Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
Miami surprised a lot of folks and had a terrific 2016 season going 10-6 after a terrible 1-4 start. Many of the wins were against teams with losing records. The fact is Miami is likely going to be inferior to the Pats so in all likelihood they are playing for a WC spot. Even if they do well in the off season and draft you have to think Miami is less than a 30-40% chance of making the playoffs so I hope they use a long term approach. 1st thing I like to do is examine the cap and player contracts. Miami is about 43MM under the cap as is. They have 3 players leaving potentially via free agency that teams are going to look to sign. Kenny Stills being the most coveted due to his speed. LB-Kiko Alonzo has to be looked at and I believe Miami needs to sign him. Finally DE Andre Branch is due to hit the market, he is a potential hit free agent. Branch played for 3MM last year, he likely is looking for a 3-4 year deal and some gauranteed money.
Let's start on offense.
QB Ryan Tannehill 20MM...it is what it is. I would not ask him to take a pay cut this off season or even entertain trade offers.
QB2 Matt Moore 2MM...great insurance, might need another year and some more guaranteed money tacked on.
LT Branden Albert 10.6MM: It cost 3.5 to cut him and Miami needs him right now despite his terrible whiff almost getting Moore killed in the playoffs. If something falls in their lap but I don't see Albert here more than 1 more season.
LG L. Tunsil 3 MM: He is going to be the LT, will it be in 2017? Roll Albert to RT?
C Mike Pouncey: 9MM...doesn't seem to be a lot of dead cap if they cut him. He hasn't played 16 games total in 2 seasons since he signed for big money. I am not a fan nd it goes back to the Incognito Martin situation where his name was mentioned a few times as an instigator but nothing happened to him and Incognito was made the scapegoat. I'm sure Miami will bring him back in 2017 but the injuries have mounted up. That punk neck art work of his is grotesque and wouldn't be allowed in most jobs...MOP is that guy right now.
RG: K. Urbick under contract for about 1.5 MM but the free agency market for OG is supposed to be hot this off season. Miami needs to fill this spot.
RT J.James 2.68 MM: Final Year of his rookie deal. 1st round pick not working out that well. Miami took him out of need, he was a 2nd-3rd round Grade and that's why you don't draft out of need. Forced to take him back half of the 1st. Doubt they extend him but that means they have to draft another OT...they have done it a lot taking OL in the 1st.
TE: Mystery right now. Dion Sims is a free agent, doubt they make a big offer there.
WR1 Jarvis Landry 1MM...they need to extend him in the off season and not drag it out. Anything in the 7-8 range per year I'm good with. 10-12 not so much. I think if Landry is your top WR, you are gonna need a lot more. He is a possession WR, not a game changer.
WR2 DeVante Parker 3MM...trade him, that's my opinion. I would like to see Jeffrey come down here from Chicago and become our WR1. Parker is a tease and he comes up small on the bigger stages so far. Some people love him so find that GM and recoup a 2nd or 3rd.
WR3 L. Caroo: 750k...he didn't get many opps and only caught a handful of passes, not even. This is why we need to keep Stills.
Free Agent Kenny Stills: Hard to say but likely will command 8MM plus per year. Not sure 3/25MM is enough to keep him.
WR4/5 J.Grant 600k and rounds out the receivers nicely, good special teams and still learning.
RB1 Jay Ajayi 675k...yep we got him cheap this year and next. Mean to ask him to be a 300 touch guy if you won't pay him. They can't do anything for him until 2018, need to take advantage of that.
RB2 K.Drake 800k...yep he makes slightly more money.
Franks and Darr are both under contract. 600k a piece, Miami will likely roll with that.
Thats the offense, next post will be defense where Miami can do some cutting. On offense I believe they will keep most of it in tack.
Let's start on offense.
QB Ryan Tannehill 20MM...it is what it is. I would not ask him to take a pay cut this off season or even entertain trade offers.
QB2 Matt Moore 2MM...great insurance, might need another year and some more guaranteed money tacked on.
LT Branden Albert 10.6MM: It cost 3.5 to cut him and Miami needs him right now despite his terrible whiff almost getting Moore killed in the playoffs. If something falls in their lap but I don't see Albert here more than 1 more season.
LG L. Tunsil 3 MM: He is going to be the LT, will it be in 2017? Roll Albert to RT?
C Mike Pouncey: 9MM...doesn't seem to be a lot of dead cap if they cut him. He hasn't played 16 games total in 2 seasons since he signed for big money. I am not a fan nd it goes back to the Incognito Martin situation where his name was mentioned a few times as an instigator but nothing happened to him and Incognito was made the scapegoat. I'm sure Miami will bring him back in 2017 but the injuries have mounted up. That punk neck art work of his is grotesque and wouldn't be allowed in most jobs...MOP is that guy right now.
RG: K. Urbick under contract for about 1.5 MM but the free agency market for OG is supposed to be hot this off season. Miami needs to fill this spot.
RT J.James 2.68 MM: Final Year of his rookie deal. 1st round pick not working out that well. Miami took him out of need, he was a 2nd-3rd round Grade and that's why you don't draft out of need. Forced to take him back half of the 1st. Doubt they extend him but that means they have to draft another OT...they have done it a lot taking OL in the 1st.
TE: Mystery right now. Dion Sims is a free agent, doubt they make a big offer there.
WR1 Jarvis Landry 1MM...they need to extend him in the off season and not drag it out. Anything in the 7-8 range per year I'm good with. 10-12 not so much. I think if Landry is your top WR, you are gonna need a lot more. He is a possession WR, not a game changer.
WR2 DeVante Parker 3MM...trade him, that's my opinion. I would like to see Jeffrey come down here from Chicago and become our WR1. Parker is a tease and he comes up small on the bigger stages so far. Some people love him so find that GM and recoup a 2nd or 3rd.
WR3 L. Caroo: 750k...he didn't get many opps and only caught a handful of passes, not even. This is why we need to keep Stills.
Free Agent Kenny Stills: Hard to say but likely will command 8MM plus per year. Not sure 3/25MM is enough to keep him.
WR4/5 J.Grant 600k and rounds out the receivers nicely, good special teams and still learning.
RB1 Jay Ajayi 675k...yep we got him cheap this year and next. Mean to ask him to be a 300 touch guy if you won't pay him. They can't do anything for him until 2018, need to take advantage of that.
RB2 K.Drake 800k...yep he makes slightly more money.
Franks and Darr are both under contract. 600k a piece, Miami will likely roll with that.
Thats the offense, next post will be defense where Miami can do some cutting. On offense I believe they will keep most of it in tack.
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