. Miami is not in the mix at this time.
14) Bryan Bulaga. Once a very good tackle but has missed 22 games due to injury over the past two years.
15) Marcus Cannon. He was Houston’s opening day starting right tackle n 2021 - after starting two years for the Patriots - but missed the final 13 games with a back injury and is 34.
16) Bobbie Massie. Thirteen starts for Denver at right tackle last season and permitted five sacks.
17) Brandon Parker. The former third-round pick made 13 starts at right tackle for the Raiders last season and yielded eight sacks.
18) Riley Reiff. He’s 33 and had 12 starts at right tackle for the Bengals last season, relinquishing four sacks.
19) Germain Ifedi. Had seven starts at right tackle for the Bears last season and allowed two sacks.
1 p.m. update: The Dolphins announced the re-signing of Elandon Roberts, who had 83 tackles last season in 17 games, include 14 starts.
1:15 p.m. update: The Dolphins are keeping tight end Durham Smythe, per his buddy, Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki. Smythe last season set a career high with 34 catches for 357 yards. He’s a capable blocker.
Smythe has started more games than Gesicki during their four seasons in Miami. Smythe has started 41, including 12 last season. Gesicki has started 30, including nine last season.
For those wondering how playing time is created for Hunter Long and asking about Adam Shaheen, keep in mind that Shaheen’s $1.7 million salary isn’t guaranteed and cap hit shrinks from $2.2 million to $333,334 if he’s cut. But he’s a solid player.
It’s not something of a conundrum about how to develop Long after investing third rounder on him.
2:30 p.m update: The Dolphins announced the signing of receiver Trent Sherfield, who has 37 catches for 427 yards in 61 games and five starts for Arizona and San Francisco.
3 p.m. update: Deshaun Watson has decided to play for the Cleveland Browns, creating another obstacle for the Dolphins in the AFC playof race. So the Dolphins this season get games against Buffalo’s Josh Allen twice; Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers; Cleveland’s Watson; Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow; the Chargers’ Justin Herbert; Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson and Minnesota’s Kirk Cousins and talented weapons Dalvin Cook and Justin Jefferson.
They’ll need to win couple of those games and nearly all of the others to be in wild card contention in a loaded AFC.
This story was originally published March 18, 2022 at 12:49 PM.
