http://phinphanatic.com/2017/02/11/five-bold-moves-dolphins-can-make-ahead-free-agency/
Byron Maxwell
As the season progressed, Maxwell got better but there is no question that continued penalties and his inconsistency hurt the Dolphins all season long. Maxwell will cost the Dolphins $8.5 million in cap space this year but his contract balloons to $10 million in 2018.
Releasing Maxwell will only save the Dolphins $5 million and carry $3 million in dead space but the problem is that Maxwell has as much chance to find himself riding the bench in 2017 as he does starting. Let’s not forget that Maxwell was benched in 2016 and only got the job back when Xavien Howard was injured.
The Dolphins need better play from the secondary and especially the corner positions. Maxwell is a big problem with that unit and it’s an area that the Dolphins need to upgrade. Releasing Maxwell is a bold move because the Dolphins do not have a replacement on the roster unless they view Tony Lippett as a real contender to start.
Miami should look at the draft for another corner on day three and free agency should also provide some options that are legitimately as good or possibly better than Maxwell while coming in close if not less than his current salary.
Mike Pouncey
The hip injuries are becoming more and more frequent with Pouncey and if he continues to need surgery then he won’t be on the field for the Dolphins. Center is the most important piece on the offensive line and as witnessed last season you need someone who can be consistent calling the blocking assignments at the line.
Pouncey is just shy of $9 million for 2017 and while releasing him would save almost $4 million the Dolphins would carry $5 million in dead money. So, draft or sign a new starting center and move Pouncey to right guard.
Pouncey is more than capable of playing guard and if he can stay healthy then the Dolphins will have a very good one but if he can’t stay healthy they should find it much easier to find a suitable if not at the very least a serviceable replacement to back him up.
With Ja’Wuan James struggling on the right side, putting Pouncey next to him could help the right side a lot. Miami would obviously need to find a replacement at center but consider the future of Mike Pouncey as it stands now.
Pouncey is under contract through 2020 with his salary increasing to $9 million in 2018, $8 million in 2019, and $9 in 2020. This is the final year that Miami would take a negative hit by releasing him. The most Miami will carry in dead money after 2017 is $2.2 million in ’18. Why is this important? Because if Pouncey can’t stay healthy the Dolphins very well may just call it quits and move on after 2017.
If they can address the center position this off-season they will lessen any blow that they will take in the next few years by still employing him at guard where he should find it easier to stay healthy.
For the Miami Dolphins 2017 should be the year to finally clear out the clutter that is hanging around its roster. Too much money is being spent on players that simply don’t put out the effort or have the talent to continue to take away a spot from someone who might be able to make an impact.
For starters I wouldn’t re-sign but one of the impending unrestricted free agents. While 13 players is a lot to replace none of them really are must keep players. For my money, I would re-sign John Denny and if the price and structure is team friendly I would keep Andre Branch and Dion Sims. Maybe Michael Thomas. The rest? No value.
Thoughts? It will be interesting to see who stays and who goes.
Byron Maxwell
As the season progressed, Maxwell got better but there is no question that continued penalties and his inconsistency hurt the Dolphins all season long. Maxwell will cost the Dolphins $8.5 million in cap space this year but his contract balloons to $10 million in 2018.
Releasing Maxwell will only save the Dolphins $5 million and carry $3 million in dead space but the problem is that Maxwell has as much chance to find himself riding the bench in 2017 as he does starting. Let’s not forget that Maxwell was benched in 2016 and only got the job back when Xavien Howard was injured.
The Dolphins need better play from the secondary and especially the corner positions. Maxwell is a big problem with that unit and it’s an area that the Dolphins need to upgrade. Releasing Maxwell is a bold move because the Dolphins do not have a replacement on the roster unless they view Tony Lippett as a real contender to start.
Miami should look at the draft for another corner on day three and free agency should also provide some options that are legitimately as good or possibly better than Maxwell while coming in close if not less than his current salary.
Mike Pouncey
The hip injuries are becoming more and more frequent with Pouncey and if he continues to need surgery then he won’t be on the field for the Dolphins. Center is the most important piece on the offensive line and as witnessed last season you need someone who can be consistent calling the blocking assignments at the line.
Pouncey is just shy of $9 million for 2017 and while releasing him would save almost $4 million the Dolphins would carry $5 million in dead money. So, draft or sign a new starting center and move Pouncey to right guard.
Pouncey is more than capable of playing guard and if he can stay healthy then the Dolphins will have a very good one but if he can’t stay healthy they should find it much easier to find a suitable if not at the very least a serviceable replacement to back him up.
With Ja’Wuan James struggling on the right side, putting Pouncey next to him could help the right side a lot. Miami would obviously need to find a replacement at center but consider the future of Mike Pouncey as it stands now.
Pouncey is under contract through 2020 with his salary increasing to $9 million in 2018, $8 million in 2019, and $9 in 2020. This is the final year that Miami would take a negative hit by releasing him. The most Miami will carry in dead money after 2017 is $2.2 million in ’18. Why is this important? Because if Pouncey can’t stay healthy the Dolphins very well may just call it quits and move on after 2017.
If they can address the center position this off-season they will lessen any blow that they will take in the next few years by still employing him at guard where he should find it easier to stay healthy.
For the Miami Dolphins 2017 should be the year to finally clear out the clutter that is hanging around its roster. Too much money is being spent on players that simply don’t put out the effort or have the talent to continue to take away a spot from someone who might be able to make an impact.
For starters I wouldn’t re-sign but one of the impending unrestricted free agents. While 13 players is a lot to replace none of them really are must keep players. For my money, I would re-sign John Denny and if the price and structure is team friendly I would keep Andre Branch and Dion Sims. Maybe Michael Thomas. The rest? No value.
Thoughts? It will be interesting to see who stays and who goes.
