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 AFC North that the Dolphins should consider:
Baltimore Ravens – Rush Linebacker Matt Judon
The Dolphins would be well served to aspire to be more like the Ravens. Physical play has been the identity of the Ravens for two decades — this team constantly beats up opposing players and the last few games against Baltimore is as good of a reminder as you could possibly need for how these two teams stack up.
Baltimore and Miami have played three games since 2016.
The Ravens have won all three by a combined score of 137-16.
If you can’t beat ’em, take their talent in free agency. Matt Judon enjoyed a big breakout after the departures of Terrell Suggs and Za’Darius Smith last offseason and is now ready for a big payday of his own. Baltimore will be challenged to make a long-term extension work with Judon and Miami would be an excellent fit for his length and explosiveness on the edge.
Pittsburgh Steelers – Defensive Tackle Javon Hargrave
Hargrave is one of the more underrated players in all of football, namely because he has played a ton of reps as a nose tackle and flies under the radar in the stat sheet.
Hargrave isn’t a typical nose — he’s 305 pounds as compared to the 320+ pounders you often see fill the same role. But at 6-foot-2, Hargrave is built dense and has a ton of mass below the waist, which makes the stocky defender incredibly difficult to get underneath. And with some explosive power in that lower half, Hargrave can shoot gaps if you as him to as well — he’d be a good fit to take some additional snaps relative to a true nose tackle in Brian Flores’ exotic defensive looks.
Cleveland Browns – Safety Damarious Randall
Cleveland brought a few interesting candidates to the table, but when considering price point and fit, Randall felt like the best bargain buy for Miami. Randall has NFL experience both at cornerback and safety — a cross-training experience that could be replicated in Miami with the Dolphins under Brian Flores.
Randall shouldn’t command an overwhelming contract but given the number of roles he can fulfill on the back end, he’s a logical veteran addition to Miami’s secondary to keep this team multiple in their looks on Sundays.
Cincinnati Bengals – None
The most attractive names for the Bengals in free agency this year are wide receiver A.J. Green (an addition that doesn’t make sense when considering where this Dolphins team is as a program), tight end Tyler Eifert (who brings nothing at this point that the Dolphins don’t already have in Mike Gesicki except for experience and more injury problems) and cornerback Darqueze Dennard (a career underachiever).
Unless, of course, you’d like to see the Dolphins resign John Jerry to another go around in South Florida?
No? You’re good?
Yeah, so are we.
