Kingdom Come
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Is it possible for the Dolphins to go through so much transition and still be competitive? I believe so.
If the FO was serious about prioritizing the OL this offseason then the defense may not get the funding it really needs.....or not. There are options.
Ndamukong Suh's cap hit could be reduced as low as 10.6 mil in 2016.http://www.businessinsider.com/ndamukong-suh-contract-miami-dolphins-2015-3 Seeing as how Grimes and Albert and several other big money players will be coming off the books in the next couple years and the cap room projections in 2017-2018 are enormous, I think it is a forgone conclusion the Dolphins will go in this direction. http://overthecap.com/salary-cap/miami-dolphins/
That is instant cap relief to the tune of 17.7 million dollars. With the cap expecting to go up to at least 155 mil and more likely closer to 160 this move alone takes the Dolphins completely out of cap hell.
Everyone in the world, except for a few crazy Dolphin fans, knows that Quinton Coples will not be back at anything more than a completely new deal paying near minimum, saving another 7 mil. I'd just forget about him if I were you. This is an example of a total bust!
All three players Reshad Jones,Jordan Cameron, and Cam Wake will have restructured contracts drastically reducing their 2016 cap hits. Jordan will obviously take a pay cut whereas Jones will get a raise. They could save as much as 20 million in cap space without much effort.
Then there is the release of Jennings,Fox,Misi,and Brice McCain for another 11 mil.
Then there is the release or trade of Grimes,Earl Mitchell and Maybe even Pouncey being traded resulting in another possible 16 mil
These numbers are of course after accounting for dead money and would give the Dolphins around 40-65 mil in cap.
Key #1.....Clearing cap room.
Key#2......Sign Jaye Howard NT/DE Howard played at 320 last year and had a great year for the Chiefs.(5.5 sacks) IMO he would make an excellent and affordable piece to a Dolphins 3-4 or 4-3. I would also draft Adam Gotsis to be a run stuffing DE.
Key#3......Sign Derrick Johnson ILB The perfect leader for our new 3-4. I would not be overbid for this player. He brings experience,leadership, and excellence that nobody else on the market has. Definite key for a ,"win now," team.
Key #4... Signing both an excellent CB and FS. I want to build through the draft as well, but if these holes aren't filled by experienced vets and draft picks to develop we are up the creek without a paddle. Having Vance gives a great shot at signing Reggie Nelson, and Weddle has already commented on the Dolphins as a possible landing. CB is really hairy. Overpay, or take your chances with possible breakout candidates, or commit to using high draft picks. Yikes! Actually, if it were me, I would do all three. I would overpay for Trumaine Johnson and sign Josh Robinson and use a somewhat high pick on CB Artie Burns.(late 2nd or early 3rd) I fully expect Tony Lippett to start in 2016, but I would also hope that Vance would bring in Leon Hall if his price drops way down because of the injuries. I would make sure Trumaine Johnson's contract allowed for us to easily cut him in his third year if desirable. I may also sign Patrick Robinson CB if possible as well. Robinson has graded extremely well the last couple years considering the teams he played on had horrible pass rush rankings.
Key#4...Replacing OV and Shelby. I really like Damontre Moore as rotational/backup guy, but Chris McCain is a real wildcard and if Jordan returns I project him as a Will LB/SS to be used in coverage on passing downs primarily against prolific TE's or big slot receivers. So this is an area of huge need seeing as how Wake is coming off injury and projects as a situational edge rusher. Who will start?? If Ogbah is there you have to take him. He has no weaknesses. Work ethic,character,IQ,athleticism,body of work, everything is in the elite category. Very very smart kid, he would learn the NFL quickly IMO, which is what sets him apart. If he isn't there, I trade down and draft both Kaufusi and James Cowser later on. Draft OL in the first. Kaufusi projects as a guy who can legitimately play in the 5-9 technique spectrum. He played OLB in 2014 and added weight and played end this year with 11 sacks.
I would also look to sign John Simon who played very well in Houston this year because of injuries. Could be considered a breakout candidate as an edge rusher. He went undrafted and is now a RFA. It will be very interesting to see if they tender him and at what round. He is only 6'1" but is freakishly strong,very athletic and has over 33 inch arms.
Key#5....Draft a future free safety because Aikens needs to be expected to be a ST's only guy if he even makes the 53 next year. I like Deiondre Hall CB from UNI to convert to FS. He is bigger than what he is listed at. He was a true,"man amongst boys," playing at the FCS level.
Depth Chart:
OLB.....Emanuel Ogbah,John Simon,Damaontre Moore
RDE.....Jaye Howard,Terrence Fede,Adam Gotsis
NT....Jordan Phillips,Jaye Howard,DeAndre Coleman
LDE...Suh,DeAndre Coleman,Bronson Kaufusi
ILB....Derrick Johnson,Jelani Jenkins,Zach Vigil,Dion Jordan
OLB....Bronson Kaufusi,Cam Wake,James Cowser
Safety ...Reshad Jones,Reggie Nelson,Deiondre Hall,Michael Thomas
CB......Trumaine Johnson,Patrick Robinson,Tony Lippett,Leon Hall,Bobby McCain,Jamar Taylor,Dax Swanson
If the FO was serious about prioritizing the OL this offseason then the defense may not get the funding it really needs.....or not. There are options.
