I've been saying for a while that we will likely be rebuilding the LB corps next offseason. The reason is that Dansby and Burnett are likely playing their last big years with us in 2013. They are nearing the end of their big money FA contracts and underperforming them IMHO. This is why I've had 1 or 2 LB's in every mock draft I've I've made this year. We will likely add 1 DL player (likely a DE) and either let Starks walk or trade Odrick. Tony McDaniel will be let go as well. With the Vontae trade and Smith's ultra-high price tag, we'll definitely need at least 1 starting CB. Coupled with our need for 2-3 WR's and at least 1 guy at OL, TE, and RB this offseason ... I think we'll wait until next offseason to rebuild the LB corps.
Remember, these numbers represent 1) $0 for FA's like Long, Bush, Starks, Smith, Hartline, Fasano, Clemons, who prior to this season would almost all have made those lists and are all likely to make them this year or with another team, and 2) the natural salary cap curve of good players coming from their low rookie contracts to the natural and expected much higher 2nd contracts. Guys like Pouncey, Jones and Tannehill will command faaaaaaaaar higher salaries when they reach their 2nd contracts. Our free cap space is artificially inflated by players overperforming their rookie contracts ... which will change. So, it might be best to consider this top 7 on each side of the ball as a top 10 but with the remaining 3 contracts yet to be written. Surely we'll sign a LT. Surely we'll sign a FA WR. Surely the #12 overall pick makes this list, probably on offense. Surely we'll draft or sign RB and TE. Surely we'll sign at least 1 CB, maybe 2.
These salaries also give us a good insight into the draft policy for the Dolphins. With at least 2 LB's needing to be replaced by 2014 and zero depth behind them, we'll almost certainly bring in a young draftee to groom. The DB situation has too many holes, not enough talent, and not nearly enough takeaways to remain in tact. So we will definitely draft at least 1 CB out of those 5 picks in the first 3 rounds. Given our tremendous dearth of talent and speed at WR, it's fair to assume we will bring in 1 veteran FA and 2 WR's through the draft, with at least 1 of those WR draftees being in the first couple of rounds. If we don't sign Long or another LT in FA, we'll almost certainly have to draft a LT at #12. Letting Bush go we'll likely draft a mid-round replacement and promote Miller ... but what makes people think we'll keep the multiple-concussion power back Daniel Thomas? Given the high price and poor production of our guards, we will have to bring in at least 1 G for competition.
So looking at it, that's a draft that will include: 1 LB, 1 CB, 2 WR, 1 LT, 1 RB, 1 G. That's 7 of our 9 draft spots almost pre-determined. Sure, we could keep Thomas and add a cheap RB; re-sign Long and delay a new G for a year, but even doing all that we're at 4 of 9 draft picks being at pre-determined positions--2 WR, 1 CB, 1 LB.
