Once GM Chris Grier was given FULL CONTROL over the Dolphins at the end of the 2018 season, he immediately made moves to clear the team from cap hell left behind by former Executive vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum in what can only be described as the great roster purge of 2019 the Miami Dolphins cleared the roster of players who’s salaries were not in the teams interest moving forward the purged lasted even into this season as the last of the longest tenured players on the Dolphins roster Reshad Jones was officially released on March 18th 2020.
The 2019 Bloody Purge:
- Released defensive end Andre Branch and center/guard Ted Larsen
- Released wide receiver Danny Amendola
- Allowed DE Cameron Wake to hit the FA Market (Signed With The Titans)
- Released guard Josh Sitton
- Quarterback Ryan Tannehill and 2019 sixth-round pick traded to Tennessee Titans for 2019 seventh-round pick and 2020 fourth-round pick
- Traded defensive end Robert Quinn to Dallas Cowboys for 2020 sixth-round pick.
- Waived guard Isaac Asiata
- Released safety T.J. McDonald
- Waived linebacker Chase Allen and released defensive tackle Akeem Spence.
- Acquired 2020 first-round pick, 2021 first-round pick, 2021 second-round pick, cornerback Johnson Bademosiand tackle Julien Davenport from Houston Texans in exchange for tackle Laremy Tunsil, wide receiver Kenny Stills, a 2020 fourth-round pick and a 2021 sixth-round pick
- Acquired a 2020 first-round pick, a 2020 fifth-round pick and a 2021 sixth-round pick from Pittsburgh in exchange for safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, a 2020 fourth-round pick and a 2021 seventh-round pick
- Acquired a conditional 2020 draft pick from Arizona in exchange for running back Kenyan Drake
- Acquired cornerback Aqib Talib and an undisclosed draft pick from the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for an undisclosed draft pick.
- Waived defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche and placed wide receiver Preston Williams on injured reserve
- Waived running back Mark Walton
- Released safety Reshad Jones
There were quite a few more moves made from 2019-2020 but the significant ones were listed above.
The Results from the PURGE and trades created a bountiful amount of Money and Draft Picks for the future. Just about 100 million in money for free agency and 14 draft picks in 2020, 5 within the top 70 picks.
In Free agency the Dolphins spent wisely as we all know you are going to over pay in free agency especially early on and for some reason I thought the Dolphins would take it slow early and target only mid-tier free agents. That was a wrong assumption!
Miami had a plan and wasted no time implementing it! The biggest deal made was to get the top rated CB in the market as they had to compete for his services but eventually signed Dallas CB Byron Jones to a record breaking deal as Jones signs a 5 year $82,500,000 contract with an average of $16,500,000 and $57,000,000 guaranteed
The next largest contract went to Kyle Van Noy a 4 year $51,000,000 deal with and average of $12,750,000 and $30,000,000 guaranteed
Followed by two young prospects who are on the uptrend both receiving 3 year 30 million dollar deals with similar guarantees
- DE Shaq Lawson 30 million dollars with 21,000,000 guaranteed
- OG/OT Ereck Flowers 30 million dollars with $19,950,000 guaranteed
All together they signed 10 new Free Agents with an average age between 25-26 years old and all of whom in 3-4 years will be in position to either move on or get an extension.
Since taking over GM Chris Grier has done a great job in negotiating contracts and giving extensions to players before they are even able to hit free agency.
A refreshing change from where we have been before!
Just like some of these young free agents the Dolphins are trending UP and will soon be competing for the division title. Stay Tuned!
Fins Up!
The Dolphin Seer 