Phins offseason blueprint version 1.22

[killswitch]

According to Alex Marvez:

"The Dolphins have $91.2 million counting against the NFL's 2007 salary cap of $109 million. That figure is comprised of the cap figures of 35 players currently under contract and 'dead money' that counts toward players no longer with the team. A cap number is generally comprised of base salary, roster bonuses and a prorated portion of signing bonus."

Here’s a link to the Dolphins 2007 salary cap figures:
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-dolchartst06,0,6612741.htmlstory?coll=sfla-sports-utility-dolphins


Dolphins 2007 Free Agents

• Adams, Keith - LB - UFA
• Barnes, Darian - FB - UFA
• Bell, Yeremiah - S - RFA
• Bowens, David - DE - UFA
• Denney, John - LS - ERFA
• Eckel, Kyle - RB - ERFA
• Fonoti, Toniu - OG - UFA
• Holliday, Vonnie - DT - UFA
• Jackson, Eddie - CB - RFA
• Jacox, Kendyl - C - UFA
• Jones, Donnie - P - RFA
• Lehan, Michael - CB - UFA
• Lemon, Cleo - QB - RFA
• McIntosh, Damion - OT - UFA
• Minor, Travis - RB - UFA
• Morris, Sammy - RB - UFA
• Spragan, Donnie - LB - UFA
• Tillman, Travares - S - UFA
• Traylor, Keith - DT - UFA
• Vickerson, Kevin - DT - ERFA
• Welker, Wes - WR - RFA
• Zgonina, Jeff - DT - UFA

Miami Dolphins 2007 OFFSEASON

Offseason Transactions

Release

· OG – Bennie Anderson (‘07 cap number: $2.1 mil; signed through 2007)
o OG’s L.J. Shelton, Seth McKinney, Toniu Fonoti, Joe Toledo should make $2.1 million Bennie Anderson expendable
· WR – Marty Booker (‘07 cap number: $3.7 mil; signed through 2008)
o a solid player during his tenure, but will be replaced by speed in Ted Ginn Jr.; will still have WR depth in Welker and Hagan, maybe Marcus Vick as well
· DE – Kevin Carter (‘07 cap number: $6.48 mil; signed through 2009)
o time for Matt Roth to step in as the starter; will save lots of cap room
· QB – Joey Harrington (’07 cap number: $3.5 mil; signed through 2008)
o Too big of a cap number for an incumbent backup, especially when the capable Cleo Lemon could fill the role
· OG – Jeno James (‘07 cap number: $4 mil; signed through 2009)
o His tenure has been serviceable, but disappointing; now aging coming off a big injury, just not worth $4 million
· K – Olindo Mare (’07 cap number: $2.1 mil; signed through 2009)
o over-stayed his welcome

Restructure/Extend

· OG/C – Seth McKinney (currently signed through ‘07 with ’07 cap number of $4 mil)
§ Versatile (OG who can also be backup C), still young but experienced, and should be relatively cheap; projected to compete for starting LG spot with Toniu Fonoti

Sign

· ERFA: LS – John Denney
· ERFA: DT – Kevin Vickerson
· RFA: SS – Yeremiah Bell
§ talented enought to be an every game starter; I'd like to see a long-term contract
· RFA: QB – Cleo Lemon
· RFA: P – Donnie Jones
· RFA: WR – Wes Welker
§ should remain a dependable WR especially with Booker projected to be gone
· UFA: FB – Darian Barnes
· UFA: DE – David Bowens
§ a very valuable role player we need back especially with the projected cut of Kevin Carter
· UFA: OG – Toniu Fonoti
§ should be re-signed because 1.) was a starter for one of the best O-lines in football a couple years ago in San Diego, 2.) Hudson Houck must like him, as he’s played practically his entire NFL career under the OL coach in SD and following him to Miami, 3.) will be cheap (probably the veteran minimum), 4.) should have good chemistry with O-line mate Damion McIntosh who stated whith him in SD under Houck as well
· UFA: DT – Vonnie Holliday
§ will also be able to line up at DE, which may be necessary if Kevin Carter's $6.48 mil cap number renders him gone; his versatility will allow our group of talented young DT's to get some playing time
· UFA: QB – Doug Johnson
§ to compete for 3rd string QB; projected roster cut
· UFA: CB – David Macklin
§ has been a starter for his whole career; still young; coming off injury, should be relatively cheap for his value
· UFA: OT – Damion McIntosh
§ his value has been underrated this past year as he did a solid job at LT; not much other options at starting LT, as don’t want to overpay for a guy like UFA Leonard Davis, or below average UFA Jordan Black; don’t want to give up draft picks for RFA’s like Max Starks
· UFA: RB – Travis Minor
· UFA: CB – Will Poole
§ Want to see him given another chance, but not expected to play a big role
· UFA: LB – Adalius Thomas
§ Randy Mueller has said one priority is a LB that can blitz; this guy is even more versatile than JT and would make our defense from solid to elite, as we needed pass rushing ability from the LB position many times last year, especially on downs where Thomas and Crowder would often blitz and fail to break through the line
· UFA: S – Chad Williams – this guy has been a playmaker since he's played his first game in the NFL back with the Ravens 5 years ago; he'll be a valuable backup DB with Jason Allen (who still has tons of talent I believe); our secondary does not have a real star, but also no player is a weakness... with a strong front 7, which I believe we will have, we don't need a "shutdown" DB; instead, just solid players all the way around, and valuable role players like Chad Williams; a guy like Williams would allow more diversity in defensive packages: for example, this past year Y.Bell had often been used very effectively as a situational blitzer, but when he became the every game starter, his blitzing abilities were rendered useless as he was assigned to drop back in coverage much more often; with Jason Allen stepping up and a guy like Chad Williams, our secondary packages should become much more effective

