Vernon’s Transition Tag Was The Perfect Move
A lot of fans are troubled by the fact that they didn’t use the franchise tag, and now Vernon will slip away. Many fans are saying it’s Clay and Welker all over again, and that another incompetent regime is here to be the whipping boy for the rest of the division.
Honestly, that’s not the case. This regime played the hand about as well as you could. And more importantly, they played it without desperation.
“The Tag” will cost $12.734 mill with no commitment and give Miami to match any offer that Vernon receives. The Franchise tag would have cost $15.7 mill with a commitment to rent his services and end up still needing to hammer out a long term contract. If no other team steps in, then at least Miami will be able to retain Vernon for $3 million less.
Another team will bid on Vernon’s services because a 25-year-old pass rusher has premium value in the NFL, and half the teams in the league have at least $25 million in free cap space for 2016. Most of the
Everyone knows that Miami needs a guard, and most who read my articles know Osemele would be my first option to improve the Guard position on their offensive line. But there are quite a few talented Guards that were released by various teams in order to clear cap space. Miami has begun to show interest in at least one of them, according to Jason Cole of the Bleacher Report.
The former New York Giants Guard Geoff Schwartz, is 29 years old who is 6’6”, 340 pounds. He was on the third year of his four years $16.8 million dollar contract, but the Giants decided to release him in order to free up just around $3 million in cap space. He only played in 11 games last season, because he was put on injured reserve with a fractured ankle. However, during his 11 games, pro football focus rated him as the 22nd best Guard out of 82 possible players.
Both the Dolphins and Schwartz have both mutually expressed interest, which clearly makes sense because Schwartz would immediately be plugged in as one of the starting guards, and Schwartz is currently searching for a starting job. Also, unlike Osemele he won’t command top dollar, which could work towards helping them fill all their holes. The only downside, he might end up better as an RG and it’s the LG that is more crucial and harder to acquire.
The bottom line is that Schwartz may not be the best Guard on the market, however, it doesn’t take the best pay per head reviews to figure out he is definitely an upgrade over Thomas and Turner. In addition, Schwartz will also be affordable, with the Dolphins only probably needing to spend around $2 to $4 million on his 2016 salary.
The fact is that Miami needs to acquire two Guards that can replace both Thomas and Turner, because neither player has shown that they can be anything more than a backup depth type player – although, I do believe Dallas might have a shot at the RG slot. Schwartz would be a good starting point for the Dolphins Guard makeover, leaving them with just one more Guard position to improve on before this unit will no longer be a thorn in the Dolphins side. What are the rest of the Miami Dolphins News fans’ thoughts about possibly signing Schwartz?
would bet on at least one of the other 31 teams being willing to break the bank and overpay on a pass rusher in his prime.
Here’s why they played the perfect move!
Low cap space with many holes and Vernon’s salary would mean Miami is choosing stars over the team. That’s not how you win the NFL. You win by having a team with stars and a salary cap that’s under control.
Would you, or I, or Miami love to have Vernon? Of course, but what would be the sacrifice? For that same amount the Dolphins could re-sign Miller, Matthews, Shelby, and still, probably have little left over to sign a Guard, Cornerback, or Linebacker.
Another major factor is the huge negotiations Vernon’s contract will take. They will be a massive time sink – massive! They would constrict Miami’s ability to accurately see their cap and affect negotiations with other players. Now they can let everyone else hustle while they pursue other players and try to get the contracts they feel are winners without pressure. If on the back end they want Vernon, they can always match.
Vernon played well at the end of the season and was rated the league’s third-best edge rusher. However, Vernon was in a contract year, and in his 4 NFL seasons with the Dolphins, he only had 1 year with double-digit sack season. Last year, while his QB pressures were outstanding, he only had 7.5 sacks, and no forced fumbles, no fumble recoveries, and no interceptions. In addition, Vernon racked up quite a few unnecessary roughness and late hit penalties and still needs work on his run defense.
For Miami’s situation, his play isn’t worth $15 mill.
The Dolphins need to heal as a team by filling it’s many holes, straightening out their cap, and deciding on their direction at QB. Vernon is a fine piece for a franchise that has it’s act together. At this point, Miami Dolphins are not such a franchise. BUT, by making this move, they still hold all the cards, and if played right, they can begin the process of becoming a quality franchise, once again. Go Fins!!!
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The Ireland era was a total disaster, embarrassing, pathetic, you name it. Set this franchise back several years. With the current staff and changes upon us, we may be putting that debacle behind us, and actually have a plan and start to recover.
Fins will blow this #8 pick. I keep getting flash backs of us trading up to get Dion Jordan, total bust.
