ESPN Grades FA signings, Williams = C....

[THE OG CANEPHINS]

[h=3]Mario Williams (Dolphins): C[/h]It's hard to figure out the Dolphins, who seem to stick their finger into the socket, get shocked, and wonder how many of their other fingers can fit inside. Miami's top-heavy, stars-and-replacement talent roster philosophy hasn't worked for years, but instead of getting away from the tactic, the Dolphins are doubling down in 2016, swapping out stars for slightly younger stars. Brent Grimes is likely to leave once the Dolphins confirm their deal for Eagles cornerback Byron Maxwell, while the injured Cameron Wake (and/or the transition tagged-Olivier Vernon) might very well be dumped for Williams, who inked a two-year, $17-million deal to come to Miami.
The Dolphins didn't have many other options available, especially once Jason Pierre-Paul agreed to return to New York on a one-year deal, but Williams is 31 and was just run out of Buffalo amidst a cloud of anonymous sources saying derogatory things about Williams's effort level. Would they have been better off locking up Vernon, who is just 25 and had 36 quarterback knockdowns to Williams's 11 in 2015? Or using the money saved by cutting Wake to add much-needed depth around the roster? Do these sorts of questions ever even enter into Miami's thinking during the offseason? Williams should be better as a 4-3 defensive end than he was dropping off the line of scrimmage at times as a 3-4 outside linebacker for Rex Ryan last year, but this is another step in a tired, unsuccessful roster-building model for the Dolphins.

Ouch. That is harsh.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/14932572/grading-big-free-agent-deals-nfl

 

[Hayden Fox]

Fins will have to make people believers on the field before they like their hot stove moves. It is what it is.

 

[BGtoKNfor6]

It is so funny because it's actually fully true. If rex ryan can't get much of a performance out of you, it is pretty concerning.

 

[Lilseb93]

The media will be against Miami every year until they start winning. Notice how good teams always get good grades for making minimal moves.

 

[Phinsfan93]

*shrugs*

When OV only puts up 8 sacks and Mario has 12 and is more of impact defending the run I'll remember this article.

 

[ChrisTRD]

My teacher always gave me my grade before I took the test as well.

 

[doughbraz54]

Fins will have to make people believers on the field before they like their hot stove moves. It is what it is.

Well they have been failing for how many years now? When have we ever made people believers with our on field play? It is what it is.

 

[jlfin]

Williams will be a cap saving move when compared to the contract OV is likely to sign. I am a big fan of OV and have a much higher opinion of him compared to many FH posters, BUT Williams is a better 4-3 DE than OV can ever hope to be.
Williams has a 2 yr deal and that gives the Dolphins 2 off seasons to draft/groom a replacement.
As athletic as Williams is, he is not an OLB (neither is OV) in that he's not the type of player you want to drop into coverage on a regular basis.
I see this as a 2 yr upgrade at DE for the Dolphins.

 

[Phishpunk@WCU]

It is so funny because it's actually fully true. If rex ryan can't get much of a performance out of you, it is pretty concerning.

the whole DL played awful last season man, it would be concerning if it was just Mario. Dareus and Hughes both had big drop offs in production as well. truth is Rex destroyed one of the best defenses in the NFL in one season.

 

[THE OG CANEPHINS]

Funny stat...

Vernon led the team with 7.5 sacks last year. Cam had 7 sacks over a three game stretch before going down with the season ending injury. Vernon's total was over 16 games.

 

[Lilseb93]

I agree with the guy's point about the Dolphins' method of building the team, but in terms of Mario, this is a good move. They got a good DE for a good price when they are about to lose a young DE who is going to get overpaid and possibly Wake too. The Dolphins would be a lot worse if they had another big hole to fill on both ends of the D-line.

 

[Pistol]

If this was a Patriots signing , it would of been a great one....

 

[Jay131866]

If the trade worked out like this I'm pretty sure everyone would agree its a good deal:

Miami Gets: Mario Williams, and 3rd Round pick, and a $5+M savings per year
Miami Loses: Olivier Vernon

That is essentially what we got out of this deal which allowed us to untender OV.

 

[hammond47]

Well, if Bill Barnwell thinks so it must be true. Not sure why we haven't just hired him to make our personnel decisions.

Let's be really clear on this - the Dolphins COULD NOT AFFORD to keep Vernon. Not at the 14-16 million he is about to get. They signed a guy who has dominated us, been to 4 pro bowls, and is only 31 for a little more than half the price. If we let Vernon walk (which wouldve happened anyway) and did not replace him, we would be furious. So let's not get overly upset about replacing him with a guy who two years ago was regarded as one of the best edge rushers in football. If he returns to form this was a steal, and in all likelihood for 2 or 3 years he is an upgrade over Vernon.

 

[ChrisTRD]

Funny stat...

Vernon led the team with 7.5 sacks last year. Cam had 7 sacks over a three game stretch before going down with the season ending injury. Vernon's total was over 16 games.

AND that was after Wake got healthy. A healthy Wake was better than Vernon in my opinion. Vernon's numbers to not warrant a top dollar deal. I'll take Wake for another year coupled with Williams and draft in a high pass rusher in a year or so.