Note: This is the second in a three-part series looking at the top three positions the Miami Dolphins should prioritize in free agency.
Edge rusher, as NFL coaches will tell you, is among the most important positions in the game. They put pressure on the most important position in the game — quarterback. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel has said it’s his favorite position.
Interior defensive line is also crucial. They’re the run stuffers and key pieces to controlling the line of scrimmage, something Miami struggled with against Buffalo, Baltimore, Kansas City and Philadelphia. And if you can put pressure on the quarterback from the inside, well, that’s a huge advantage.
The Dolphins’ defensive line, which led the way in Miami recording a franchise-record 54 sacks in 2023, was a team strength in last year’s season opener. They had edge rushers Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips and defensive linemen Christian Wilkins, Zach Sieler and Raekwon Davis on the field.
But due to injuries and free agency, there’s a chance Sieler will be the only member of that group to return to the Dolphins.
Coincidentally, free agency, which opens at 4 p.m. Wednesday, might be a good option for the Dolphins to fill some of those holes.
However, at this point things are complicated and convoluted on the Dolphins’ defensive line.
For example, as recently as the NFL combine, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier basically said things remain open regarding Wilkins’ return.
“I think all options are on the table for us,” Grier said, later adding, “So we’ll see what happens here as we talk over the next couple of weeks.”
In free agency, perhaps Baltimore edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney would give a discount to rejoin Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, his defensive line coach with the Ravens. Clowney figures to earn around $7 million in 2024.
On the higher end there’s Dallas’ Dorance Armstrong, who might command around $9 million. The 26-year-old had 16 sacks in the last two seasons. He’s likely too expensive.
Other free agent edge rushers include New England’s Josh Uche (a South Florida product from Miami Columbus High School), Carl Lawson of the New York Jets and Buffalo’s A.J. Epenesa.
Inside defensive line possibilities in free agency include Seattle’s Leonard Williams, Cincinnati’s D.J. Reader, Houston’s Sheldon Rankins, Buffalo’s DaQuan Jones and San Francisco’s Javon Kinlaw.
Remember, free agency could also mean the Dolphins bring back some of their players from 2023.
Players such as Wilkins and edge rusher Emmanuel Ogbah could test the market, which means they become free agents, and then return. Their returns would be presumably at a reduced salary.
Veteran edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel, Miami’s 2019 fifth-round pick who posted a career-best 6.0 sacks last season, might also test the market, thus becoming a free agent, and end up returning to the Dolphins.
So there’s a scenario in which Wilkins, Ogbah and Van Ginkel all return.
It’s unclear whether Davis has a good chance to return. Late-season edge rusher additions Justin Houston, Melvin Ingram and Bruce Irvin are all free agents, but none are expected to return.
Fortunately the Dolphins have Chubb, a 2022 Pro Bowl selection who had 11.0 sacks in 2023, and Phillips, who has 13.5 sacks the last two seasons.
Unfortunately, neither might be 100% healthy for the season opener in early September.
Chubb is recovering from a knee injury and Phillips is recovering from an Achilles injury. It might be beyond midseason before either is back to full strength.
So if Van Ginkel departs, the Dolphins could be looking for a No. 1 edge rusher for perhaps the first half of the season, with that player possibly becoming the No. 3 edge rusher later on.
If Van Ginkel returns, the Dolphins could be seeking a No. 1 edge rusher until Chubb and Phillips returns and a No. 4 edge rusher afterward.
Similarly, if Wilkins and Davis depart (Da’Shawn Hand is also a pending free agent) the Dolphins could be looking for a No. 2 interior defensive lineman to pair with Sieler, and if Wilkins returns they could be seeking a No. 3 interior defensive lineman. It should be noted Brandon Pili, an undrafted rookie last year, returns at interior defensive line.
Oh, and there’s also another complicating factor in the Dolphins’ pursuit of defensive linemen in free agency — the draft.
The Dolphins have a first-round pick (No. 21) and a second-round pick (No. 55) that could bring significant help at edge rusher or interior defensive line.
But free agency comes before the draft, and the Dolphins could need lots of help along the defensive line.
And it bears repeating that the Dolphins were dominated at the line of scrimmage against quality teams last season.
So the decisions Miami makes along the defensive front in the next few weeks will likely shape up as some of the Dolphins’ most important decisions of the offseason.
