Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Free-agent decisions must soon be made
Take a trip down memory lane and recall the offseason that followed the Dolphins winning the AFC East title in 2008.
Much like this offseason, a number of the team’s top players were free agents and the front office used the majority of the team’s resources to re-sign their own players, inking Vernon Carey, Yeremiah Bell and Channing Crowder to lucrative deals they never finished because of declining play.
Miami also signed the best center on the market (Jake Grove) and a proven starting safety (Gibril Wilson). Both turned out to be busts.
So with the Dolphins projected to have $45-50 million in cap space, it would be wise for GeneralManager Jeff Ireland to not have a repeat of his first spending spree.
Here’s a breakdown of Miami’s freeagent starters and the team’s options.
LT Jake Long ($12.8 million salary cap number)— The four-time Pro Bowler is no longer playing like an elite left tackle, but he’s still better than half of his contemporaries.
In-house: Rookie Jonathan Martin has spent all but this season as a left tackle, now he’s struggling at right tackle (four sacks). Miami likely will have to draft or sign a tackle if Long doesn’t return.
The payout: Long hopes to stay in the $10 million-plus salary range. The Dolphins must decide if that salary would be more beneficial going elsewhere.
RB Reggie Bush ($6M)— Bushwas on pace to rush for 1,000 yards, but he’s cooled off, averaging 3.16 yards per carry the past
five games.
In-house: Daniel Thomas and Lamar Miller are waiting in the wings behind Bush, who will be 28 next season.
The payout: The freeagent market for tailback was dead last season, and considering they age poorly, it is hard to envision Bush won’t have his salary slashed in half.
DT Randy Starks ($5M)— With 20 tackles, 4.5 sacks and an interception, Starks is on pace for his best season in Miami, and possibly another Pro Bowl berth.
In-house: Starting defensive end Jared Odrick could move inside, but depth is an issue considering Tony McDaniel is also an impending free agent.
The payout: Starks, who turns 29 next month, likely won’t break the bank in free agency. A respectable multi-year deal like the one Kendall Langford got from the Rams (four-year, $24 million) is realistic.
WR Brian Hartline (1.434M)— Already with career highs in receptions (53) and yards (790), he is on pace to contribute 1,264 receiving yards. But he’s only scored seven touchdowns in four seasons.
In-house: Marlon Moore and Rishard Matthews have potential, but neither has shown they are ready to start. The Dolphins have made it clear they need to upgrade the position. The payout: With more-dynamic receivers such as MikeWallace, Greg Jennings, Dwayne Bowe and Wes Welker likely to hit the free-agent market, don’t be surprised if Hartline isn’t a priority.
FS Chris Clemons ($1.348M)— Dolphins have invested two seasons in Clemons as a starter and it appears he’s finally blossoming playing alongside Reshad Jones.
In-house: Jimmy Wilson, Jonathon Amaya and Anderson Russell could have their status elevated, but thatwould mean Miami’s on its seventh safety duo in seven years.
The payout: Whether its free agency or the draft, safeties aren’t in tremendous demand, and their play often drops once they’ve changed systems. So itwould be risky to pursue another free agent such as Buffalo’s Jarius Byrd.
CBSean Smith ($851K) — A four-year starter with an elite skill set makes Smith one of the league’s more-promising cornerbacks. But he lacks consistency.
In-house: Richard Marshall returns next season, but can the Dolphins get by with a starting duo of Marshall and Nolan Carroll?
The payout: Cornerbacks happen to be one of the NFL’s more-expensive positions, and even average ones make $4-7 million if they’re proven starters. The Dolphins pay Marshall $5.3 million a season and Smith deserves more.