Tag: 2022 NFL free agents

Dolphins free agent profile: What to do with Jason McCourty

They appear to already have their two starters and a veteran backup.

The start of NFL free agency is under a week away now, and teams around the league have begun making decisions that will affect their roster for 2022 and beyond.

For the Miami Dolphins, they have 25 pending unrestricted, restricted or exclusive-rights free agents that are expected to hit the market next week, including defensive back Jason McCourty.

McCourty, who started his career off at cornerback, has moved into more of a safety role in recent years. He signed a one-year deal worth $1.2 million with the Dolphins this past offseason after spending the previous 12 seasons with the Titans, Browns, and Patriots.

In the first seven weeks of the 2021 season, the veteran started four games, playing 63% of the snaps, as his experience and leadership were recognized by his teammates and coaches. However, McCourty’s season was cut short due to a foot injury against the Atlanta Falcons.

Now, heading into 2022, the 34-year-old defensive back is set to be an unrestricted free agent, and the Dolphins have appeared to find some solid safeties. Jevon Holland shined bright in his rookie season, Brandon Jones showed he could bring some box-safety skills, and Eric Rowe continued to be decent while covering tight ends.

While Miami has a ton of cap space to throw around they might be looking to get someone younger or cheaper in the room than McCourty going forward. However, they could be looking to create even more cap space, and they could do so by moving on from Rowe to save just over $4.5 million, according to Over the Cap.

There’s a chance McCourty could be back, but it’s probably smarter to go another direction.

[listicle id=447539]

4 free agent tight ends who could fit with the Dolphins in 2022

The Dolphins have one free agent at the position.

The Miami Dolphins are near the top of the league in cap space available, as they currently have just over $51 million to spend in 2022. With free agency right around the corner, the decision-makers in Miami will have to choose which players they want to go after.

At the tight end spot, the Dolphins have already used their franchise tag on Mike Gesicki, meaning they have a solid group heading into 2022. They do still, however, have a chance to improve their roster by signing a free agent when the league year begins on March 16.

These are four tight ends the Dolphins should take a look at.

Dolphins tender two pending exclusive-rights free agents

That takes care of those two.

Heading into free agency, the Miami Dolphins had 28 pending restricted, unrestricted or exclusive-rights free agents that were set to hit the market on March 16.

After they franchised tight end Mike Gesicki early Tuesday, Miami went out and made sure they kept two more of their young players on the roster, as the team announced that they’ve tendered running back Salvon Ahmed and defensive back Elijah Campbell.

This move means both players aren’t allowed to negotiate with other teams, and they’ve received a non-guaranteed, one-year contract for the league minimum.

Ahmed originally entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the San Francisco 49ers, and when he was waived, he joined the Dolphins practice squad. Over the last two seasons, he’s totaled 468 yards and three touchdowns in the running game.

Campbell bounced around from the NFL to the Alliance of American Football to the XFL before making his way back to the league with the New York Jets in 2020. He was claimed by the Dolphins at the start of 2021, seeing the field on special teams in a few games.

The next piece of business is likely to address the team’s restricted free agents before the start of the new league year.

[listicle id=447539]

Dolphins free agent profile: Miami should look to upgrade from Michael Palardy

They can do better at the position.

The Miami Dolphins are done with the scouting combine process and are continuing to evaluate their roster to see where they can be better in 2022 and beyond.

Head coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier will have to make decisions on 28 players who are set to hit the market on March 16 when the league year opens, including punter Michael Palardy.

2021, his first year with Miami, was a bit of a rocky year for the Dolphins’ 29-year-old punter. Palardy’s 44.7 punt average ranked 24th of all punters who had at least 35 attempts in 2021, however, he was third-best in the league in punts downed inside the 20-yard line (31).

His high point came in Week 13 when he earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his six-punt performance against the New York Giants that included a career-long 65-yard punt that pinned them at their own 15.

What the front office should be discussing this week and throughout the year is consistency at the position. Ideally, a punter would be hitting the field and flipping field position to keep their defense out of poor situations as often as possible.

There are options in free agency and the draft that are enticing for a positional upgrade. The thing that might make the most sense at the position this offseason is bringing Palardy back on a one-year deal and having him compete for the job throughout training camp.

[listicle id=447430]

Dolphins free agent profile: Miami should try and retain WR Mack Hollins

He’s a leader and great special teams contributor.

NFL free agency is just over a week away, meaning the 2022 league year is right around the corner.

New head coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier will be tasked with finding the right pieces to make this team a contender in the near future, and that starts now.

Miami is set to have 28 players become unrestricted, restricted or exclusive-rights free agents this offseason, including wide receiver Mack Hollins.

In just over two seasons with the Dolphins, Hollins hasn’t exactly been a dominant receiver, but he’s been a decent depth option. In 2021, he recorded a career-high four touchdowns and 223 yards on 14 receptions.

However, Hollins has provided an impact in other ways. He can block in the running game, and he’s been solid on special teams as a gunner as well, recording a team-high nine special teams tackles last year. The 28-year-old also earned his teammates’ respect, as he was named a team captain in 2021.

Leadership like that is something Miami should want to keep around in 2022 and going forward. Hollins can help keep the energy positive and the guys focused in the locker room when times are tough. We saw examples of that throughout this past season.

As a depth wideout and special teamer, Hollins will likely command under $3 million, so the Dolphins should definitely want to keep him in Miami.

[listicle id=447707]

4 free agent wide receivers who could help the Dolphins in 2022

Miami should consider going after one of these four.

The 2022 NFL Scouting Combine is wrapping up on Sunday, meaning we are just over a week away from the start of the new league year. With that comes the opening of free agency.

