What's next for the Miami Dolphins? Free Agency Edition.

So, what’s next for the Miami Dolphins? What are the next potential moves they can make to further improve this team? The Dolphins have had an excellent offseason after signing Pro Bowlers Tyreke Hill and Terron Armstead. They’ve resigned Emmanuel Ogbah who has been a huge part of that Dolphins defense. They placed the franchise tag on Mike Gesicki. Signed RB Raheem Mostert and Chase Edmonds. So what else can be done before the draft? Here are some possible scenarios that might happen in the coming weeks/months.

The Dolphins’ salary cap space will be somewhat of an issue before making other moves before the 2022 NFL Draft. They are currently somewhere around $14 million under the cap that can be used. They need roughly around $2 million to sign their top draft picks (maybe less since we don’t have a 1st or 2nd round pick this year and may or may not count against the cap). So, the team has about $12 million to spend in free agency. Can they get more cap relief? If so, how? Well, they can get creative in how the signings take place with signing bonuses added instead of upfront, year-one salaries. Also, they can back-load a contract as well. They can also cut, trade, or restructure current contracts to add more cap space. They’ve already restructured 2 currently rostered player contracts in Byron Jones and Clayton Fejedelem to help create the current space. Let’s look and see what possible moves can be made.

A great addition to help protect Tua Tagovailoa would be FA C J.C. Tretter. The free agent market for offensive lineman has been quiet, as very few notable signings have happened. Two of them already signing with the Dolphins in Terron Armstead and Connor Williams. But this could be a good thing for the Dolphins. If somehow you can sign Tretter for about $10 million per year on average while offloading some of that to later years or a signing bonus, the deal can become a reality and the Phins would have further fortified its 32nd ranked offensive line from 2021.

Another signing that would have Dolphins fans excited would be to somehow find a way to sign FA LB Bobby Wagner. To make this happen, the Dolphins will have to get very creative. He will definitely command anywhere from $20 to $25 million per year on average and a long term deal. Can this happen? Highly unlikely, and he’s currently visiting with the Rams and Ravens as of writing this piece. The Phins could create space by cutting (post June 1st) or trading away WR Devante Parker and clear up about $4 to $6 million. But even that isn’t enough. The team would also have to do the same for players like DB Eric Rowe and RB Myles Gaskin. And even after doing this, it may still not be enough. But, after doing this and structuring the contract where year 1’s cap isn’t as high, the tean may be able to pull it off.

Other than this, we don’t see the Dolphins being able to do much more. There have been talks about multiple teams having an interest in trading for WR Devante Parker. The Phins can clear anywhere between $4 million and $6 million in cap space by trading the WR and possibly receive some draft picks in the process.

We would love to see one more exciting signing happening before the 2022 NFL Draft gets here. But even if nothing else happens, the Miami Dolphins have done an excellent job in improving this team and making them a real competitor for that AFC East division title.