PhinFreak
You are so wright the fins will Bolo on the 8th pick. We cannot agree on the value player below 10th spot. Ezekel Elliot is my value player in this draft. He is not getting the credit deserved. I dont expect Fins to agree.
A 6-10 team cannot win without impact players. Adding more mediocre will sink the boat.
Hindsight is easy. If that were the case, we would live in a perfect world. I too posted that we needed 2 new guards or we would be watching the playoffs, whala, we watched. Looks to me that Parker is going to be the real deal, now we are set at WR for several years. The guard situation could have been addressed through free agency (at least for a couple years), that staff ignored it, and we suffered. If you watched the playoffs/Super Bowl one thing each team had in common, a good defense. Defense wins!!! This team needs to get younger on defense, throughout the second and third levels of the defense, and now the DEs also. The Dallas Cowboys have the best O-Line in football, yet they are drafting 4th overall.
Steve, you need a trade partner in order to trade down and get more picks. This is a tough year/draft to be able to do that, especially at 8. I think that Miami will be stuck with the 8th pick. I agree, I would like to trade down to late teens or even early 20’s if we could another 2nd and 3rd, that would be the idea situation this year. At 8 though, you need to take the best player available that fits your needs. We have not had a good LBing core since………………. I can’t even remember when.
Dunner
I here you Brother! The Defense is vital very and we must have a competant offense that can take advantage of a good defense and not just 1,2,3 on the bench what defense can prevailed?
I confident that our Dolphin staff can trade out for more picks and must trade out in the second round also. Other team are disperately trying to get to the 8th spot but it will cost.
Ragland in my opinion would be around til about 17th pick at 8th pick his value is not there for us. “But just trading back a little we can get Ragland + picks.
8th pick: Reggie Ragland ILB 1 Alabama (Trade back for more picks 2nd round
I truely would trade back a few for Elliot but Honestly I think the comboys will draft him at 4th pick or the Giant at pick 10th.
Last draft 2015 I thought we should have drafted Cameron Erving Center from Florida State. Every body thought I was nuts and the fans had to have Devante Parker wider receiver and I recall writting on this web site please dont cry during the season about needing A offensive Linemen. I Suggested to trade back instead he went to Cleaveland at 19th pick.
What he brings: Erving excelled at center after moving over from left tackle midway through the 2014 season. He’s a great athlete for the center position with his length and quickness, and his versatility to play multiple spots along the line is a huge asset. He’s a good run-blocker but even better in pass protection. He would have worked well as a Dolphin.
Now the Dolphins have the best position in the draft and can really come out with extra picks. Getting every position to filled the Gaps along with FA.
Now we have a choice of top 3 running backs. Choice of the top 3 ILB, Choice of top 3 Corners, etc. But we keep bringing mediocre to the table and expect to win.
Lemmus, Bose is a DE, the only thing he’ll have to do to WRs is know them on their A**!!
…y’all keep talkin’ bout impact player this and impact player that …if’n it was me, I’d be thinkin’ the pick at #8 with the most impact for the fins over the next 4 years would be Stanley
…yes, he’s an OT and we already have Albert …who gets season ending injuries every year at critical times …if we can get Stanley, Albert immediately becomes trade bait for picks or players matching our needs …Stanley is pro bowl material, young, cheap, and would make an immediate and lasting impact
…I’m not a fan of Bose …just too damn short against big WRs …great at college level but not so much at NFL level …still think Lippet is going to start opposite Grimes and become a success
…Elliot will be a really good back somewhere but we can’t afford to use a high pick on a RB unless we have an OL that can block for him …and we don’t …its that simple
…its not that I like the trenches so much as I hate our current OL …its more like a wiggle in the sand than anything approaching a trench …we need to fix it and THEN turn to the defense …I really believe Miller/Ajahi can get the job done if they can consistently get to the 2nd level …look at what Miller has done with the OL we have now …a decent OL would turn our offense loose …all the other pieces are there if Tanny produces
I hear ya Lemmus, sorry but the 8th pick will not be an OT or Guard for that matter. “D”
Fellow DolFans
Extra picks could land us this player to replaced Vernon? In the late second or third round.
Rank 53rd best player Shilique Calhoun DE 8 Michigan State
Jimmy
I can go along with the program accepting mediocreity with the Dolphins. The best value for the Dolphins is this Guy below. But I’m convince requardless we need to trade for more picks.
Ezekiel Elliott in the first round gives Indianapolis a true three-down back to build an offense around alongside Andrew Luck, T.Y. Hilton and an offensive line that improved down the stretch in 2015.
Even if the line needs to be addressed, and it does, there isn’t an offensive guard or center with a value at pick No. 18. That’s a hole to fill in free agency or later in the draft. Round 1 is about finding impact players.
