First off, I apologize for not posting last evening. My wife and I were headed back to Gainesville from Georgia. I should have been home mid-day, but we did not get in until late due to some things happening as they do in life.
So last week, I put up a post (HERE) referencing Kevin’s post from the previous day (HERE), which listed our Miami Dolphins’ long list of impending free agents. I then asked the question below:
Which of the Dolphin’s own free agents do you see as a must-re-sign for the front office, and which would you like to see as a re-sign for the 2025 season and or beyond?
Below are some of your answers and thoughts on the QOTD-
Louie the lobster has a solid list, but I disagree about Campbell. Guys like him on the roster are invaluable in more ways than the plays they make.
Dodson, Hand, Bonito Jones and Cracraft.
I like C. Campbell too much to have him back on this sinking ship.
MIAMI235 seems to be willing to pass on all of them.
ALL are replaceable.
TommyNascar wants two guys and, I guess, wants to trade everyone else under contract!?!
Keep Sieler and Jonnu Smith. Trade the rest of the team for draft picks lol.
Jptapt threw out a famous name. I’m unsure if he’s referencing the deceased former head coach, one of his sons, or his grandson, an assistant in the NFL, or why he did so. Oh, how I love a mystery.
Shula
Bill Moody also has a solid list.
here’s my list… I’d like these guys back. The rest, meh… don’t really care.
Unrestricted Free Agents
Calais Campbell, defensive tackle; Tyrel Dodson, linebacker; Jevon Holland, Emmanuel Ogbah, linebacker; Jeff Wilson, Jr., running back; Isaiah Wynn, tackle
Restricted Free Agents
None
Exclusive Rights Free Agents
Grant DuBose, wide receiver; (feel bad he got smasht, but has potential)
EJPLAYA wants a reasonably solid backup QB.
Don’t want Huntley back. I want a legit backup like Andy Dalton. Maybe Flacco even. Then draft a qb later to develop. Watching senior bowl stuff and this Taylor Elgersma out of Canada would be a great 7th round grab. Built like Josh Allen with a similar style. Huge upside. You know he isn’t going to be afraid of cold weather.
toscana jones has a very comprehensive list. I appreciate the effort!
per category, here are my two cents, diveded in Must resign, Should resign (but it likely won’t be possible), Could resign (if the money is favorable),don’t bother too much.
Braxton Berrios, wide receiver; Don’t bother
Tyus Bowser, linebacker; Don’t bother
Cam Brown, linebacker; Don’t bother
Calais Campbell, defensive tackle; Must
Elijah Campbell, safety; Could
Jackson Carmen, tackle; Don’t bother
River Cracraft, wide receiver; Should
Matt Dickerson, defensive end; Don’t bother
Tyrel Dodson, linebacker; Must
Liam Eichenberg, guard; Could
Dee Eskridge, wide receiver; Don’t bother
Da’Shawn Hand, defensive tackle; Should
Jevon Holland, safety; Should
Tyler Huntley, quarterback; Should
Benito Jones, defensive tackle; Should
Robert Jones, guard; Could
Kendall Lamm, tackle; Could
Jake McQuaide, long snapper; Don’t bother
Siran Neal, cornerback; Could
Emmanuel Ogbah, linebacker; Should
Jordan Poyer, safety; don’t bother
Duke Riley, linebacker; Could
Jack Stoll, tight end; Don’t bother
Anthony Walker, Jr., linebacker; Could
Jeff Wilson, Jr., running back; Could
Isaiah Wynn, tackle; Must
Restricted Free Agents
Quinton Bell, linebacker; Could
Kader Kohou, cornerback; Must, though it would take a 2nd round tender
Anthony Schwartz, wide receiver Don’t bother
Exclusive Rights Free Agents
Grant DuBose, wide receiver; Cameron Goode, linebacker; Kion Smith, tackle
Tender them all, they will likely fall outside the highest 51 salaries so they won’t count against the cap
As an experenced armchair GM, I would have just 4 Must-resign players: Campbell, Dodson, Wynn and Kohou (this last via RFA tender).
I would also make a creative effort to retain a few more (the Shoulds): Cracraft, Hand, Holland, Huntley, B.Jones, and Ogbah.
The Coulds would be considered only after the draft, as possible acorns, in back-up roles.
Some others, I wouldn’t really bother (Poyer, Stoll, Berrios, etc…)
One apart note for ERFA’s: their tender will probably fall under the 51 highest salaries, so they won’t count against the cap, so just tender them, unless other considerations apply.
My two cents, feel free to comment…
Dolfanjoe says take us to the Super Bowl or get out!
Kohou is about the only restricted or free agent i would signee back out of that bunch ! All the rest are replaceable . Did we go to the Super Bowl with those players ?