For the Miami Dolphins, they have plenty of money to spend to help keep their defense as one of the top units in the league and to make life easier on Tua Tagovailoa on offense.

The Dolphins don’t exactly have the best group of receivers under contract for 2022, as the only two wideouts that have seen legitimate opportunities are Jaylen Waddle and DeVante Parker.

These are four wide receivers that the Dolphins should consider signing this offseason.

4 free agent running backs the Dolphins should consider signing

These guys could fit in.

The Miami Dolphins have a lot of questions surrounding their backfield heading into the offseason, as the team only has Myles Gaskin and Gerrid Doaks under contract for 2022.

With Duke Johnson, Phillip Lindsay, Malcolm Brown, Salvon Ahmed, and Patrick Laird all hitting the market when free agency opens on March 16, the Dolphins will have a fair number of holes to fill at a position that they weren’t exactly stellar at last season.

There are some interesting names that are expected to be available, but these four guys are running backs that the Dolphins should consider signing to help them going forward.

Dolphins free agent profile: Is it time to move on from Albert Wilson

Could there be an upgrade made at wide receiver this offseason?

NFL free agency is under two weeks away now, meaning we are extremely close to the start of the 2022 league year. New Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier will be tasked with doing everything in their power to upgrade their roster this offseason.

Miami is set to have 28 unrestricted, restricted and exclusive-rights free agents when the league year starts on March 16, including wide receiver Albert Wilson.

Wilson returned to the Dolphins in 2021 after opting out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns, and after looking really solid in training camp, many believed Wilson was primed to have a great year.

Unfortunately for the receiver and the team, that wasn’t exactly the case. Statistically, 2021 was the worst season of Wilson’s seven-year career, as he recorded just 25 receptions for 213 yards without a touchdown.

At 29 years old, Wilson has found a role as a third or fourth wide receiver in the offenses he’s played a part in due to his shiftiness and athleticism. That’s essentially his ceiling.

The Dolphins have seven receivers under contract for 2022, including Jaylen Waddle, Devante Parker, Allen Hurns, Lynn Bowden, River Cracraft, Cody Core, and DeVonte Dedmon. Of that group, only two received significant opportunities this past year.

With this being the case, it could be stated that the organization needs both top-end wideout talent and some better depth to make McDaniel, Tua Tagovailoa, and offensive coordinator Frank Smith’s lives easier.

Because of his poor performance this past year, Wilson likely won’t get a huge deal on the open market, and with that need for depth, there’s a chance he ends up back in Miami on a team-friendly contract. However, there are some options in free agency and the draft that may be more promising.

[vertical-gallery id=447022]

Dolphins free agent profile: What’s next for CB Justin Coleman

He may be another one-and-done in Miami.

The Miami Dolphins, along with the other 31 NFL teams, are spending their week at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana, as they prepare for the next steps to making their team better in the future.

After the combine, the biggest event for the league is the start of free agency on March 16 at the opening of another league year.

For the Dolphins, they have 28 players who are expected to become unrestricted, restricted or exclusive-rights free agents on that date, including cornerback Justin Coleman.

Coleman signed a one-year deal worth $2.25 million last offseason to join a deep cornerback room in Miami. Prior to this season, Coleman had spent two seasons each with the New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, and Detroit Lions.

When Coleman signed with Detroit in 2019 on a pretty large four-year, $36 million deal, they were led by general manager Bob Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia, who were both with the cornerback in New England when he signed as an undrafted free agent.

Then, when he was cut by the Lions, he was signed by Brian Flores, who coached him in New England as well.

With Xavien Howard and Byron Jones already on the roster, Coleman was expected to fill in his normal nickel spot in 2021. He was on the field for just 35% of snaps (his lowest since 2016), recording three passes defended, two interceptions, and a team-high 63.4 passer rating against 38 targets.

Nik Needham eventually took some of his reps at his slot position, and that could be a precursor for the future.

Coleman is still just 28 years old and can be a solid piece in a secondary, but he may be looking for an opportunity where he sees the field more frequently and can receive a decent payday. That place probably won’t be Miami.

[listicle id=447361]

Dolphins free agent profile: Should Miami bring Durham Smythe back

What does the future hold for the tight end?

The start of the 2022 NFL league year is just over two weeks away, meaning the beginning of free agency is right around the corner. The Miami Dolphins, along with every other team in the league, have started laying the groundwork for what they’d like to do.

There are 28 players that are expected to become unrestricted, restricted or exclusive-rights free agents that were on the Dolphins roster last year, including tight end Durham Smythe.

Miami originally drafted Smythe in the fourth round of the 2018 draft out of Notre Dame. Coming out of college, he was labeled as a run-blocker without much upside in the receiving game, but in recent years, he’s bringing more in that aspect.

This past season, Smythe, as the team’s second tight end behind Mike Gesicki, recorded a career-high 34 receptions for 357 yards.

Going into 2022, Smythe is set to become an unrestricted free agent, and the Dolphins only have Adam Shaheen, Cethan Carter, Hunter Long, and John Lovett under contract. This should show everyone that there’s a serious need for help at the position.

Smythe hasn’t exactly lived up to the blocking tight end moniker, but he can hold his own. That may make him a better scheme fit for Mike McDaniel’s offense than Gesicki, who is also a free agent this offseason.

The Dolphins drafted Long in last year’s draft seemingly in preparation for the two tight ends hitting the market this offseason. However, he could provide some of that versatility that Smythe brought.

When you look at the solid tight end options in free agency this year, it wouldn’t be too surprising to see the Dolphins move on from Smythe and find someone who can do just a bit more to fill those roles.

[listicle id=446861]