The Dolphins were the biggest headline grabbers in the NFL on Tuesday, as they opened free agency by signing the top wide receiver (Mike Wallace), making the biggest splash (the surprise signing of LB Dannell Ellerbe) and adding another solid starter on defense (LB Philip Wheeler).
Let’s take a look at where the Dolphins currently stand heading into Day 2 of free agency, beginning with the moves that may be coming up today:
* The Dolphins still desperately need a tight end after losing Anthony Fasano to the Chiefs and missing out on TE Jared Cook, who chose the Rams over the Titans. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Dolphins are bringing Jets TE Dustin Keller in for a visit today. Keller has been a Dolphin killer in his five seasons, and although he had a disappointing, injury-plagued 2012 season, he would be a great replacement for Fasano.
Another name to watch is Oakland TE Brandon Myers, who had 79 catches for 804 yards and four touchdowns last year. If the Dolphins don’t land one of those two, Redskins TE Fred Davis is the only No. 1 tight end left on the free agent market. Otherwise the Dolphins will have to use a high draft pick on a tight end, as the only ones currently on the roster are Charles Clay, Michael Egnew and Kyle Miller.
* The Dolphins were in on the Cook bidding until the end, per a source close to the situation, but ultimately he was too rich for them. According to reports, Cook received a five-year deal worth $35.1 million, including a whopping $19 million guaranteed. That contract, on top of the one given to Wallace, could have crippled the Dolphins’ ability to make more roster moves.
* LT Jake Long is in St. Louis today, and a deal with the Rams appears likely, pending he passes a physical today, per reports. A source tells the Post that the Dolphins have prepared to move on from Long, with Jonathan Martin likely to take over at left tackle next season. The Dolphins still have several options: They can try to sign Eric Winston or Sebastian Vollmer to play right tackle, plug promising youngster Will Yeatman in at right tackle or use a high draft pick on a tackle.
* The Dolphins still have a big hole at cornerback, but the market is flooded with solid veterans. Sean Smith is still out there, obviously, but so are Aqib Talib, Nnamdi Asomugha, Cary Williams, Brent Grimes, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Chris Houston, Derek Cox, Keenan Lewis, Antoine Cason, Captain Munnerlyn and Antoine Winfield, among many others.
* RB Reggie Bush is visiting the Lions today, and they will make a push to sign him before he leaves for a visit with the Arizona Cardinals.
* Even though the Dolphins cut LB Karlos Dansby to make room for Ellerbe, don’t assume Ellerbe will be the Dolphins’ middle linebacker. A source tells us Ellerbe could be used as the Sam outside linebacker, with Wheeler replacing Kevin Burnett at the Will position. The Dolphins then could draft a middle linebacker, or perhaps consider fourth-year veteran Koa Misi, who has a tremendous motor and became a favorite of defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle last year. Misi was rumored to be moving to the Mike position last year before the coaches decided to use Dansby in the middle and Misi on the strong side.
* According to a source, Wheeler signed a five-year deal worth $26 million and $13 million guaranteed. He got a $7 million signing bonus, and his first two base salaries of $1 million and $5 million are fully guaranteed. His final three salaries of $2.9 million, $4.9 million and $4.9 million are not guaranteed until he makes the roster, as well as $100,000 workout bonuses over the final three years. Wheeler’s 2013 salary cap number: $2.4 million.
It’s a similar contract structure to the one given to WR Brian Hartline last week – two years fully guaranteed, and three more years for Wheeler to prove himself.
* Although the Dolphins splurged yesterday – Wallace reportedly signed a $60 million contract with $30 million guaranteed, while Ellerbe signed for $35 million over five years (guarantee not known) – they still should have ample salary cap space to make moves after entering the day with about $30 million to use.
Wallace’s salary cap number will likely be $7-8 million. But the Dolphins didn’t use any cap space on Ellerbe or Wheeler. Cutting Dansby saved the Dolphins $3.9 million against the cap, and here’s betting that Ellerbe’s 2013 salary cap number will be around that amount. And cutting Burnett saved the Dolphins $3.2 million against the cap. Since Wheeler’s cap number is $2.4 million, the Burnett/Wheeler swap actually added $800,000 to the Dolphins’ salary cap number. Add in Chris Clemons’ one-year deal – with a likely cap number between $1-2 million – and the Dolphins should still have about $20 million in cap room.
And they still have room to maneuver – DT Randy Starks can lower his $8.45 million franchise tag number if he signs a long-term deal, and a couple of cornerbacks, Dimitri Patterson (owed $4.6 million with no dead money) and Richard Marshall (with a cap number of $5.67 million and $2.3 million of dead money) can provide more savings.
* Per the New York Daily News, former Rams WR Brandon Gibson will visit the Jets today, but if he leaves the facility, his next visit is with the Dolphins.