Half of Fins’ roster to enter free agency in offseason
or outside.
But the inside linebacker group — including Jerome Baker (who’s signed through 2024) — needs to be more impactful.
Pro Football Focus rates Roberts 60th among 85 linebackers, but 37th against the run. The Dolphins value his toughness and run defense, but Roberts has allowed 32 of 37 passes thrown against him to be caught for 279 yards and two touchdowns (a 116.1 passer rating in his coverage area).
Eguavoen has permitted all four passes thrown against him not only to be caught, but also to be caught for touchdowns, according to PFF. One of those came Sunday against Green Bay.
Riley, rated 62nd among 85 linebackers, has allowed a 101.1 passer rating in his coverage area (22 for 29 for 169 and a
TD). The Dolphins value his speed and ability to cover running backs but used him for only seven snaps against Green Bay.
Roberts is making $2.75 million this season; Riley can make $3 million with incentives. Roberts has played 59 percent of Miami’s defensive snaps, Riley 33 percent.
The Dolphins also could bypass signing Roberts or Riley and commit to rookie third-rounder Channing Tindall, who has played just nine defensive snaps. But for now, the Dolphins believe Roberts and Riley give them a better chance to win than Tindall.
A strong case could be made for adding a top inside linebacker. Keep in mind that the Dolphins have only five draft picks in April: their own secondrounder, two thirds (their own and New England’s), a sixthrounder (via the Bears) and their own seventh-rounder.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (2)
Melvin Ingram and Andrew Van Ginkel will be unrestricted free agents.
Ingram, 33, has played far more defensive snaps than Van Ginkel (453 to 274). Though Ingram has six sacks, he has no sacks or tackles in 72 defensive snaps over the past three games and Miami assuredly won’t pay him $5 million again.
Van Ginkel — who could play a lot Sunday amid Bradley Chubb’s injury — figures to explore the market. With Jaelan Phillips and Chubb under contract next year and beyond, Van Ginkel is not going to start here barring injuries.
TIGHT END (2)
There’s seemingly nothing that could happen to extend Mike Gesicki’s tenure here past this season.
He was never a good fit for this offense and has just two receptions (for 24 yards) and seven targets during the past five games and just 26 catches for 298 yards all season. Adam Shaheen, who missed the season with a knee injury, also likely will move on, too.
Durham Smythe, Hunter Long and Tanner Conner are under contract for 2023.
WIDE RECEIVERS (2)
Trent Sherfield and River Cracraft, both impending unrestricted free agents, have had their best seasons and seem likely to be invited back on modest deals. Sherfield, who is earning $1 million this season, has 28 catches for 387 yards and two touchdowns.
Cracraft, who is earning $965,000, has eight catches for 97 yards (including two touchdowns) but has missed the past three games due to injury.
Miami might need to trade Cedrick Wilson Jr. (who’s due $7 million next season, of which $5 million is guaranteed) in order to create playing time for talented fourth-rounder Erik Ezukanma.
QUARTERBACK (1)
A decision on whether Teddy
Bridgewater gets an offer will be based largely on how he plays filling in for Tua Tagovailoa. Bridgewater, earning $6.5 million, played decently in losses to Cincinnati and Minnesota (84.1 and 93.9 passer ratings).
Other backup options who are impending free agents include Philadelphia’s Gardner Minshew, the Jets’ Mike White, the Rams’ Baker Mayfield and Carolina’s Sam Darnold.
The hope had been that Skylar Thompson would show enough this season to give the Dolphins enough faith to entrust him with the No. 2 job next season. But he hasn’t.
OFFENSIVE TACKLES (3)
Eric Fisher, Greg Little and Brandon Shell will be unrestricted free agents, and Shell has earned an invitation back.
Fisher hasn’t played and is out with a calf injury. Little struggled against the Jets (allowing three sacks) and was adequate against the 49ers.
Though the Dolphins still see Austin Jackson as their right tackle of the future, Shell has permitted only two sacks in 404 pass blocking chances, though he also has yielded 31 pressures. PFF rates him 60th among 81 tackles; Little is 81 of 81.
SAFETIES (2)
With a strong finish, Eric Rowe could make the case to return on a team-friendly deal as the No. 3 safety behind Jevon Holland and Brandon Jones (coming off a season-ending ACL injury).
During the past six weeks, the Dolphins have trusted Rowe with considerably more snaps than rookie Verone McKinley III. PFF rates Rowe 75th among 89 safeties, with a 109.3 passer rating allowed in his coverage area. Clayton Fejedelem also is an impending free agent; he has played just 34 defensive snaps and special teams have been poor overall.
OTHER POSITIONS (7)
The other impending unrestricted free agents: defensive tackles John Jenkins (233 defensive snaps as Raekwon Davis’ backup) and Justin Zimmer
(41 snaps); cornerback Nik Needham (coming off an October season-ending Achilles tendon injury); defensive lineman/ linebacker Trey Flowers
(played 65 defensive snaps before a season-ending foot injury); punter Thomas Morstead
(21st in average at 46.4); center/ guard Michael Deiter (hasn’t played a snap this season); and cornerback Justin Bethel.
Ahmed and safety Elijah Campbell are the team’s restricted free agents, with Miami able to place low tenders on them to retain their rights.
CHATTER
The Marlins, continuing their pursuit of hitters in the trade market, spoke to Boston about former Plantation American Heritage standout Triston Casas, who has 46 homers and 181 RBI and a .269 average (.374 on base) in 284 minor-league games. The 2018 first-round pick hit .197 with five homers in 76 at bats for the Red Sox last season in his first major league action; MLB.com ranks him as Boston’s No. 2 prospect. The Red Sox so far have rebuffed Marlins’ offers.
New Marlins third baseman Jean Segura will get $6.5 million in 2023, $8.5 million in 2024, with a $10 million team option (or $2 million buyout) in 2025. The Marlins’ 2023 payroll now projects to be $100 million.
Cormani McClain, the nation’s top cornerback prospect and a UM non-binding commitment, didn’t sign with the Canes this month but posed for photos with a UM cap and flashed “the U” at the Under Armour AllAmerican game.
AAABarry Jackson: 305-376-3491, @flasportsbuzz