The Miami Dolphins are currently gathering the last bits of strategy to open their 2021 off-season – all while facing the challenge of growing their roster on multiple fronts in an attempt to build the most complete roster possible. . For Miami, this proposal is a more difficult achievement than originally planned due to the reduced salary cap in 2021 due to losses in revenue distribution in the 2020 season.
Miami is still in a much healthier place than many other teams – but they will still have to be strategic about how they allocate their cover space for next season.
Such an undervalued strategy to save ceiling space can be linked back to the 2021 NFL draft and, more specifically, trading down from No. 3 overall. Yes, Miami has the chance to secure a blue chip player, but the demand for defenders may prove too tempting for Miami, while looking to explore all options and asking for choice no.
How would a transaction help lower the Dolphins’ lid?
This depends on how much the team intends to trade. Current projections for 2021 NFL rookie salaries can be found thanks to Over The Cap – and the price on the 2021 ceiling for holding general election no. 3 is sturdy.
According to Over The Cap, the expected blow to the Miami ceiling for general election no. 3 is $ 6.201 million and a total contract that is equal to 4 years, $ 34.105 million, plus a 5-year option for the club. This is not a small number and would be the 9th most successful dolphin of the 2021 season ago:
- CB Byron Jones – $ 16.1 million
- CB Xavien Howard – $ 13.5 million
- WR DeVante Parker – $ 12.11 million
- IOL Ereck flowers – 10 million USD
- DE Shaq Lawson – $ 9.83 million
- DE Emmanuel Ogbah – $ 7.5 million
- FS Bobby McCain – $ 7.14 million
- QB Tua Tagovailoa – USD 6.88 million
But this number is not set in stone and Dolphins can provide much more room for movement if they really trade and add more options. If the Carolina Panthers were to resort to a transaction for election no. 3 to draft a defender of their choice, Miami would make some ceiling savings, especially if they are able to make choices in the future and later recruit players this year, who can replace a handful of expensive players.
Carolina, for example, should send election no. 8 and 39 in general in any transaction with dolphins, at a minimum, plus a future first round choice. Is the cap paid for these assets?
- Nr. 8 in general: $ 3.838 million
- 39 in total: USD 1.525 million
- Election in the first round: Zero hit against the lid
The savings from this root transaction would be only $ 800,000 compared to the 2021 salary cap. But if the Dolphins could draft an extra player at number 39 in general, say a safety receiver or an extra wide receiver, the door would open for Miami to later switch from Bobby McCain ($ 5,659 million in savings if traded / cut) or Albert Wilson / Jakeem Grant ($ 5,737 in combined savings if both are reduced).
The gains are all the more noticeable as Miami is more willing to slip in order. Suppose that the San Francisco 49ers in election no. 12 are desperate to get in order and give Miami a “godfather agreement” – one I can’t refuse. The projected ceiling allocations in San Francisco for their significant choices are as follows:
- Nr. 12 in general: $ 3.105 million
- Nr. 43 in general: $ 1.435 million
- Nr. 103 in general: $ 870,000
Miami could return a top 12 pick and will return additional options in both the 2nd and 3rd rounds of 2021, plus you can probably add more early rounds for 2022 ( at least one election in round 1 of 2022, plus another premium election either from the first 2023 (round election or election round 2 of 2022) for the same financial savings that a transaction for election No. 8 with Carolina would obtain. again, the effect of the cascade of attracting more high-quality players earlier this year and the savings opportunities that could open up Miami to move the players currently on the roster will be even more impactful.
Dolphins will have to weigh all their options. But one thing we do know is that the Dolphins, if they had all these options in the 2021 NFL project, would have a lot of factors contributing to their decision-making process; including the lid.