Free agency lessons and more Dolphins takeaways from NFL’s annual owners meeting
ORLANDO
For the last several days, Dolphins brass — including head coach Mike McDaniel, general manager
Chris Grier, president Tom Garfinkel and owner Stephen Ross — were in Orlando for the NFL’s annual owner meeting.
It was a busy time for the franchise’s top decision-makers, as McDaniel spoke for the first time since the NFL Scouting Combine in late February. Grier, on the league’s competition committee, was also in several meetings as the NFL voted on rule changes.
Here are three takeaways from the owners meeting:
DOLPHINS’ FREE AGENCY DEFINED BY FRUGALITY, LONG-TERM OUTLOOK
In recent years, Miami has been one of the biggest spenders during the first wave of free agency. With a roster teardown and multi-year rebuild, the Dolphins routinely ranked toward the top of the league in cap space. But after using draft capital to acquire high-priced players and with multiple homegrown talents up for new deals, Miami found itself in a precarious cap situation.
This culminated in several contributors leaving the Dolphins during free agency, while Miami retooled with multiple lowcost but potentially highvalue signings. McDaniel acknowledged the delicate nature of the Dolphins’ cap situation with an apropos analogy.
“I was very proud on every level, our communication through the process, and it all comes back to the fact that there is a finite salary cap,” he said. “Sometimes we can’t be
the kids spending the money; we have to be the parents that have to look at our budget and make sure we can pay the water bill.”
The water bill that soon needs to be paid is an extension for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and second contracts for players such as wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and safety Jevon Holland.
The departure of defensive lineman Christian Wilkins and right guard Robert Hunt, among others, will sting but the Dolphins weren’t in a position to give them top-of-the-market deals. And Miami’s prudent financial decision-making will ensure that they can retain players they believe are at the core of their future, while also retaining some flexibility in the future.
OBJ TO MIAMI IS STILL VERY REAL — BUT COULD TAKE SOME TIME
McDaniel also confirmed that the Dolphins made an offer to wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who visited the team’s facility last week but left without a deal.
At 31, Beckham isn’t the player he once was when he made three straight Pro Bowls to start his career with the New York Giants. However, he could be productive for a Dolphins offense that needs a No. 3 wide receiver behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
While McDaniel said the meeting with Beckham went well and that the two sides would continue to talk, the financial terms could be a holdup that drags negotiations for some time.
“We did make him an offer and business takes time, especially with players like Odell, who’s had a phenomenal career and still has really good football in front of him and has options,” McDaniel said. “I think those conversations will be ongoing. We’ll see where they go. I don’t live in the world of crystal balling and I do stay in my lane as a coach. I’m definitely ready to coach him if we can come to an agreement, and I think both sides are trying to work towards that. We’ll see what happens.”
The draft in late April could only heighten the Dolphins’ need for Beckham — or diminish it — depending on what positions are addressed during the three-day event. It’s clear, though, that the Dolphins are looking to upgrade the wide receiver position, whether it’s in free agency or the draft.
THE NEW KICKOFF RULE COULD BE TO THE DOLPHINS’ ADVANTAGE
The biggest rule change from the owners meeting was an adjustment to kickoffs to incentivize more returns.
This upcoming season and on a trial basis, the 10 members of the coverage team will line up at the receiving team’s 40-yard line, while the kicker will kick off from his 35-yard line, like usual. At least nine members of the receiving team will line up between their 35- and 30-yard lines in what is being designated the “setup zone.” Up to two members of the receiving team can line up between the goal line and the 20-yard line, which is called the “landing zone.” If the ball lands in the end zone for a touchback, the ball will be placed at the 30-yard line instead of the 25-yard line.
If the ball is kicked out of bounds, it will be placed at the 40.
Nobody but the returners and kicker can move until the ball is caught or hits the ground, which is designed to limit high-speed collisions that cause injuries. The change in the kickoff rules, which mirrors the XFL, is expected to result in adjustments to the strategy of special teams coordinators. It could also convince teams to use their best players on returns with less chance for injury expected.
The Dolphins re-signed their top returner from last season, wide receiver Braxton Berrios, but have several dynamic players who could be considered to return kicks under the new rules. Miami has rarely used Waddle and Hill on returns, and it’s understandable given their importance to the offense. Running back De’Von Achane returned a few kickoffs in the preseason but didn’t get any opportunities in the regular season.
While the change may not lead to any of these players returning kicks on a full-time basis, the Dolphins should look into all the possibilities to maximize the skill sets of their best players now that the league is looking to increase returns more safely.
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