After back-to-back losses cost the Miami Dolphins the AFC East crown, a once-promising 2023 season came to an unceremonious end with a frigid loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs. But a rough salary cap situation made it a little difficult for the Dolphins to make changes to the roster in March.
Several key contributors, including Christian Wilkins, Robert Hunt, and Andrew Van Ginkel, escaped in free agency, and Emmanuel Ogbah, Xavien Howard, and Jerome Baker were all released to save cap space.
Yet, the Dolphins still found a way to make moves. By the end of March, they added:
- Former Seahawks linebacker Jordyn Brooks (3-year, $26.25 million)
- Former Commanders cornerback Kendall Fuller (2-year, $15 million)
- Former Titans center Aaron Brewer (3-year, $21 million)
- Former Buccaneers edge rusher Shaquil Barrett (1-year, $7 million)
- Former Falcons tight end Jonnu Smith (2-year, $8.4 million)
- Former Bills safety Jordan Poyer (1-year, $2 million)
- Former Bills cornerback Siran Neal (1-year, $1.95 million)
- Former Lions defensive tackle Benito Jones (1-year, $1.79 million)
- Former Eagles offensive lineman Jack Driscoll (1-year, $1.79 million)
- Former Broncos defensive tackle Jonathan Harris (1-year, $1.79 million)
- Former Cowboys defensive tackle Neville Gallimore (1-year, $1.79 million)
- Former Browns linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (1-year, $1.38 million)
- Former Chiefs tight end Jody Fortson (1-year, $1.225 million)
That’s no small haul. So what did the experts think of the Dolphins’ moves in free agency?
USA Today: C-
They’re entering a phase that requires them to offload highly paid (or about-to-be-paid) veterans and pivot to cheaper ones while clearing the decks to enrich QB Tua Tagovailoa. So goodbye to Wilkins, Hunt, CB Xavien Howard, LB Andrew Van Ginkel, DE Emmanuel Ogbah, LB Jerome Baker and hello to Gallimore, Poyer, LB Shaq Barrett and LB Anthony Walker Jr., who all arrive on one-year deals. LB Jordyn Brooks (3 years, $26.3 million), C Aaron Brewer (3 years, $21 million) and CB Kendall Fuller (2 years, $15 million) were compensated moderately better.
Tua is about to get his bag, but a roster that wasn’t up to winning playoff games previously now seems necessarily diluted given how grossly overspent the Fins were before becoming cap compliant.
PFF: B+
Miami moved on from Jerome Baker last week, one of the more surprising cuts of the offseason, even with the context of where Miami’s finances stood, but quickly replace him with another capable linebacker over the middle. Brooks recovered extremely quickly from a torn ACL to make it back in time for Week 1 of 2023, and he could be even more confident cutting and changing direction in 2024 and beyond.
Brewer is a perfect fit in Miami’s run scheme and carries added value since he could replace free-agent center Connor Williams, who may still re-sign in Miami, or guard Robert Hunt, who signed a colossal deal with the Carolina Panthers. Mike McDaniel can protect him as a pass protector, and he’s great at getting out to the second level in a hurry.
CBS Sports: B-
The Dolphins evened out their list of additions and departures on Tuesday with the signings of two-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Shaq Barrett and Pro Bowl safety Jordan Poyer. Poyer is an especially nice pickup because it also weakens their AFC East rival, the Bills. New center Aaron Brewer’s PFF run-blocking grade of 78.7 is tied for the sixth-best in the NFL, which is great. However, he has a lot of room to grow as a pass-blocker. Brewer allowed 68 quarterback pressures in 2023, the most by any center in the entire league last season. De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert have to be fired up about his arrival, but Brewer is certainly destined to be run through head coach Mike McDaniel’s pass-blocking drills all training camp long. Brooks, the 27th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, will replace some of the speed lost off of Miami’s defense this offseason.
Sporting News: C
Given the Dolphins’ moves were wholesale through their cap trouble, it’s hard to keep up with whether their many comings in free agency outweighed their significant goings. Replacing Xavien Howard with Kendall Fuller was easily the best move. Then they took shots with quantity after losing so much quality, especially defensively in Christian Wilkins and Andrew Van Ginkel. The offense got limited help through the overall dealings, landing just Aaron Brewer and Jonnu Smith.
Pro Football Network: B-
The Dolphins made the most of their poor cap situation, signing arguably the best bargain free agent in Fuller, who landed only a two-year, $16.5 million deal. Barrett is an affordable third edge rusher, and Brewer's mobility should fit Mike McDaniels' offense perfectly.
Still, Wilkins represents a significant loss. Miami shouldn't have necessarily done anything differently with his contract, but it still stings to watch a player you drafted in the first round land a mega-deal elsewhere. Although Hunt may have been overpaid as well, he'll still be difficult to replace.
