Roster-building key in wake of Landry
DAVIE — The last time the Miami Dolphins traded away a Pro Bowl receiver the franchise was in a rebuilding phase.
It was the 2012 offseason and newly hired head coach Joe Philbin felt he couldn’t coach Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall, and instructed then general manager Jeff Ireland to trade him for whatever the franchise could get.
Miami landed two thirdround picks for Marshall, who was sent to Chicago, where he was reunited with his former Denver quarterback Jay Cutler. That season the Dolphins passing game struggled with Ryan Tannehill as a rookie starter, and Brian Hartline and Davone Bess as his primary targets.
While Miami’s decision makers are adamant that Friday’s decision to trade receiver Jarvis Landry to Cleveland is more of a roster renovation than a rebuilding project the real measuring stick will be how productive the offense is in 2018 with Tannehill back at the helm.
Landry, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, carried Miami’s passing game for three of the four seasons he was a Dolphin, and now someone else must fill the void his impending departure creates.
The Dolphins had one of the NFL’s worst offenses in 2017 with Landry, who led the team with nine touchdowns scored last season. Miami ranked 30th in total yards per game and 31st in points scored per game.
Trading Landry to Cleveland creates $15.9 million in cap space, and a source says the Dolphins intend to use it to improve the roster when free agency begins Wednesday. NFL teams can start negotiating, and free agents can agree to proposed contracts as soon as Monday, which begins the legal tampering period. But the only players teams can sign to contracts before Wednesday at 4 p.m. are those already on their roster.
At this point it is unclear if Miami intends to replace Landry with a top-tier freeagent receiver they would sign to a substantial contract. Kenny Stills, a starter the past three seasons, has experience playing in the slot going back to his days with the New Orleans Saints. But it is possible that Landry’s departure opens the door for Leonte Carroo, Jakeem Grant, Drew Morgan, Rashawn Scott or Isaiah Ford to elevate their status with the team.
The Dolphins will still be a little over $3 million over the salary cap for 2018, even with Landry’s $15.9 million contract expected to come off the books.
It is believed that Miami will target a few mid-tier free agents, and possibly continue to work on the trade front, acquiring proven veterans.
The Dolphins also have a tough decision to make on Ja’Wuan James, the team’s 2014 first-round pick, who is on the books because of a fifth-year option on his contract Miami opted into last spring, which is slated to pay the four-year starter $9.34 million in 2018.
League sources say the Dolphins have discussed trading James to avoid paying him his lofty salary, which will become fully guaranteed on Wednesday.
Miami is also expected to release tight end Julius Thomas and linebacker Lawrence Timmons, creating another $12,075,000 in cap space.
What the franchise plans to do with the cap space created likely depends on whom they can lure with a desirable contract.
Ironically, the Dolphins used the draft picks they acquired for trading Marshall to select tight ends Michael Egnew and Dion Sims, and cornerback Will Davis.
The next offseason, the Dolphins signed receiver Mike Wallace to what was then the largest contract for a receiver to replace Marshall.
Dolphins fans better hope this year’s unloading of a superstar wideout produces a more favorable return, and that the Dolphins aren’t forced to correct a mistake with an expensive signing the next offseason.