Draft

· 1: WR – Ted Ginn Jr. – Ohio St
§ Mueller stated he wants speed at WR position; right now I think this will be our pick, and even though it wouldn’t be my first choice, I understand it because our offense seems as though it does need a “spark”; IMO, our offense is all set when Culpepper gets healthy
· 2: DE/DT – Ray McDonald – Florida
§ If not for injuries I believe this guy would be a first rounder; 6’3, 285, who can pass rush and run stuff, and line up a DT if necessary; has been making big plays at Florida since a freshman
· 3: K – Mason Crosby – Colorado
§ best Kicking prospect in the draft by far; fills the need a dependable, relatively cheap Kicker
· 4: OL – Mansfield Wrotto – Georgia Tech
§ Was a DT his first 3 years at GT, moved to RT for his Sr. year and stock exploded as the year went on, earning a trip to the Senior Bowl; 6’3, 310 lbs, physical and athletic, has the measurables and ability to line up anywhere on the O-line
· 6: QB – Isaiah Stanback – Washington
§ Coming off a season-ending injury; very athletic, has a cannon for an arm, and accuracy is underrated IMO; 6’3, 215 lbs; I think this guys will be one of the best QB’s from this draft class; many people will say he’s a developmental prospect, but I think he’ll be NFL-ready from day one; would be a huge steal in the 6th round but may go earlier
· 7: OLB – Brian Smith – Missouri
§ 31.5 sacks in college career; was healthy up until the second half of senior year when his fractured his left hip and was lost for the rest of the season; played DE in college, but at 6’4, 235 with athleticism, should be primarily an OLB in the pros
· UDFA: LB – Troy Collavo – UTEP
§ most likely will not be drafted; a projected ILB; hard hitter with limited athleticism, but this guy has stood out every time I've seen UTEP play
· UDFA: DE – Mel Purcell – Hawaii
§ 6’5, 265 lbs, great frame, and a consistent pass rusher (except for in '05 when he played most of the season with an elbow injury)


* - unrestricted free agent
* - restricted free agent
* - exclusive rights free agent
* - rookie draft pick/undrafted free agent
* - restructure/extend contract
* - no transaction

Offense

WR Chris Chambers..........Wes Welker................Marcus Vick

LT Damion McIntosh.........Mansfield Wrotto
LG Toniu Fonoti................Seth McKinney
C Rex Hadnot
RG L.J. Shelton.………………….Joe Toledo
RT Vernon Carey...............Anthony Alabi

TE Randy McMichael..........Justin Peele................Tim Massaquoi

WR Ted Ginn Jr...............Derek Hagan

QB Daunte Culpepper........ Cleo Lemon.................Isaiah Stanback
FB Darian Barnes
RB Ronnie Brown..............Ricky Williams............Travis Minor


Defense

LE Matt Roth...................Ray McDonald
LDT Dan Wilkinson............Manuel Wright............Frederick Evans
RDT Vonnie Holliday.........Rodrique Wright.........Kevin Vickerson
RE Jason Taylor..............David Bowens

LOLB Adalius Thomas..........Brian Smith...............Jim Maxwell
MLB Zach Thomas..............Robert McCune
ROLB Channing Crowder......Derrick Pope

