Only a few days prior, general manager Chris Grier stated that the Dolphins possessed the necessary funds to franchise tag standout defensive tackle Christian Wilkins.
Miami, though, has decided not to.
One of the Dolphins’ finest players, Wilkins, will be eligible to enter the free agency market on March 13th, according to an NFL Network report.
It won’t be simple to replace him.
Tough and rugged, Wilkins was the emotional center of the Dolphins defense. Making Wilkins the first pick of Miami’s rebuilding era in 2019 was the appropriate decision made by Grier.
However, Wilkins won’t be present if Miami truly overcomes its current slump and wins a postseason game for the first time in 24 years.
Unless something unforeseen occurs, that is, and Wilkins consents to take a long-term deal that is somewhat similar to what Miami had originally proposed.
Grier stated, “Last offseason, we were close on a deal.” “It didn’t come together.”
Of course, the main factor is money.
Right now, Miami has the second-worst salary cap gap in the league. The Dolphins are at minus-$28.5 million, worse than all other teams save Buffalo, which is at -$41.2 million, according to SportRack.
Tyreek Hill and Jalen Ramsey are two deals that Miami will need to rework. Bradley Chubb? – in order to be in compliance on March 13, the commencement of the new league season.
The Dolphins had high hopes of reaching a long-term agreement that would have reduced the franchise tag amount for defensive tackles from $22.1 million to a 2024 cap charge.
Miami must not have believed it could make that franchise number work, even though the NFL’s wage limit is likely to be significantly higher than anticipated. We have argued in this space how crucial it was to figure out how to extend the Wilkins contract in a workable manner.
The Dolphins are moving on, presumably because they think they can make it without him and even thrive.
Money is tight, as dads and NFL general managers like to say.
Miami’s current salary cap predicament won’t get any better if the Tua Tagaloe contract negotiations continue into the summer.
They’ll also need to extend young players like Jevon Holland, Jaylen Waddle, and Jaelan Phillips in the near future.
This seems like a terrible loss.
2023 was Wilkins’ best season because he won when he bet on himself.
Zach Sieler, an efficient defensive tackle, is fortunately signed by the Dolphins for three more years for a fair $30.8 million.
Additionally, they will need to bring in a defensive tackle that can play in the new scheme that Anthony Weaver, the new defensive coordinator, will be running.
Could they go for Justin Madubuike, a promising young player who excelled in Baltimore last year under Weaver?
Yes, but he’ll also cost a lot of money.
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