Dolphins roster
Financial reality means Miami could lose Landry, others
Jarvis Landry, other free agents may have to go.
Mobile, Ala. The Miami Dolphins are prepared to lose — or move on from — a few of the team’s free agents this offseason as the front office works to improve on last year’s 6-10 record.
While the team’s goal remains to develop a roster that can win and make it to the playoffs consistently, and the organization’s philosophy is to retain the players they develop, the Dolphins’ top executive points out that the freeagent system is designed to help players maximize their values.
And that could mean some players’ asking price might surpass the team’s budget.
That means some free agents will sign with other teams this offseason, much like when Olivier Vernon, Lamar Miller and Rishard Matthews left the franchise for more lucrative deals with the New York Giants, Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans a couple of years ago because the Dolphins will have very little cap space to work with this year if players with bloated
salaries aren’t purged from the roster.
The Dolphins have roughly $10 million in cap space, and could create another $16 million by releasing tight end Julius Thomas, linebacker Lawrence Timmons and not honoring the fifth-year option on Ja’Wuan James’ contract, which is slated to pay him $9.34 million in 2018.
“He’s one of several free agents, Damien Williams, Matt Moore, guys who have contributed here for a long time,” Dolphins vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum said Wednesday at the Senior Bowl when asked about Pro Bowl receiver Jarvis Landry, the Dolphins’ top impending free agent. “I’m sure we can keep some of them. We can’t keep all of them. That’s the nature of our sport. There is still some time before the upcoming deadlines.”
Tannenbaum is referring to the formal date where the Dolphins could use the franchise or transition tag, which starts on Feb. 20 and ends on March 6 at 4 p.m., and the beginning of the formal tampering period, which is when teams can negotiate with the representatives of free agents, which takes place between March 12-14. Free agents can begin signing with any team on March 14 at 4 p.m.
The Dolphins have 16 players — Landry, Williams, quarterbacks Jay Cutler, David Fales and Moore, defensive ends William Hayes and Terrence Fede, safeties Nate Allen, Michael Thomas and Walt Aikens, offensive linemen Jermon Bushrod and Sam Young, tight end Anthony Fasano, cornerback Alterraun Verner, long snapper John Denney and linebacker Koa Misi — slated to become unrestricted free agents.
Miami could possibly place the franchise or transition tag on Landry if a long-term deal can’t be agreed to by March 6, but that would lock up at least $14 million in guaranteed money, and subsequently prevent Miami from being active in free agency unless a few other contracts get re-worked.
“There has been a lot of communication between us and [Landry’s camp] for a long period of time,” Tannenbaum said.
“He’s a Dolphin who has been drafted here, and he’s productive. [Coach] Adam [Gase] has used him and he’s produced. As the three of us have said, we want sustainability. We want to keep as many of our own players within reason, draft and develop them. But again, you can’t keep them all. That’s just part of the system we all live in.”
Dolphins know there will be competition for Landry’s services if he hits the free-agent market.
According to the Baltimore Sun, the Ravens inquired about trading for Landry during the 2017 offseason. The Dolphins fielded offers for Landry and running back Jay Ajayi at the NFL trade deadline in October, but decided to only move Ajayi, who was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles for a 2018 fourthround pick.
On Tuesday, during the Senior Bowl practices, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome could be heard joking with Tannenbaum about a deal that could have been. Tannenbaum wasn’t amused. It appeared that Newsome, whose team needs help at receiver, might have been referring to Landry.
The Dolphins and Landry’s camp have exchanged contract offers, but have yet to reach a deal. Landry, who caught a franchise-record 112 passes for 987 yards and a career-high nine touchdowns this past season, is seeking a contract that would pay him as if he’s a top-10 receiver, which means an annual salary that’s in the $14-15 million range.