Five Free Agent Bargains Who Could Help Turn Dolphins Into AFC East Front-Runners

Here's a look at five starting-caliber free agents who could instantly fill voids for the Miami Dolphins

Most franchises have switched the focus to the upcoming NFL draft, where teams can find younger, cheaper football players who have more upside, which allows them to sell hope.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t quality players, talents who can drastically improve a team’s roster, still available in free agency.

Whether it’s injury history, salary demands, age, off-field baggage, or a player's recent struggles, dozens of NFL players like Xavien Howard, Emmanuel Ogbah, Odell Bechkam Jr. and Tyler Boyd are still searching for a new home, and many of them likely will find work close to or right after the draft.

The Dolphins don’t have much cap space (roughly $3 million) at the moment, but are set to receive $18.5 million in space from the post-June 1 release of Howard. That kind of spending power could significantly improve the team’s talent if used properly.

Last year Miami signed Isaiah Wynn a couple weeks after the draft and he ended up becoming the Dolphins’ starting left guard, so don’t conclude that everyone who remains unemployed can’t help.

Here’s a look at five free agents I’d bang the table for the Dolphins to sign because in my opinion they would instantly make Miami the front-runner to win the AFC East.

Defensive lineman Calais Campbell

This former University of Miami might be 37 years old, which makes him an NFL dinosaur, but his ability to line up on the edge and in the interior makes him one of the most unique trench players in the league. Last season Campbell had 42 pressures and 6.5 sacks, with a 10.8% pressure rate, playing most of his snaps off the edge for the Atlanta Falcons. He’s stout against the run, and the Dolphins could use a talent like him to replace Christian Wilkins and Raekwon Davis, who each left as free agents. The Falcons paid him $7.5 million last season, and that’s likely the ballpark price point for his services. His history with new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, and his ties to South Florida, might be the ideal selling point.

Edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue

Ngakoue, who also has a history with Weaver from their time together in Baltimore, is the best pass rusher available, and the Dolphins need to add another edge player because of the uncertain timetable associated with Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips’ recovery. If neither is available for the start of the regular season Miami would have to add another edge player to pair with Shaquil Barrett. Ngakoue is coming off a down season by his standards. He finished with career lows in sacks (4.0), pressures (34) and pressure rate (8.7%), snapping a streak of seven consecutive seasons with 8+ sacks. Ngakoue just turned 29 last month, so the theory that he’s lost his fastball might not be factual. But there’s a reason an edge rusher with 115 starts, and 69 career sacks has become an NFL nomad. It might be his asking price considering he was paid $10.5 million by the Chicago Bears last season.

Safety Justin Simmons

Simmons, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, arguably is the best free agent left on the market, and it’s safe to assume his asking price is why he hasn’t found a new home. Why the 30-year-old, who was released from Denver in a cap-clearing maneuver, hasn’t signed yet is unknown. However, there are half a dozen big-name free agent safeties still available, and this is a solid safety draft class. Last season Simmons contributed 70 tackles, three interceptions and eight pass deflections, and had an 89.1 passer rating allowed when targeted, per Pro Footbal Reference. How he’d fit with the Dolphins depends on Jevon Holland’s position flexibility, and whether Miami would be willing to make Holland a nickel cornerback, or "star" defender, which has been a role he’s played for time to time in college and the NFL. 

Wide Receiver D.J. Chark 

While Odell Beckham Jr. and Tyler Boyd are the big-name receivers the Dolphins have explored, and potentially will command $6-10 million paydays, it puzzled my mind why Chark hasn’t drawn more interest because he possesses that toughness the Dolphins are lacking. Chark had 35 catches for 525 yards and five touchdowns (15.0 yards per catch) on a bad Carolina offense. The former Pro Bowl and 1,000-yard receiver can still stretch a defense and open things up for other wideouts, so that means he’d fit in well with Mike McDaniel’s offense. At this point Chark is probably looking for a short-term deal that pays him $5 million a season, and would allow this 27-year-old an opportunity to land one more lucrative contract before he’s in his 30s.

Center Lucas Patrick

As it stands now, Liam Eichenberg will serve as the primary backup to Aaron Brewer, the free agent center Miami signed from Tennessee. What happens if Eichenberg earns one of the two vacant starting guard spots? Who becomes Brewer’s backup? That’s why adding a backup center like Patrick would be ideal, especially since injuries plagued the O-line last year. Patrick allowed zero sacks and 23 pressures in 539 pass-blocking snaps last season (4.3% pressure rate) for the Chicago Bears. He also has experience playing guard, which means there’s a good chance he’ll crack the unit’s top eight. The Dolphins could add him for a $2 million salary that guarantees $750,000, and it would be like purchasing insurance. The one thing recent history has taught NFL teams is that they can never have too many solid offensive linemen.