Ndamukong Suh's cap hit could be reduced as low as 10.6 mil in 2016.http://www.businessinsider.com/ndamukong-suh-contract-miami-dolphins-2015-3 Seeing as how Grimes and Albert and several other big money players will be coming off the books in the next couple years and the cap room projections in 2017-2018 are enormous, I think it is a forgone conclusion the Dolphins will go in this direction. http://overthecap.com/salary-cap/miami-dolphins/
That is instant cap relief to the tune of 17.7 million dollars. With the cap expecting to go up to at least 155 mil and more likely closer to 160 this move alone takes the Dolphins completely out of cap hell.
Everyone in the world, except for a few crazy Dolphin fans, knows that Quinton Coples will not be back at anything more than a completely new deal paying near minimum, saving another 7 mil. I'd just forget about him if I were you. This is an example of a total bust!
All three players Reshad Jones,Jordan Cameron, and Cam Wake will have restructured contracts drastically reducing their 2016 cap hits. Jordan will obviously take a pay cut whereas Jones will get a raise. They could save as much as 20 million in cap space without much effort.
Then there is the release of Jennings,Fox,Misi,and Brice McCain for another 11 mil.
Then there is the release or trade of Grimes,Earl Mitchell and Maybe even Pouncey being traded resulting in another possible 16 mil
These numbers are of course after accounting for dead money and would give the Dolphins around 40-65 mil in cap.
Key #1.....Clearing cap room.
Key#2......Sign Jaye Howard NT/DE Howard played at 320 last year and had a great year for the Chiefs.(5.5 sacks) IMO he would make an excellent and affordable piece to a Dolphins 3-4 or 4-3. I would also draft Adam Gotsis to be a run stuffing DE.
Key#3......Sign Derrick Johnson ILB The perfect leader for our new 3-4. I would not be overbid for this player. He brings experience,leadership, and excellence that nobody else on the market has. Definite key for a ,"win now," team.
Key #4... Signing both an excellent CB and FS. I want to build through the draft as well, but if these holes aren't filled by experienced vets and draft picks to develop we are up the creek without a paddle. Having Vance gives a great shot at signing Reggie Nelson, and Weddle has already commented on the Dolphins as a possible landing. CB is really hairy. Overpay, or take your chances with possible breakout candidates, or commit to using high draft picks. Yikes! Actually, if it were me, I would do all three. I would overpay for Trumaine Johnson and sign Josh Robinson and use a somewhat high pick on CB Artie Burns.(late 2nd or early 3rd) I fully expect Tony Lippett to start in 2016, but I would also hope that Vance would bring in Leon Hall if his price drops way down because of the injuries. I would make sure Trumaine Johnson's contract allowed for us to easily cut him in his third year if desirable. I may also sign Patrick Robinson CB if possible as well. Robinson has graded extremely well the last couple years considering the teams he played on had horrible pass rush rankings.
Key#4...Replacing OV and Shelby. I really like Damontre Moore as rotational/backup guy, but Chris McCain is a real wildcard and if Jordan returns I project him as a Will LB/SS to be used in coverage on passing downs primarily against prolific TE's or big slot receivers. So this is an area of huge need seeing as how Wake is coming off injury and projects as a situational edge rusher. Who will start?? If Ogbah is there you have to take him. He has no weaknesses. Work ethic,character,IQ,athleticism,body of work, everything is in the elite category. Very very smart kid, he would learn the NFL quickly IMO, which is what sets him apart. If he isn't there, I trade down and draft both Kaufusi and James Cowser later on. Draft OL in the first. Kaufusi projects as a guy who can legitimately play in the 5-9 technique spectrum. He played OLB in 2014 and added weight and played end this year with 11 sacks.
I would also look to sign John Simon who played very well in Houston this year because of injuries. Could be considered a breakout candidate as an edge rusher. He went undrafted and is now a RFA. It will be very interesting to see if they tender him and at what round. He is only 6'1" but is freakishly strong,very athletic and has over 33 inch arms.
Key#5....Draft a future free safety because Aikens needs to be expected to be a ST's only guy if he even makes the 53 next year. I like Deiondre Hall CB from UNI to convert to FS. He is bigger than what he is listed at. He was a true,"man amongst boys," playing at the FCS level.
Depth Chart:
OLB.....Emanuel Ogbah,John Simon,Damaontre Moore
RDE.....Jaye Howard,Terrence Fede,Adam Gotsis
NT....Jordan Phillips,Jaye Howard,DeAndre Coleman
LDE...Suh,DeAndre Coleman,Bronson Kaufusi
ILB....Derrick Johnson,Jelani Jenkins,Zach Vigil,Dion Jordan
OLB....Bronson Kaufusi,Cam Wake,James Cowser
Safety ...Reshad Jones,Reggie Nelson,Deiondre Hall,Michael Thomas
CB......Trumaine Johnson,Patrick Robinson,Tony Lippett,Leon Hall,Bobby McCain,Jamar Taylor,Dax Swanson