LCB Will Allen....................Travis Daniels............ Will Poole
RCB David Macklin......... Andre’ Goodman
SS Yeremiah Bell.............Chad Williams
FS Renaldo Hill................Jason Allen


Special teams

P Donnie Jones
K Mason Crosby
LS John Denney


Practice Squad

RB Patrick Cobbs
LB Troy Collavo
FB Kyle Eckel
WR Eric Kimble
CB Shirdonya Mitchell
DT Chase Page
DE Mel Purcell
OG Dan Stevenson

 

[Geforce]

I see you put a lot of thought into your offseason plan. Good work on most of it. Unless Fonoti lose some weight, I don't see him being one of the guys we target for re-signing. I also don't think we need to bring any quarterback that is only projected to be a backup, unless it's a rookie. We also don't need to bring in anymore players with significant injuries in the past (Will Poole) because IMO it usually comes back to bite us in the tailfin.
Drafting a PK in the 3rd is a I don't know kinda feel to it.

 

[Desides]

Don't count on Fonoti coming back. There's a reason teams keep cutting him: he's unreliable. There won't be a competition for anything at LG.

We're not drafting Mason Crosby, and definitely not in the third round, because we've just signed a kicker.

I also don't see us taking Ted Ginn, Jr., yet keeping Welker. If we're taking Ginn (which I oppose, as he can't catch) we need to get rid of Welker. If we're keeping Welker, we need to pass on Ginn. It's bad enough Chambers and Welker are on the same team.

 

[jdang307]

$91M for 35 players? That isn't too good is it? I love chambers but man I think he might need to restructure. Depending on training camp I might agree with letting Booker go but don't like Ginn. Any other speedsters in lower rounds? Chambers, Hagan, Welker, Vick, and Rookie look ok. We all see what Cameron does with mediocre squad in San Diego.

 

[Jimi]

I also don't see us taking Ted Ginn, Jr., yet keeping Welker. If we're taking Ginn (which I oppose, as he can't catch) we need to get rid of Welker. If we're keeping Welker, we need to pass on Ginn. It's bad enough Chambers and Welker are on the same team.

I dont get this entire paragraph... Why cant we have both Ginn and Welker, and why is it a problem having Chambers and Welker on the same team?

 

[rdhstlr23]

Ginn can certainly catch. He also adds the variable of being able to play KR/PR and do it well.

It looks really nice man. You did a great a job. I agree with alot.

 

[SpencerFS]

kicker is one of the most underrated positions in the game there are about 5 games a year that depend on a field goal and olindo costs a lot and isn't as consistent as he used to be. GOod mock

 

[SigmaOmega]

Depending on the WR coach we bring in will determine the WR's that we have and/or may draft, imo.

 

[PhinGeneral]

I dont get this entire paragraph... Why cant we have both Ginn and Welker, and why is it a problem having Chambers and Welker on the same team?

Chambers has shown he's much more effective when he is put into the slot position, which basically is the only position Wes can play.

 

[MelbournePhin]

great effort.

 

[Blade]

Nice Read. Looks like you have put lots of thought into it. I hope we can get Ginn and hopefully Culpepper comes back from his injury and can play at an excellence level of play like he used to.

 

[tmny99]

Everything is good except we're definitely not drafting Mason Crosby in the third. In fact, we're not drafting a kicker. We signed this young guy to compete with Mare, and he's probably going to replace him.

 

[DC8]

If we do go WR in the first I'd rather have Jarrett than Ginn. This would allow Chambers to be more effective in the slot. Ginn is not worth the 9th pick.
Dwayne Jarrett, Chris Chambers, Wes Welker, Derek Hagan sounds way better. Other than that, great work. I'm all for Crosby if Mare is cut. Just because we have signed another kicker doesn't mean we can't cut him. I remember some off seasons ago, a kicker was signed to compete vs Mare. Kickers can be cut very easily. Ala MikeVanderjagt.

 

[Dolfan2788]

I don't mind drafting Ted Ginn as draft is all based on opinion.
But I don't think there is much chance of him starting ahead of Hagan, nor Welker.

 

[malzj]

Nice job with the mock up. I agree with alot of things on here.

I still think Mare would be worth keeping if he restructures or we can't find someone to take his place. He shouldn't have a problem with restructuring because guys like Zack and JT do it all the time. I think Mare will be back.

I would love to take a receiver first round but I think we're actually okay there with Chambers, welker, hagan, and maybe vick. I think Hagan is only going to get better with game experience.

I agree with Roth coming in and starting. But I think we might have to go defense with the second pick, grab a huge DT to take Traylors spot in the rotation.

I