Miami Dolphins upgrade their roster this offseason as they land with another sensational ace
The Miami Dolphins, like the rest of the NFL, had a pretty busy offseason. The Dolphins saw a handful of their most talented players walk out the door for more money elsewhere and the team did their best to replace the talent that left. It was going to be tough to find players that could replace Christian Wilkins or Robert Hunt and it was even more difficult with the Dolphins salary cap situation. It’s tough to watch talent walk out the door, especially when they were guys you drafted. But some new guys entering the building this year should become key contributors for a team with Super Bowl asperations.
The Miami Dolphins lost a ton of players to free agency this offseason, primarily on the defensive side of the football. And with one new deal after another starting to fall on the offensive side — including quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s inevitable contract extension — General Manager Chris Grier and Head Coach Mike McDaniel have had to get creative with their resources, especially on defense.
One way to do so is by signing veterans looking for one last chance at a Super Bowl Ring or maybe even a vet who just wants to play for ‘the love of the game.’ Either way, you get the picture.
With very little money to even sign their own players to long-term deals, Miami isn’t breaking the bank with any free-agent signings like we have become accustomed to in the past. Instead, they’re signing veteran players with experience playing in multiple systems for reasonable contracts. Most importantly, those players can still play.
On offense, the most notable veterans the Dolphins signed were wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (1 year, $3M up to $8M) and tight end Jonnu Smith (2 years, $8M). Both players are making sizable contracts compared to the other players in this article. But after what we saw, the Baltimore Ravens pay OBJ ($15M + $3M in incentives) and the New England Patriots with Jonnu Smith (4 years, $50M), I think Miami made out well.
However, the signings that may have the most significant impact have come on defense. For example, Safety Jordan Poyer signed a one-year deal worth $2 million. Defensive tackle Teair Tart, safety Marcus Maye, and linebacker Anthony Walker also received vet-friendly contracts ($1 Million per season). Every one of those guys can still play and is respected throughout the NFL.
Another veteran player the Dolphins were able to sign was defensive lineman Calais Campbell. On Friday, contract details emerged, and can you guess how much money the 38-year-old veteran will make in 2024?
Sure, Campbell will be 38 when the season starts, but he hardly plays that way. Last season with the Falcons, the former Miami Hurricane played over 700 snaps on Atlanta’s defensive line — his most since 2018 with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He finished the 2023 NFL season with 56 total tackles, ten tackles for loss, 17 quarterback hits, 6.5 sacks, and a safety.
