Dolphins expect to be player if Houston trades Watson

We hear the Dolphins generally have been discreet in their comments with outsiders about Deshaun Watson, simply shrugging it off when asked about their interest in the disgruntled Houston quarterback.

But according to a source with direct knowledge, a high-ranking team official has told at least one outsider that the Dolphins expect to be in the mix to acquire Watson if the Texans make him available (which they have not, to this point).

That person said the Dolphins did not indicate what they believed their chances were or what they were willing to offer, but instead merely acknowledged the possibility of Miami acquiring him.

Dolphins general manager Chris Grier told reporters immediately after this past season that Tua Tagovailoa will be the team’s starter in 2021, but he said it before Watson requested a trade. ESPN has said Watson does not intend to play for the Texans again. Watson has five years remaining on his contract.

The Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos are among teams that reportedly plan to make aggressive bids to acquire Watson if the Texans change their mind about dealing him.

It’s also important to keep in mind that Miami’s chances of acquiring Watson drop from realistic to unlikely if the Texans don’t acquiesce to his trade request before the draft. One Houston-based ESPN reporter has said the expectation is that the Texans will keep Watson into the summer, at the very least. The Dolphins’ best chances of acquiring him would be sending Houston both of Miami’s 2021 first-round picks (and more assets) before April’s draft.

A The Dolphins didn’t sign a single player to a standard 2021 contract in February and yet somehow have lost about $8 million in cap space, leaving them with only about $25.4 million if the cap is $180 million. (The NFL announced the cap will be at least $180 million, perhaps a bit higher).

So how did that happen? Several Dolphins had their 2021 cap numbers rise because they cashed in on 2020 incentives.

For example, DeVante Parker saw his 2021 cap number jump from $11 million to $12 million. Eric Rowe’s rose from $5.05 million to $6.05 million. Jason Sanders’ extension costs the team less than $1 million in additional 2021 cap space.

The result is that Dolphins cap space is even more snug that expected, which likely will force the Dolphins either to cut several players or restructure contracts — or both.

Another $18 million can be created if the Dolphins cut Bobby

McCain, Albert Wilson, Jakeem Grant, Allen Hurns and Clayton Fejedelem. The Dolphins can create $28 million by restructuring Bryon Jones, Kyle Van Noy, Ereck Flowers and McCain. Or Miami can do some combination of both, though it obviously must pick one course or the other with McCain.

Keep in mind that the Dolphins need $11.9 million to sign a draft class if they keep all their 2021 picks.

They also need to sign a starting receiver; sign free agent Ted Karras or a new center; sign free agent Davon Godchaux or a new rotational defensive tackle; sign Matt Haack or another punter; sign a backup quarterback; re-sign exclusive rights cornerback Nik Needham (will be cheap at $850,000); sign two or three linebackers to replace Elandon Roberts, Kamu Grugier-Hill and perhaps Vince Biegel; and sign a No. 3 and No. 4 safety (if Brandon Jones replaces McCain as a starter in this hypothetical).

Though some of those needs could be addressed in the draft, their current cap space won’t be enough. Moves need to be made.

A The Dolphins didn’t make a lot of mistakes in free agency last offseason but they’re determined to figure out reasons for the miscalculations that were made.

And that’s why the Dolphins have told people they’re doing a self-analysis of the information used to select the players they pursued, including the regrettable decision to sign running back Jordan Howard.

Armed with more than $80 million in cap space last March, the Dolphins made more good decisions than bad ones in free agency.

Van Noy, Emmanuel Ogbah and Shaq Lawson all were smart signings and all played well. Center Karras and guard Flowers were helpful pieces.

Would Miami sign Byron Jones for $82 million again if they had a mulligan? Probably not. There were a several cheaper cornerbacks who played better than Jones in 2020. And giving Jones that much money angered Xavien Howard, who has asked the Dolphins for a raise despite having four years left on his contract.

In evaluating this deep class of wide receivers, it’s critical the Dolphins don’t make the same mistake they did with Howard, who got $10 million ($5 million guaranteed) and had 28 carries for 33 yards before being released.

A The Dolphins like the speed of new running back Jordan Scarlett, the former Florida Gator who was drafted by the Panthers in the fifth round in 2019.

Scarlett had just four NFL carries for nine yards for Carolina, which cut him last August. Scarlett accepted the Dolphins’ contract offer over one from Detroit, where he ended last season on the Lions’ practice squad. He will compete with Patrick Laird and others for a roster spot.

CHATTER

Though Jimmy Butler has declined to speak to the media after two recent losses, our understanding is that he’s not angry with the organization in the wake of the 11-17 start. He isn’t looking to leave and knows the Heat will try to upgrade. “We’re a ways away from being a good team right now,” he said.

Whether UM defensive end Greg Rousseau will be an option when the Dolphins pick at No. 18 is a toss-up. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah has Rousseau going 11th and Jaelen Phillips 22nd and calls Phillips the “most naturally gifted edge rusher in the draft.”

A The Marlins tried to acquire Cubs catcher Wilson Contreras but talks ended when the Cubs insisted on acquiring two or three of the Marlins’ top 20 prospects.

... Pitcher Edward Cabrera, arguably the Marlins’ top prospect, is out indefinitely with an inflamed right biceps. That leaves Trevor Rogers, Braxton Garrett, Daniel Castano and Nick Neidert competing for the fifth rotation spot.

A Marlins director of minorleague operations Geoffrey DeGroot recently launched a GoFundMe page to help 15 Marlins’ baseball officials who are on furlough. But he made one mistake: He failed to ask the team for permission to do it and was ordered to take it down when the team discovered what he had done.

Don Mattingly made a $1,000 donation but was told to return it. The Marlins are soon bringing the 15 employees off furlough — which had nothing to do with the GoFundMe page — and have paid them benefits throughout their time away. DeGroot wasn’t disciplined.