By Justin Porreca
Staff Writer
Besides the Philadelphia Eagles, the Miami Dolphins have been the most active team this offseason. However, buyers beware. Winning during the offseason doesn’t always equate to playoff appearances, division titles and championships, and this scenario may be déjà vu for the Dolphins, a la 2013.
The Dolphins have batted a 1.000 so far this offseason. They began the offseason by dumping costly veterans with high cap numbers who were signed by the previous regime- Brian Hartline, Brandon Gibson, Cortland Finnegan, and Phillip Wheeler. They also gave the transition tag to versatile-hybrid tight end Charles Clay, to avoid him escaping to free agency. This was the start of a domino effect of intelligent front office moves from the Dolphins.
News broke in the early morning hours last Sunday that four-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro Ndamukong Suh, formerly of the Detroit Lions, agreed in principle to a $114 million contract with $60 million guaranteed. On March 11, Suh signed the contract to be the anchor of the Dolphins defense. Suh’s contract is the largest in NFL history for a non-quarterback free agent, and his guaranteed money is also the most in NFL history for a non-quarterback free agent.
While signing flashy, big-time free agents is exciting, they don’t often pan out, like the Washington Redskins with Albert Haynesworth. With their splashy signing of Suh, the Miami Dolphins became the winners of the most anticipated bidding contest in NFL free agency history since Reggie White.
With all of Miami’s obvious holes, did they get it right in signing Suh to a lucrative deal that eats at their salary cap for the next six years?
The Dolphins didn’t have a glaring need at defensive tackle; they could have re-signed their homegrown talent, Jared Odrick, for $72 million less and used that money to sign some tier-two free agents. Odrick graded out in the top 15 for defensive tackles in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus. Granted, Suh is a once-in-a-generation talent at defensive tackle and a player of his caliber doesn’t go on the market often, but Miami could have stocked up on various pieces to fill the many holes they have.
Miami needs a second running back, a starting wide receiver, one quality starting guard, a starting middle linebacker, a starting strong-side linebacker, a starting cornerback, and a starting free safety. The Dolphins acquired a centerpiece for the defense, but now lack the funding to provide intricate pieces around him. Suh’s massive $60 million guaranteed is 42 percent of Miami’s 2015 salary cap of $143.6 million.
Due to the acquisition of Suh, Miami had to let go of aging, unproductive defensive tackle Randy Starks, and have their Pro Bowl punter, Brandon Fields, take a pay cut. They then proceeded to sign ex-Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Brice McCain to a two-year, $5.5 million contract. They also signed concussion-prone, ex-Cleveland Browns tight end Jordan Cameron to a two-year, $15 million contract last Thursday.
Each of these signings are nice pieces for the Dolphins. They add depth, a nickel-corner and another weapon for Ryan Tannehill, but they don’t put the Dolphins over any type of hump.
The Dolphins would continue their mission of throwing players with massive salary cap hits out of the building with two big trades last Friday. Early last week, there was speculation the Dolphins were in talks with inside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe and wide receiver Mike Wallace to restructure their contracts and take reasonable pay cuts. That plan failed.
The Dolphins would trade Ellerbe and a 2015 third-round pick to the New Orleans Saints for wide receiver Kenny Stills and a 2015 fifth-round pick.
The Dolphins saved $5.7 million by trading Ellerbe and got off the hook for the $3 million he was guaranteed related to an injury clause in his contract. In return, they acquired a cheap, productive asset. Stills, a 2013 fifth-round draft choice who turns 23 in April, had 63 receptions for 931 yards and three touchdowns in a limited slot-receiver role last season for the Saints. His cap number is also low, $585,000 in 2015 and $675,000 in 2016.
Later that evening, the Dolphins would trade their number-one wide receiver, Mike Wallace, and a 2015 seventh-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2015 fifth-round draft pick. Miami moving Wallace was solely based on his salary number and personality fit. Despite “clearing the air” with Tannehill, Joe Philbin and staff clearly felt that wasn’t enough, and dumped Wallace.
The Dolphins stand at $13.8 million in cap space after the Wallace and Ellerbe trades. The Dolphins prevented themselves from cutting Wallace and Ellerbe, which would have left them with cap penalties and no assets. Miami will now focus their attention on re-signing their veteran tight end, Clay, to a long-term deal.
With the moves Miami has made as of Friday, they are still left with the same holes they had before signing Suh, after signing Suh, and after these trades. In order for Miami to get the best out of Suh and what he brings to the table, they have to surround him with key pieces and quality players.
The Dolphins have to get another guy who can lock up the receivers on the other side and cause a ripple effect for the defense. It would free up players like Suh and Cameron Wake to create a pass-rush, which in turn creates turnovers.
The Miami Dolphins have the fourteenth pick in the first round and they have their eyes set on two key players, Trae Waynes out of Michigan State and DeVante Parker out of Louisville. If they draft Parker, they could create a young three-headed monster at wide receiver with Parker, Stills, and Jarvis Landry, who excelled last season as a rookie.
If they decided to take Waynes, they would be adding a young, key starting cornerback that could be a step in the right direction for Miami to build the dominant defense they are looking for. With their second-round selection, Miami could look to take inside linebackers Denzel Perryman out of Miami or Paul Dawson out of TCU to bolster their pathetic linebacker corps.
Regardless, the Dolphins have a puncher’s chance to secure a wild card spot next season, and they’re an ultimate underdog to win the division. The Dolphins aren’t completely dominant on one side of the ball. The New England Patriots are a powerhouse on offense and the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills are dominant of defense. The Dolphins are mediocre and have too many holes at key positions on both sides of the ball to be a force to be reckoned with in 2015.
Football is a team sport, and one player doesn’t make a team. In Miami’s case, they got a game-changing player, but Suh can’t make Miami a playoff team by himself. Teams win championships, not players, and Miami’s roster is only good enough to win them eight to nine games.
With a good draft, Miami may get out of the cellar in the AFC East, but will likely end up a mediocre 8-8 with Joe Philbin being fired.
