The Miami Dolphins will watch the San Francisco 49ers bang heads with the Kansas City Chiefs at Hard Rock Stadium this weekend — a showcase of the best of what the NFL has to offer this year in Super Bowl LIV. Once the clock strikes zero, the countdown to the opening of NFL free agency will officially be on. It will be here before we know it.
The Dolphins’ activity in free agency is still yet to be determined, it’s going to be fascinating to see who the Dolphins choose to prioritize — be it low priced role players, high priced centerpieces or a bit of both. But they’ll get a really good look at some of the soon to be available talent on the NFC’s best team on Sunday.
Which 49ers players who will be free agents this spring might be good scheme fits for the Dolphins?
Free Safety Jimmie Ward
Versatility is the name of the game with Jimmie Ward. Ward’s ability to step into tackles while also providing high end coverage skills is a pretty rare combination, as 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh vouched for earlier this postseason.
“I don’t know if there’s, I don’t want to blur it, but there’s not a lot of free safeties like him who is an exceptional cover guy along with the range he has in the middle of the field and his ability to do different things and the instinctiveness that he plays with, the physicality that he plays with,” said Saleh.
Ward would be a valuable chess piece in the secondary for Brian Flores — think much like what Minkah Fitzpatrick was supposed to be before he decided to force his way out of Miami.
Defensive End Arik Armstead
That big breakout season for Dolphins WR DeVante Parker? Armstead had one of his own for the 49ers in 2019. Entering the season, Armstead had accounted for 9 sacks in four years. He had 10 this season. At an imposing 6-foot-7 and 290 pounds, Armstead would fit well in Miami’s odd fronts and, even more importantly, would provide Miami with another pressure player who can help push the pocket.
Another bonus for signing Armstead? He’s only 26 years old.
Running Back Matt Breida
Breida is even younger than Armstead — he’s currently 24. The question here becomes how much of his gaudy 5.0 yards per carry over his first three seasons is an account of Kyle Shanahan’s rushing offense and how much of it is Breida’s gifts.
But if the price is right, what is the risk of adding a back in Breida who has accounted for 2,463 yards of offense and 10 touchdowns in three seasons despite never playing more than 365 snaps in a single year?
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