We would be wise to expect a bit more calculated approach to the 2021 free agency cycle than what the Miami Dolphins put on display throughout the course of the spring of 2020. Back then, the NFL’s salary cap was continuing on a rapid acceleration, adding more spending power to each team thanks to the rising revenues of the NFL. With the COVID-19 pandemic putting a dent into the league’s bottom line, expectations are that we will see a reduced spending window for NFL teams in 2021.
For the Miami Dolphins, all is well. Miami has the cap space to retain their talents, continue to upgrade the roster and add a number of future big contracts via the 2021 NFL Draft. But they’re still going to have to be a bit more selective with how many free agents they sign — which makes finding the right fits essential.
One such position of need for the Dolphins is the wide receiver spot, where the Dolphins figure to be active in both the draft and free agency. Finding the right pieces of the puzzle will be big here to boost the passing offense; but they may not have to look far for complementary pieces. One such secondary piece may be just up the Atlantic coast in Jacksonville.
Would Jaguars WR Keelan Cole make sense for Miami?
Fit In Dolphins’ Scheme
First and foremost, no. Cole isn’t going to fix the passing woes of the Miami Dolphins. No one player would, but Cole would be expected to step into a similar role to the one filled by Isaiah Ford as a WR4 or WR5. But Cole does have some special teams upside, too — Cole returned punts in 2020 and had a 91-yard return touchdown to his credit.
Cole’s best season in the NFL came as a rookie back in 2017, when he averaged nearly 18 yards per catch for Jacksonville. But Cole posted 15.0 yards per catch in 2019 before the Jaguars’ abysmal 1-15 season saw a dip in explosiveness in his targets. Regardless, Cole was a primary starter for Jacksonville in 2020 and logged nearly 800 snaps on offense — transplanting starters from other teams and making them backups is a good way to continue to develop the depth of the roster.
Cole would fit the piece of the puzzle for Miami if the expectations were proper: he’s not a fix by himself. But he’s a productive, experienced football player who won’t break the bank.
Fit In Dolphins’ Cap
Cole was brought back to Jacksonville this year to play on a restricted free agent tender worth just over $3M for 2020. He might get a touch above that moving forward, but Miami can clear up plenty of cap flexibility in the wide receiver room with some of their overpriced contracts. Cole would be a better asset at this point than, say, Allen Hurns. And Jakeem Grant should be considered on the chopping block as well and the cap savings there could provide Miami all the room they need to accommodate this hypothetical signing.
Final Verdict
If the Dolphins want more proven and consistent depth in the wide receiver room, this would be a nice place to look. Cole has previously expressed the desire to stay in Jacksonville — but perhaps another warm weather environment could coax him into playing for the Dolphins instead. This would be more of a smaller piece of the puzzle; but it’d be a move that fits for Miami.