The Miami Dolphins’ rebuild has provided this team with plenty of flexibility. Looking forward, Miami’s youth and the secure status of the majority of their cornerstone players on longer deals puts the team in a position to provide plenty of stability as a team over the next three to five seasons — and with enough cap space to qualify as in the top-half of the league for the 2021 offseason, Miami should be able to continue to add good players.
But part of the challenge of building a roster via the NFL Draft, which the Dolphins appear poised to do, is to retain your good talent once it is in the building.
One of the primary tools to such an approach is the franchise tag — which can guarantee a team two additional years of control on a player. That is, of course, if you’re willing to pay the premium price.
The tag isn’t something the Dolphins have made much use of lately, as we showcased last summer when looking at the Dolphins’ recent history of use with the franchise tag this millennium.
“2000 – Offensive Tackle Richmond Webb
Webb received the tag for the second consecutive off-season in 2000, keeping him in place for his final season in Miami before playing two years in Cincinnati.
2001 – Defensive End Jason Taylor
Taylor was a 26-year old defensive end, coming off a 14.5 sacks season when Miami slapped him with the tag. Taylor would go on to play eleven more seasons (nine in Miami) en route to becoming a first ballot Hall of Famer.
2011 – Defensive Tackle Paul Soliai
A decade drought with the tag ended with a nose tackle, of all positions. Soliai’s tenure with the Dolphins didn’t end after his tagged season, but within three years Soliai was off the team.
2013 – Defensive Tackle Randy Starks
Starks enjoyed a career revival in Miami after starting his pro career in Tennessee. Starks became a fixture of the Dolphins defensive line during the early portions of this decade and the tag aided in extending his time in South Florida by two seasons.
2018 – Wide Receiver Jarvis Landry
Landry is the only player to be given the franchise tag by Miami whose time with the team ended that same off-season. Landry’s tag figure (more than $16M for 2018) was a big catalyst in him being dealt to Cleveland for 2018 4th and 7th-round picks.”
With Raekwon McMillan, Matt Breida, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Davon Godchaux looming as Miami’s biggest free agents this upcoming offseason, it is hard to envision Miami resorting to using the franchise tag in 2021. So when will be the next logical window where we could see Miami implement the tag?
Here are the expiring contracts of note over the next several seasons. The most realistic franchise tag candidate will be in bold.
2021 offseason
Expiring contracts of note: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, RB Matt Breida, WR Albert Wilson, DL Davon Godchaux, LB Raekwon McMillan, LB Kamu Grugier-Hill
2022 offseason
Expiring contracts of note: QB Josh Rosen, RB Jordan Howard, TE Mike Gesicki, DL Emmanuel Ogbah, LB Jerome Baker
2023 offseason
Expiring contracts of note: OL Ereck Flowers, DL Shaq Lawson, DB Bobby McCain, DB Eric Rowe
What makes a franchise tag candidate? A player that would be worth the average of the top five salaries at the position if the team and player aren’t able to negotiate a desirable long-term contract. Of all the notable expiring contracts in Miami over the next two to three seasons, TE Mike Gesicki and LB Jerome Baker are the most significant as of this point in time. And, given their respective youth, they are players that figure to be in their physical prime when negotiations are underway.
If Gesicki continues to grow as a player, he may be worth consideration for a franchise tag designation when the time comes. But if not, we may see Miami continue to forego utilizing the tag for the next several years — because all of their top talent is either locked in for the long haul or they are rookies set on longer contracts as well.