Oct 23, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Adam Gase looks on in the game against the Buffalo Bills during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. The Miami Dolphins defeat the Buffalo Bills 28-25. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
The Miami Dolphins haven't made a huge splash this offseason, but they have been active. Grading their moves in 2017 NFL free agency
Grades for the Miami Dolphins' offseason moves have been all over the place. We've seen some crush the organization with overly harsh grades, while others have shown clear bias in giving them straight-As and love everything they do. We will attempt to meet in the middle with a fair analysis of their offseason with objectivity and not a bias agenda.
All you need to do is simply watch the team and film of the players. Dolphins fans have been less than pleased with the disrespect their team has received this offseason. I will attempt to decipher which criticisms are fair and which are based of uneducated gasbagging.
We will touch on as many of the most impactful signings, trades and re-signings as possible. I would like to apologize in advance to all the long snapper enthusiasts out there.
Note: Kiko Alonso was reportedly extended (per Joe Schad) on Tuesday. That is not included.
Dec 4, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons (94) gestures as he takes the field against the New York Giants during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh won 24-14. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Lawrence Timmons, LB
Free Agent Signing: Two years, $12 million
The Dolphins desperately needed to improve their linebacking corps. Timmons is getting up there in age, but still produces on the field. Perhaps most importantly, he's a veteran leader that has missed just two games during his entire 12-year career. We've seen him top the 100-tackle mark in five straight seasons and he's more than capable of getting after the quarterback and making plays.
His versatility makes him a great fit and he's the run-stopping thumper they were looking for this offseason. Timmons may not be the athletic freak and star linebacker he was in his prime. Nevertheless, he fills a hole Miami was looking to fill. Paired with Kiko Alonso, the Dolphins are now one linebacker away from the position going from a liability in 2016 to a strength in 2017.
Grade: B+
Jan 28, 2017; Mobile, AL, USA; South squad center Ethan Pocic of LSU (77) readies a snap at the line of scrimmage against the North squad during the first quarter at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Kenny Stills, WR
Re-signed: Four-year, $32 million
When I heard Stills was likely to command upward of $12 million a year, I was one of the first to say it's time to move on. The writing was on the wall and the Philadelphia Eagles were prepared to throw money at him. You can imagined how surprising it was to find out that the Phins managed to lock him up for just $8 million per year on a four-year deal. He wanted to stay in Miami, which is great to hear for the franchise and the Dolphins "kept their own." People seem to be overly high on that recently.
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This was an outstanding deal for the price. Miami was lucky to get a bargain. However, the team does still have a strong stable of wideouts with or without Stills and $8 million is a decent amount of money for any No. 2 or potentially even a No. 3 receiver. Stills is just 24 years old and loaded with talent. With that said, in his two years combined in Miami he's only caught 69 passes for 1,166 yards and 12 scores—and he's never topped 65 receptions or 1,000 yards in a season. Last year was also the first time he caught more than five touchdowns as well. The potential is there, but let's not forget he stills has a lot to prove.
Grade: B+
Reshad Jones, FS
Four-year Extension through 2021: Five years, $60 million
This absolutely had to get done and the timing couldn't have been any better for Miami. Jones was the best safety in the NFL in 2015 and should have garnered Defensive Player of the Year consideration. For some reason, his monster year went grossly overlooked. In 2015, he made 135 tackles, two sacks, a fumble recovery, five interceptions and scored twice.
Jones is tremendous against both the run and pass and, at 29 years old, is playing at an elite level. I'm not sure there is a better safety in the entire league. The fact that he tore his rotator cuff last season and he missed the final 10 games of the year probably saved the Dolphins a boatload of money. The two most important moves they needed to make this offseason was extending Jones and Jarvis Landry. They got this one done and hit it out of the park.
Grade: A+
Oct 18, 2015; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Julius Thomas (80) celebrates a touchdown reception during the second half of a football game against the Houston Texans at EverBank Field. Houston won 31-20. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Julius Thomas, TE
Trade: Acquired from Jacksonville Jaguars for seventh-round pick
The fact that the Dolphins gave up next to nothing for Thomas and he agreed to restructure his contract and take $800,000 less over the next two years is great for the team. However, they are still paying him $12.2 million over the next two seasons to be the starting tight end. Thomas is a one-dimensional, injury prone tight end who appears to be past his prime. Not only can he not block, he can't even stay relatively healthy.
