SI: AFC East offseason grades

[Nublar7]

I would have given ourselves a B-, solid draft where hopefully some starters will emerge, but dissapointing FA offseason, especially seeing none of the top FA's was willing to come to Miami

Other than Eric Winston, Miami didn't even pursue any of the "top" free agents, probably because of limted cap space. Had nothing to do with their willingness.

 

[NY8123]

The thing is teams like Buffalo and Tampa who spent the most money in free agency had like $30-50 million to begin with. Miami had something like $10 million, so obviously they were not going to be busy like they were. However, that might all change next offseason when Miami becomes one of those teams with $50 million+ cap space.

Yeah but that 50+ mill number is a little deceiving, Big Jake is going to hammer a lot of that and Bush assuming he is back. Then there is a list a mile long that are due for a re-up on the contract, assuming 50 to 60% walk and/or replaceable that leaves about ten others next season that need contracts before you can even entertain big name signings.

There are a lot of free agents on this team at the end of the season.

 

[Nublar7]

Yeah but that 50+ mill number is a little deceiving, Big Jake is going to hammer a lot of that and Bush assuming he is back. Then there is a list a mile long that are due for a re-up on the contract, assuming 50 to 60% walk and/or replaceable that leaves about ten others next season that need contracts before you can even entertain big name signings.

There are a lot of free agents on this team at the end of the season.

Jake will eat up a big chunk. Randy Starks might get a decent contract. But of all the rest of the free agents, including Reggie Bush, who else is in for a big pay day? Hartline imo will be extended before the regular season, and I doubt he gets huge numbers. Sean Smith might want big numbers, but I could even see him walking.

So lets say Miami has exactly $50 million in 2013 as of this moment. Joe Thomas got an extension last summer for $92 million over 8 years. Long will get probably just a little more than that. Joe Thomas' cap hit this season is $11.9 million and that is pretty much the hit the entire length of the contract. If Long is roughly the same, that lowers that number to $39-40 million in space. Re-sign Starks, Bush, Hartline, maybe Smith and Clemons and some of the other lower cost free agents and that maybe takes off another $15-20 million. So still, even after re-signing key players they will still have around $20-25 million in space. Of course some of that will go towards the draft picks probably around $7 million at the most. That leaves Miami the ability to sign at least one, maybe two high profile/big contract free agents and leaves room for some less expensive gap filler free agents.

 

[CANDolphan]

Nubs.. I gotta love the way you always look for the bright side with this team.. If your car was totalled in a head on with a tractor trailer.. would you be saying "oh yippee.. one wiper still works.. ?" facts are.. SI was 100% dead on accurate.. our offseason was not all that brilliant from a "football" point of view.. Marshall for two 3rd round picks?? I mean come one.. forget that he was a cancer.. the guy is a probowler and all we could get was a couple of 3rd rounders?

Lets face the facts here... its just like that ol' cliche.. same stuff.. different year

Let's see, a guy with a huge spotlight on him (in regards to the league commissioner) is already being discussed for draft picks and he slips up, again, and sends the team over the edge. At the time, it was likely he was going to see a suspension. Don't think this incident left him unscathed. Next slip up he is being suspended for 8 weeks, minimum.

Everyone is way too quick to use hindsight in the trade. Marshall had to go. Miami wanted to fill holes in our offense with a new offense and they decided that one their most valuable assets had to go. What did he do? What we expected him to, and he killed all his value. Miami was in talks about trading Marshall before the incident, but the incident certainly lowered his price.

Most teams wouldn't touch Brandon Marshall with a 10 foot pole.

 

[MiamiDolphin618]

Jake will eat up a big chunk. Randy Starks might get a decent contract. But of all the rest of the free agents, including Reggie Bush, who else is in for a big pay day? Hartline imo will be extended before the regular season, and I doubt he gets huge numbers. Sean Smith might want big numbers, but I could even see him walking.

So lets say Miami has exactly $50 million in 2013 as of this moment. Joe Thomas got an extension last summer for $92 million over 8 years. Long will get probably just a little more than that. Joe Thomas' cap hit this season is $11.9 million and that is pretty much the hit the entire length of the contract. If Long is roughly the same, that lowers that number to $39-40 million in space. Re-sign Starks, Bush, Hartline, maybe Smith and Clemons and some of the other lower cost free agents and that maybe takes off another $15-20 million. So still, even after re-signing key players they will still have around $20-25 million in space. Of course some of that will go towards the draft picks probably around $7 million at the most. That leaves Miami the ability to sign at least one, maybe two high profile/big contract free agents and leaves room for some less expensive gap filler free agents.

Im curious to see how next offseason plays out. Obviously this year will be big for our guys who are looking to resign, because if they don't perform or fit the mold then they could be on the outs. Anyways, what I am curious to see is how we approach FA in regards to big name guys. Philibin has made it clear he wants to build through the draft, and pointed out how GB never gave out big FA deals. Now, with all the cap space does he change his mind a bit...

 

[PJack]

Lot could happen next off season. Frankly if Jake doesn't show he can stay completely healthy where he plays at his normal high level, I think we'd be crazy to offer 90mm+ with a big guarantee number. I hope he shows that durability, but if not, we could do worse than having 50mm in cap space to load up on a nice sporty set of playmakers.