1 pending free agent Dolphins should target from each NFC West team

The Dolphins will enter 2020 free agency window with 1 of the biggest cap totals in the league. Who should they target from the NFC West?

The Miami Dolphins are all set to enter 2020 free agency next month and continue the team’s ambitious plan to completely overhaul the roster. Yes, this team’s primary objective appears to be to build through the draft. But the Dolphins will have a mass surplus of cap space at their disposal and the environment in South Florida is one filled with optimism after the Dolphins finished 5-4 over their final nine games.

Looking across the NFL landscape, there’s a ton of potential contributors set to hit the market. Here’s one pending free agent from each team in the NFC West that the Dolphins should consider:

San Francisco 49ers – Defensive Lineman Arik Armstead

Jan 19, 2020; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive end Arik Armstead (91) celebrates a sack against Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (not pictured) in the fourth quarter of the NFC Championship Game at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

You’ll be hard pressed to find many better fits for the Dolphins in this free agent class. Armstead is everything the Dolphins dream about on the defensive line — he’s long, he’s powerful, he’s got heavy hands and, most importantly, he really came into his own as a pass rusher in 2019.

During his 5th NFL season, Armstead logged 10 sacks and 18 quarterback hits. In the four prior seasons combined? He totaled 9 sacks and 29 quarterback hits over 46. games.

Granted, the additions of Dee Ford and Nick Bosa plus the presence of DeForest Buckner helped free Armstead up as a pass rusher, but the Dolphins are similarly looking to overhaul their pressure packages. Armstead would be a three down defender for Miami for the long-haul.