Free agency 2022: Here are the top players still available who could interest Dolphins
Through the first two days of the NFL’s legal tampering period, many of the big-money deals have been agreed to, which does not mean what’s to follow is insignificant, especially for the Dolphins.
Some of the better free-agent deals happen in the second and third waves of free agency and often are found in the bargain bin. It’s important to note that all the deals you’ve been hearing about this week can’t even be signed until Wednesday. We’re still early in the process.
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Thus far, the Dolphins added a backup quarterback (Teddy Bridgewater), a running back (Chase Edmonds), a receiver (Cedrick Wilson) and a guard (Connor Williams).
They’re still in good shape salary-cap wise, with about $27 million in space, according to overthecap.com. Whether via the draft or free agency, the Dolphins could use help on the offensive line, running back, receiver and linebacker.
Here are some players who could interest the Dolphins. Numbers next to their names reflect their overall rankings on Pro Football Focus’ list of the top 100 free agents this year.
2. OT Terron Armstead (Dallas): The Saints’ shaky cap situation plus their reported interest in QB Deshaun Watson could make it tough for him to remain in New Orleans even if that’s what both sides may want. The Dolphins could be waiting for Armstead’s price to come down before taking the plunge on what would be their most expensive offseason acquisition — and one that fans would celebrate.
10. WR Allen Robinson (Chicago): The Dolphins have added Wilson from Dallas and re-signed Preston Williams, so it’s possible they’ve placed this position on the back burner. Robinson has three 1,000-yard seasons and a Pro Bowl appearance under his belt, so he’d be pricey.
13. LBs Bobby Wagner (Seattle) and 62. Myles Jack (Jacksonville): Two big names who make a ton of tackles. Either would look good lining up alongside Jerome Baker. The Dolphins nearly drafted Jack in 2016. The Jaguars beat him to it in Round 2. Jack has piled up more than 100 tackles three of the past four seasons. Wagner, 31, was a perennial All-Pro and fan favorite on the Seahawks.
34. OTs Duane Brown (Seattle), 60. Morgan Moses (Jets), 61. Eric Fisher (Indianapolis), 98. Riley Reiff (Cincinnati), 99. Billy Turner (Green Bay): The 30-something club should Miami choose to rent a tackle for a year or two. Although Brown will be 37 next season, he has made five Pro Bowls — including this past season. Moses, 31, is an ironman, having started 16 games each of the past seven seasons. Fisher, 31, made the Pro Bowl two years ago for the Chiefs. Reiff, 33, is a former first-rounder and veteran of 139 starts. Turner was a third-round pick of the Dolphins in 2014 but spent the past three years protecting Aaron Rodgers.
36. RB/WR Cordarrelle Patterson (Atlanta): In the event Miami decides it needs to add more offensive playmakers than Wilson and Edmonds.
85. OT Trent Brown (New England): PFF rated him No. 23 among pass-protecting tackles in 2021. This ex-Gator, a mountainous 6-feet-8 and 380 pounds, will turn 29 in April.
Unrated OT La’el Collins (Dallas): The Cowboys plan to release him if they can’t find a trading partner, which usually means a team is about to release a guy. The Dolphins wanted to sign him out of college. Now might be their chance.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Free agency 2022: Which potential targets might interest Dolphins?