SlayerNation1 is right. Most of the pending free agents are just a guy. Depth is clearly an issue with the current makeup of the Dolphins.
That is a large list of “just a guy” players.
The few exceptions:
Campbell – pushing 40
Holland – low effort guy, infrequent playmaker
Dodson – needs to be a value player
2025 is a sunset year until it is dawn again in 2026.
The GM, HC, top talent are all starting 2025 on the Hot Seat.
At least this season, expectations will be realistic from the start.
Urthling has a good list and is correct that we need help at guard like yesterday.
I’d put priority on Tyrel Dodson, Isaiah Wynn, Kader Kohou and Calais Campbell, if he’s interested.
Wynn should be cheap after missing most of season and hopefully he can provide some help at guard next year.
cyberflea is correct. The subject of where this front office has screwed up is something I could write a novel on.
Changes to rosters is a part of the NFL for every team. But for the Dolphins, it’s the roster turnover of losing good players and creating more holes than they already have as one reason the team just spins in circles like a merry go round. Since Chris Grier has become GM of the Dolphins, he has mismanaged the salary cap causing no roster retention, has a subpar drafting record and signing of free agents. Sure, the Dolphins made the playoffs in 2022 & 2023, but the teams have been flawed and have poor depth on the roster. The Dolphins aren’t going to get close to a Super Bowl as long as Chris Grier is GM. The million-dollar question is, when is our clown prince owner going to realize this?
Csonka said, “Me”. I’m unsure if that means the actual Zonk or the guy with that as his screen name. I’m assuming that neither is a solid addition to the roster at this point.
Me
Alley Gator only wants a handful of the guys back.
Kader Kohou, Calais Cambell, Tyrel Dodson, Benito Jones, and Emmanuel Ogbah.
Maybe Eichenberg on a cheap contract to be backup at Center. He was better there than at guard.
heatforlife wants to bring in the Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator to run the show.
shula next coach
Thomas23059 gave us another comprehensive list.
Calais Campbell, defensive tackle – Great if he wants to come back
Tyrel Dodson, linebacker – tough one, will he want starter’s money? Is he good enough to start? Three interceptions for a LB is impressive. Fifteen tackles in a game is impressive. Not so impressive? He missed 4 tackles against the Packers, and while he had 25 tackles against the Packers and Browns, he had 11 total in the other 3 games he played in. I think the Dolphins need someone better than this to pair with Brooks.
Da’Shawn Hand, defensive tackle – I don’t know. I like having him around for some reason.
Jevon Holland, safety – I think someone pays him far too much money. Probably not the Eagles.
Tyler Huntley, quarterback – Love to have him back as the 3rd string QB.
Robert Jones, guard – I would like to see him get another year. I know he is erratic, but I can’t forget him blocking 20 yards downfield on those screens that actually worked. Maybe you pencil him in and try to land a 2nd or 3rd round guard to try to replace him.
Kendall Lamm, tackle – Happy to have him back if he want to and Armstead retires
Emmanuel Ogbah, linebacker – Wouldn’t mind seeing him back as a lineman, which seems more like his natural position
Isaiah Wynn, tackle – I just prefer Jones. Wynn is Armstead’s injury history without that whole being the best lineman on the team when he is healthy.
These guys seem like minimum wage replacement level guys, so I guess it doesn’t matter if it is them or some other generic guy:
Braxton Berrios, Cam Brown, Elijah Campbell, River Cracraft, Jake McQuaide, Siran Neal, Jack Stoll, Matt Dickerson, Tyus Bowser, Dee Eskridge
I have enjoyed watching your career in Miami (well some of you) and I hope you find success with a new team:
Jackson Carmen, Liam Eichenberg, Benito Jones, Jordan Poyer, Duke Riley, Anthony Walker, Jr., Jeff Wilson, Jr.
Restricted Free Agents
Quinton Bell, linebacker – I don’t think he is good enough for the right of first refusal tender, but on a cheap deal, why not?
Kader Kohou, cornerback – Definitely worth the $3 million right of first refusal tender, but probably not the $5 million 2nd round tender
Anthony Schwartz, wide receiver – The4th string QB needs someone to throw to during OTAs
Exclusive Rights Free Agents
Grant DuBose, wide receiver; Cameron Goode, linebacker; Kion Smith, tackle
These all seem worth binging back since all it takes is a minimal tender. Smith might end up being a decent backup tackle if he can stay healthy.
There are many good lists, although I am still not sure about bringing Holland back after watching him slowly regress over the last two seasons. Can he still tackle? He seems to have forgotten how. Anyway, thank you to each of you who took the time to answer our question of the day.
