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 West that the Dolphins should consider:
Kansas City Chiefs – Defensive Lineman Chris Jones
Chris Jones is one of the top agents on the market. He’s been compared by some to Fletcher Cox and he’s a stalwart against both the run and the pass. There’s no issue finding a logical fit for Jones — he’s got the length to two gap as needed on the interior and if tasked with playing a penetration role, he’ll find success there — too.
The downside to targeting Jones is, in a scenario where he hits the open market, he’s going to probably command $20M plus per year. Jones will turn 26 years old this offseason — he’d be worth the price of admission and figures to have plenty of elite football ahead of him.
But signing in Miami would mean the Dolphins are willing to ink a mega-contract after forsaking their old habits — and that the Chiefs are willing to let him hit the market in the first place.
Las Vegas Raiders – Offensive Tackle David Sharpe
The Raiders’ free agent group looks about as inspiring as the Dolphins’ outgoing talent — there’s not a lot to choose from here for opposing football teams. Safety Karl Joseph warranted some consideration, but ultimately the Dolphins are going to have great opportunities elsewhere across the league and draft to attack a potential starting safety — and durability is a concern for Joseph. Tackle David Sharpe is a massive body with some notable movement skills for his stature — he’s been almost exclusively a backup through his first three NFL seasons but he’s also still just 24 years old.
Signing Sharpe to a short-term deal and trying to coax out his physical talent is a low risk, potentially high reward roll of the dice.
Denver Broncos – Free Safety Justin Simmons
We shouldn’t expect to see Simmons actually hit the open market — most reports indicate that Denver is optimistic that they’ll be able to secure a long-term extension with Simmons before free agency opens next month.
And if they’re unable to do that, the franchise tag is still absolutely on the table for the former Boston College alumni. Simmons has three years as a starter under his belt in the Broncos defense and enjoyed his best year to date in 2019 under new head coach Vic Fangio — logging career highs in interceptions (4), passes defensed (15) and finished the season allowing an opposer passer rating of 43.6 on 53 targets into his coverage.
He’s good.
Simmons would be a great addition but feels like a long-shot to actually see the market.
Los Angeles Chargers – Running Back Melvin Gordon III
Let us be clear — we are not endorsing the Dolphins sign Melvin Gordon for $10M+ per season. It’s not a good idea to sink that kind of money into a back, especially one that struggles to create without effective line play. For all of Gordon’s production, he’s averaged under 4.0 yards per carry in four of his five seasons in the NFL and would be coming into the worst offensive line situation in football as a free agent this offseason.
But if the price for Gordon comes down a bit, which we expect it might considering the surplus of backs available in April’s draft and some troublesome trends across the NFL with big second contracts for running backs, the Dolphins do have the disposable cap room to check a big box in their needs list with an established veteran.
