Following Sunday’s conclusion of the NFL Scouting Combine, Dolphins decision-makers will return to Miami to begin the next phase of the offseason. With the franchise tag expiring at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, it will be a pivotal day for the team. Everyone will be watching to see if they use it to keep defensive tackle Christian Wilkins in South Florida. Before free agency begins at 4 p.m. on March 13, the team will still need to create cap space through contract restructurings and cutbacks.
In Indianapolis, general manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel discussed a wide range of team-related subjects while meeting with numerous draft prospects. Five things have come to light during a week at the combine:
THE DOLPHINS MAY LOSE IMPORTANT FREE AGENTS
In his Wednesday interview with reporters, Grier provided updates on a number of pending free agents. It is seeming more and more likely that the Dolphins will need to fight with other teams to hold onto their best players. Regarding Wilkins, he stated that “all options are on the table for us.” However, the team will soon need to choose if it is worth spending the $22.1 million nonexclusive tag to keep Wilkins until 2024. Although Grier stated the team has the capacity to sign Wilkins to the franchise tag, the Dolphins are still roughly $30 million above the budget, and the high cost may make it more difficult to add more players this summer.
On Sunday, ESPN revealed that multiple league sources anticipate Wilkins to elude the tag, and teams are preparing for him to become a free agent. According to Dolphins insiders in Indianapolis, the tag wasn’t a lock, which is consistent with Grier’s remarks in public and ESPN’s report. On March 13, Wilkins, along with offensive lineman Robert Hunt and Connor Williams, could accept offers from other teams and sign with a different team if he is not tagged.
See https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nfl/miami-dolphins/article286134066.html#storylink=cpy for additional information.
During the season, the organization held negotiations with Hunt about an extension, but Grier hinted that Hunt could have wanted to test his freedom to leave. Williams’ agent recently stated that he may wait to sign with a team. Grier added that the team would allow Williams “space and time” to concentrate on his ACL rehabilitation. The Dolphins have historically led the league in offseason cap space and outbid other teams for highly sought-after free agents. Miami is in unfamiliar territory because there is now little cap space available and a number of players who will be highly sought after.
The question of TUA’s extension is when, not if.
Regarding the progress of the extension negotiations with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, both Grier and McDaniel expressed optimism. Grier reported having “great conversations” with Tagovailoa’s agent, while McDaniel expressed his optimism that the Dolphins will be able to sign Tagovailoa for a long time. The Dolphins are adamant about believing that Tagovailoa will be selected fifth overall in 2020, despite the fact that he is still a contentious figure in the NFL. Grier stated that there is no deadline for completing a deal when he and Tagovailoa’s agent met in Indianapolis to continue talks. There is no haste and no deal isn’t near, according to a source.
OFFENSIVE LINE IS BECOMING A MORE REASONABLE FIRST CHOICE QUOTE.
The Dolphins’ approach to the NFL draft in April will depend on the decisions they make in free agency. All three of the starting offensive linemen are scheduled to become free agents, so it becomes increasingly likely that a young offensive lineman will be selected with the 21st overall pick.
Miami faced Jackson Powers-Johnson, an Oregon center and a frequent mock draft pick, at the combine. Grier hinted that the team might have to sign several offensive lineman in the free agent market. Although the Dolphins haven’t always been successful using the draft to fill their trenches, this year’s class is thought to be good and may provide them with affordable, young players who can make an impact right away.
THE AVAILABLE WIDE RECEIVERS MAY ENTICE WITH AN EARLY PICK
The wide receivers once again put on a show in the 40-yard sprint, which is often the highlight of the combine testing. Running the 40 in 4.21 seconds, Texas’ Xavier Worthy set the combine record. Several other players also had strong performances. The Dolphins don’t have a pressing need at wide receiver this summer, but they do need to locate a more capable backup pass-catcher to complement Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. The wide receiver class of this year is seen to be deep, with guys who might contribute right away on Day 2
Through the draft process, the Dolphins have met with a number of wide receivers to conduct due diligence, including Texas A&M’s Ainias Smith, Florida’s Ricky Pearsall, and Michigan’s Roman Wilson. Next month, they could be able to add another talented player to their offensive lineup.
The dolphins’ great report card grades are reflected well on Ross.
In the NFL Players Association’s second annual report card, which was issued on Wednesday, Miami—which placed second in 2023—rose to the top.
In all 11 categories where players were questioned, the Dolphins scored an A- or better, and Stephen Ross was the owner with the highest ratings. Team president Tom Garfinkel spoke at Dolphins Challenge Cancer a few days prior to the report card’s release, and he spoke candidly about Ross’ unwavering will to succeed. He declared, “He wants to win more than anybody in this organization.” Although Ross has come under fire for some of the decisions he has made, there is no denying the amount of money he has contributed to the organization—from the team’s cutting-edge Miami Gardens facility to his readiness to part with a sizable sum of money to recruit elite players in the summer.
It hasn’t always directly led to wins but the effort is something that is being acknowledged by Dolphins players and will make Miami even more of a destination spot for free agents. “We’re trying to build a best-in-class organization and I’m proud of our leadership and how we approach things,” Ross said in a statement. “We want our players and all of our employees to know that they matter and that they are a part of something special together, and hearing the players’ voices in this survey is a validation that we are doing things the right way. We will continue to listen to them and aspire to be the best in everything we do as we strive to win championships.”
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