Dolphins expect two extra draft picks

The Miami Dolphins are fairly thin on draft picks because of a trade with the Dolphins during last year’s draft that allowed them to pick receiver Leonte Carroo. But compensation for the team’s free-agent losses last offseason should provide at least two more selections.

According to many experts and insiders, the Dolphins should receive at least two compensatory picks for the free-agent defections of defensive end Olivier Vernon (signed a five-year, $85 million deal with the New York Giants), tailback Lamar Miller (four-year, $26 million deal with the Houston Texans), receiver Rishard Matthews (three-year, $15 million contract with the Tennessee Titans), defensive end Derrick Shelby (four-year, $18 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons) and linebacker Kelvin Sheppard, who became an 11-game starter for the Giants after signing a one-year, $760,000 deal.

The Dolphins were fairly conservative with the free agents they signed and pursued last offseason in the hopes it would help them land earlier compensatory picks in the 2017 draft.

However, Miami did add defensive end Andrew Branch, who became a starter after five games, safety Isa Abdul-Quddus, who started 15 games, and offensive lineman Sam Young. All three will factor into the compensatory pick process, unlike defensive end Mario Williams and offensive lineman Jermon Bushrod and Kraig Urbik, who were all acquired after being released by their former teams.

According to overthecap.com projections, the Dolphins should receive third and fifth-round compensatory picks. If that is the case, it would help make up for the third- and fourth-round picks Miami agreed to send the Minnesota Vikings for the chance to draft Carroo, who played sparingly in his rookie season, in the third round last year.

The compensatory selections will be finalized by the NFL Management Council at the league’s meetings March 26-29 in Phoenix.

Compensatory picks are based on a formula that takes into account players lost, players signed, the types of contracts signed and the level of contribution from each player signed the previous offseason.

In order to qualify for the compensation equation, a player must have been a true unrestricted free agent and must sign before May 12.

If the Dolphins get two extra draft picks, it would bring their total from five to seven, which includes the 22nd overall pick in the first round, plus picks in the second, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds.

Skipping Pro Bowl

Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is skipping the Pro Bowl due to an unspecified minor injury. He’ll be replaced by Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Kyle Williams, the NFL announced Friday.

Suh, who has been named to the Pro Bowl five times in his seven-season career, had a career-best 72 tackles this season, including a 12-tackle game at New England.

He wasn’t on the injury report late in the season, and it’s unclear if he suffered an ailment during the playoff loss at Pittsburgh.

Suh was one of four Dolphins selected for the game, along with defensive end Cameron Wake, wide receiver Jarvis Landry and running back Jay Ajayi.

The Pro Bowl is Jan. 29 at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium. It returns to its traditional AFC vs. NFC format this year.

London game Oct. 1

The Dolphins’ game in London against the New Orleans Saints has been set for Oct. 1 (Week 4), the league announced Friday.

The kickoff time has not been announced.

It will mark the third time in four years that the Dolphins will have played at Wembley Stadium. The matchup with the Saints in London was revealed in October, but the date had not yet been determined.

The rest of the Dolphins’ 2017 schedule will be announced this spring.