The 2020 offseason isn’t here yet and NFL teams are already crashing the party on the upcoming class of free agents! Not exactly — but the NFL did see several contract extensions handed out over the course of Week 17, mainly by teams that have nothing significant to play for today and are instead focused on the upcoming playoffs. These extensions remove potential free agent targets from the free agent player pool and whittle down the field for March, when the league’s 2020 season opens.
There were three contract extensions of note:
- The Baltimore Ravens extended CB Marcus Peters
- The Houston Texans extended OLB Whitney Mercilus
- The Cincinnati Bengals extended C Trey Hopkins
The Dolphins could have been viable contenders to sign each of the three — but only from the sense that Miami has needs at all three positions and definitely has the money to spend. Pegging Mercilus to Miami was difficult given Mercilus’ age (he’ll be 30 at the start of next season and Peters’ reputation as a polarizing personality has already prompted him to change teams twice in five seasons (despite being named a three time Pro Bowler).
The true impact for the Dolphins will be increased competition to sign other players who Miami could covet and be seen as a better fit with Miami’s personnel — although this was inevitable to some degree. And if anything, getting as much notice as possible for the players who aren’t going to be a part of the free agent class can be helpful in further projecting an effective game plan for the NFL’s singing period in March.
