Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Free-agent decisions awaiting
Dolphins must decide soon what players are worth keeping in 2019 and who can be let go
Shopping season is officially around the corner for NFL teams.
All 32 franchises are preparing to restock their rosters by scouting 2019 draft prospects and listening to free-agent pitches at the NFL combine, which begins Tuesday and leads into free agency.
The Dolphins are embarking on a rebuild of the entire roster, so there will be plenty of turnover in the coming weeks.
Miami can negotiate with and re-sign any of its own free agents at any time. Interested teams can officially begin bidding on free agents March 11, but no free agent can formally sign a deal until March 13. However, players who are released from their contract can sign with any team at any point.
Restricted free agents must receive qualifying offers by 4 p.m. on March 13, but there is no guarantee that every team wants to retain all of its restricted free agents.
Here’s a look at the Dolphins’ list of unrestricted and restricted free agents. Right tackle Ja’Wuan James – Earned $9,341,000 last year: James has been a reliable four-year starter for the Dolphins. Over 62 games, the 26-year-old has been an above-average tackle.
Whether he’s worth a five-year, $40 million contract similar to the one Washington gave fellow right tackle Morgan Moses will depend on who else is bidding on James’ services and how deep the offensive tackle crop of talent is in the 2019 NFL draft. Pass rusher Cameron Wake – Earned $8,125,000 last year: Over 10 seasons, Wake has established himself as the most accomplished Dolphins player since Jason Taylor, compiling 98 sacks, 22 forced fumbles and five Pro Bowl seasons since joining the NFL.
But last year was one of Wake’s least productive NFL seasons – 36 tackles, six sacks and one forced fumble – and the 37-year-old might want to join a team contending for a title. Don’t be surprised if that’s the route he takes if Miami makes a low-ball offer. Defensive lineman William Hayes – Earned $4,050,000 last year: Hayes, the Dolphins’ top run stuffer, has had his past two seasons cut short by injuries. The 33-year-old would be the ideal 3-4 defensive end, fitting perfectly in Miami’s new scheme. But he’s working his way back from an ACL injury he suffered in September, and the Dolphins might prefer to invest in younger defensive linemen. Linebacker Stephone Anthony – Earned $1,489,326 last season: Anthony, a former firstround pick the Dolphins traded for in 2017, was primarily used on special teams last season. He has contributed 22 tackles in his two seasons with the Dolphins, and there are no signs he’s anything more than a special teams contributor based on what he’s shown. Tailback Frank Gore – Earned $1,105,000 last season: Gore isn’t ready to retire, so don’t be surprised to see the 35-year-old shopping for a new team in 2019. His production — 722 rushing yards on 156 carries — before suffering a seasonending foot injury hints that he can still serve as a regular contributor. But the Dolphins intend to go younger at the position, likely giving the carries to Kenyan Drake and Kalen Ballage next season. Tight end MarQueis Gray – Earned $975,000 last season: Gray, who has started seven games during his three seasons with the Dolphins, was projected as Miami’s starting tight end/ H-back before suffering an Achilles injury the week of the regular-season opener. His absence forced Miami to invest in younger tight ends, and it is likely the Dolphins will continue to do the same since Nick O’Leary was signed to fill his old role. Offensive tackle Sam Young – Earned $915,000 last season: Young has spent the past three seasons serving as Miami’s top backup at offensive tackle, but when pressed into action last year he struggled. The Dolphins have continued bringing this former St. Thomas Aquinas standout back because he’s a good locker room presence. If Miami re-signs Young, who turns 32 in June, it will again be for the veteran minimum. Defensive lineman Ziggy Hood – Earned $915,000 last season: Hood contributed six tackles in the eight games he played for the Dolphins last season. He’s versatile enough to play defensive end in a 3-4 scheme, but the 10-year veteran recently turned 32 and should be viewed as a stop-gap option at this point. Quarterback Brock Osweiler – Earned $880,000 last season: Osweiler started five of the seven games he played last season for the Dolphins and led Miami to a 2-3 record while Ryan Tannehill recovered from a shoulder injury. Osweiler’s days as an NFL starter are clearly over, and at this point his accuracy issues will make it a challenge for him to earn a backup role in the NFL. Quarterback David Fales – Earned $790,000 last season: Fales spent all of 2018 with the Dolphins and served as a practice arm. The fact that Fales is 28 and hasn’t started a game since joining the NFL in 2014 is indicative that he lacks upside. If he’s re-signed, it will be as a camp contributor, but don’t expect that to happen since former coach Adam Gase was the individual advocating for Fales. Tailback Brandon Bolden – Earned $850,000 last season: Bolden primarily served as a core special teams contributor after being claimed off the waiver wire. But he did contribute three touchdowns on offense last season despite having only eight carries and three receptions. Those numbers hint that there could be more meat on this bone.
It doesn’t hurt that Bolden has an established relationship with new coach Brian Flores. Center Travis Swanson – Earned $850,000 last year: Swanson joined the Dolphins because of Daniel Kilgore’s season-ending triceps injury and started 11 of the 12 games in which he played.
However, Swanson’s limitations as a center who can anchor an offensive line held the offense back and hints that his days as an NFL starter are over. Center Wesley Johnson – Earned $790,000 last year: The Dolphins added Johnson early last season because of the injuries that depleted Miami’s offensive line. He contributed in 10 games but never played a significant role on offense.
Johnson is only 28, so there’s a possibility he could continue to serve as a backup if he is willing to again sign for the NFL minimum. Defensive tackle Sylvester Williams – Earned $790,000 last year: Williams, an eightyear veteran, was added late last season because of injuries along Miami’s defensive line. Williams contributed eight tackles in the eight games he played. Tight end A.J. Derby – Earned $705,000 last year: Derby caught three passes for 48 yards and scored one touchdown in the four games he played before a foot injury that lingered all season eventually got him placed on injured reserve. Expect the Dolphins to move on from Derby, who has struggled during his three NFL seasons to prove that he’s durable. Tailback Senorise Perry – Earned $630,000 last year: Perry was primarily used as a core special teams contributor the past two seasons. He contributed 164 return yards on eight kickoffs and made 12 tackles on special teams last season. Linebacker Mike Hull – Restricted free agent: Hull contributed eight tackles in his nine games in 2018, primarily as a core special teams contributor once he recovered from a knee injury that got him placed on injured reserve for the first half of the season. Hull has established himself as a reliable special teams contributor in his four seasons with the Dolphins. Receiver Leonte Carroo – Restricted free agent: Carroo, a 2016 third-round pick the Dolphins cut before re-signing last season, has struggled to establish himself in the NFL the past three seasons. Last year Carroo caught two passes for 94 yards and scored one touchdown in the nine games he played.
If re-signed, Carroo would be viewed as a camp body because the Dolphins have five receivers ahead of him on the depth chart. Center Jake Brendel – Restricted free agent: The Dolphins have spent the past three seasons developing Brendel, who started three of the four games he played at guard last season, replacing Ted Larsen.
Whether Brendel is offered a contract as a restricted free agent will come down to whether Miami wants to continue making an investment in this former UCLA standout.