There may not be a better impact player on offense than Elliott, who did it all at Ohio State while being a stud inside runner, a talented receiver on swing routes and even a rock-solid lead blocker when Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett were tucking and running.
By Matt Miller, NFL Draft Lead Writer
Mar 1, 2016
Jimmy is crazy busy and our joint articles are the extent of his time at present, but this jackass admin does the responses at present – and you know my (most likely idiotic) take on ’em. Steve this player has me so excited as I pride myself on my back instincts – thanks for the extra excitement for watching his NFL career!
Need a trade partner. Tough year for that.
Yes this is quite painfull. Hopefully we want break the bank during FA. Then we can address the holes in the Draft. Which Here are my draft picks.
1. 8th pick: Reggie Ragland ILB 1 Alabama (Trade back for more picks 2nd round
55 Shilique Calhoun DE)
(3rd rounder extra pick)
(82*Dominique Alexander ILB 3)
2. 42nd Pick: Vadal Alexander OG 2 LSU
3. 73rd Pick: Artic Burns: CornerBack Miami Fl
4. 104th Pick: Spencer Drango OG 7 Baylor
5. 135th Pick: Cardale Jones QB Ohio State
6. 168th Pick: KJ Dillon SS 6 West Virginia
7. 195th Pick: Nile Lawrence -Stample DT 18 Florida State
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extra pick 2nd round by trading in the 1st round back.
53 Shilique Calhoun DE 8 Michigan State
55 Kentrell Brothers ILB Okalamaha
60 Alex Collins RB 3 Arkansas
4th rounder
Extra Pick
114 *Scooby Wright III ILB 5 Arizona
5th rounder:
Possibly Extra Pick:
Miami Dolphins can trade back in the 1st round. They can trade back in the second round as well and still get those players that will have a serious impact on this team.
…appears to be a rational move on their part, we’ll see how it plays out …and what impact it may have on Wake’s contract as well
…at the very least it implies that they’re not going to bust the bank on defense this year …maybe they’ll get around to actually fixing the OL
…its a long shot, but if Jordan comes back clean and ready to prove he’s no longer a bust, it would make a big difference in our defense needs…one can only hope …we’re long overdue for a break
I totally forgot about him till you brought him up a few weeks ago Lemmus!! He would be a big wildcard…could the winds on Miami’s luck be shifting?!
I’m thinking the same Lemmus. An actual rationale decision, not breaking the bank (at least for one player). The interior of the O will be different, and in this case different will be improved, regardless. The outside of the D line will be different, and I believe they will be focused on stopping the run, improved at that. Pressure will have to come via the second and 3rd level. Glad we have a new defensive coordinator that may be creative enough to do just that. I know that we are optimist, I’m getting a positive vibe from this shift. Stay tuned 🙂
Admin, did you see Mcshay’s post combine mock, I did not see the entirety, but I did see that he picked Myles Jack to Miami at 8. A defensive shift is upon us as well. I would like to trade out and pick up an extra 2nd and/or 3rd. Problem is a trade partner, unless one of the top 2 QBs or Bosa falls to 8, hard to find a partner. Should Bosa fall to 8, Miami would run to the podium for that pick. Spend the money on offense (free agents) and draft the defense.
Steve, I’m still holding out on foolish hope that they get Miller and Osemele. Lemmus loves the trenches and, he should as they are essential.Looking over some QB’s responses (elite ones) to pressure you see (it’s obvious I know, BUT) that internal pressure (from0-2 holes) is far more dramatic thank arc pressure from edge rushers. This huge push for great tackles has left many putting garbage inside to get the tackles they want. But, it’s now the guards and centers that are becoming the Tackles of yesterday. Osemele and whitehair would be awesome…or Vandal as Dunner picked. I really like the thought (it never crossed my mind) that 2nd and 3rd level would take the place of edge rush…I am a bit taken by it and will spend some drinking time thinking about it – cool thoughts. Doubt Bose will falls – though his explosion or slight lack of it might get him in the top 5 and not top 1. I really like jack, but another cool thought is what Lemmus said about Jordan – he could fill Jack’s role, but then we’d still need a pass rusher and by all accounts that’s not Jack. The trade out would be awesome if the picks pan out. I am building a bit of hope that this regime might not being going full retard, but as my first girl taught me (and Sting’s famous song) be still my beating heart!!!
The move was basically telling us that they never intended to franchise or resign OV. They had a set price and they were (are) willing to let him go. We can still get one of the top 2 DE’s in the draft and use OV’s money to sign a top free agent CB and/or Guard.
pretty much and they are saying his value isn’t worth it and that the team concept of you are as good as your weakest link is where they are heading. This was the right move on so many levels and I am very happy with this direction. Would love to have had him, but imagine how impossible it would be to have a successful FA period with that contract floating about and dragging on…
Right move, at the right time.