Since being drafted in 2011 he's played in 53 games and missed 43 games. Not once has he played a full 16-game season. His blocking was so poor last year in Jacksonville that they had a hard time keeping him on the field because he was such a liability. Furthermore, his great numbers with the Broncos are a bit of a mirage.
Yes, he caught 24 touchdowns in two seasons. However, that happened while Peyton Manning was in the midst of throwing a ridiculous 94 touchdowns over two seasons. Ryan Tannehill's career high is 27 touchdowns. The only reason Thomas doesn't get a "D" is because they gave up so little to get him and Adam Gase does have experience with him when he was at his most productive.
Grade: C-
Nate Allen, SS
Free Agent Signing: One year, $3.4 million
When it was announced Isa Abdul-Quddus would miss all of 2017 it left a huge hole in the Dolphins secondary. After signing Nate Allen, the Dolphins still have a huge hole in their secondary. Allen is another former playmaker that has proven to be injury prone and hasn't been productive in three year. He's a decent rotational option, but it's scary to think it looks like Miami is hoping to depend on him to be their starter next to Reshad Jones.
Allen flashed some playmaking ability in Philly, but has been a nightmare the past two seasons, and even at his peak was a flawed player. Miami needs to go get another starting safety via either free agency, trade or the 2017 NFL Draft.
Grade: D+
Sep 25, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive end William Hayes (95) works out prior to the game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
William Hayes, DE
Trade: Acquired from Los Angeles Rams along with a seventh-round pick for sixth-round pick
This was quietly a brilliant move for Miami, who in Hayes own words acquired him for "a stapler and a coffee machine." He will be a strong rotational piece who is effective both against the run and rushing the passer. Touted for being a force as a run-stopper, he's also averaged over five sacks per year over the past five years as a part-time player.
To make this deal even sweeter, Hayes allowed Miami to restructure his contract. Not only did they just cut off the second and final year of his contract, he also reduced his base salary by $800,000 and converted a $2 million roster bonus to a signing bonus to make his contract extra team friendly. There is nothing not to like about this deal.
Grade: A-
Andre Branch, DE
Re-Signed: Three years, $24 million
This is a deal I neither love nor hate. Branch played very last year and masked the nightmarish signing that was Mario Williams. With Williams being a massive bust, Branch stepped in and stepped up opposite Cameron Wake. Branch is still just 27 years old and was drafted with the 38th-overall pick in 2012 by the Jags. It's not incomprehensible that he is immensely talented and struggled in a dysfunctional organization surrounded by very limited talent.
With that said, they still overpaid him a bit. Again, I know how much everyone loves "keeping their own" and that's fine, but we can't pretend it didn't cost the team a bit. Still, it's not out of the question he lives up to or even outperforms this contract.
Grade: C
Sep 27, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans tight end Anthony Fasano (80) reacts after a pass interference call during the second half against the Indianapolis Colts at Nissan Stadium. The Colts won 35-33. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Anthony Fasano, TE
Free Agent Signing: One year, $1.5 million
This move was absolutely necessary once they decided to opt for a pure pass-catcher like Julius Thomas over a well-rounded tight end like Dion Simms. Fasano is a high-end blocker and has proven he can step in and catch passes when called upon. Even without Thomas, Fasano would be an upgrade on the woefully bad Jordan Cameron.
Fasano will likely be the Dolphins starting tight end for those 10 games Thomas misses due to injury in 2017. Expect to see Fasano on the field often both as a blocker and a pass-catcher. He's not flashy but he'll do the dirty work and does his job well. This was quietly a very nice and crucial add for the Dolphins offense.
Grade: B+
Ted Larsen, OG/C
Free Agent Signing: Three years, $5.65 million
This is a ho-hum signing if I've ever seen one. His contract guarantees very little money and there is an out after 2017. However, this leaves Larsen and Jermon Bushrod as their starting offensive guards. This just flat out isn't good enough. While trading Branden Albert may have been necessary and moving Laremy Tunsil may have been inevitable, it leaves them in yet another miserable quandary at guard.
I would have really liked to see them go after one of the big-name free agent guards this offseason. There were a handful of really good ones and Miami definitely could have used one or even two. This low grade isn't just a reflection on Larsen, but more or a reflection of the fact they didn't do more to address this deficiency. If they make another move on the offensive line and use Larsen as more of a rotational or depth piece, this grade may go up.
Grade: D+
