Saturday Dolphins Mailbag: Free Agency, Moving Williams, White as Backup QB, and More

What's going to happen with Eric Rowe? Could Braxton Berrios be the returner answer? What's the outlook for pending 2024 free agents? Those and other questions from Miami Dolphins fans

Part 1 of the pre-free agency SI Fan Nation All Dolphins mailbag:

From Dug-E-Fresssh (@fluflu3):

OK, @PoupartNFL, can you explain if the NFL compensatory pick math is either strict, esoteric, or blindfolded dart-throwing? For a fan that knows nothing about how the sausage is made, this feels like the Bye Week? Sure, I could look it up but want to know how you understand it?

Hey there, I actually already posted the explanation straight from the NFL, but let me reiterate it’s complicated. It has to do with net loss the previous offseason when it comes to “compensatory free agents.” Then it takes into account factors such as contract, playing time and postseason honors. And then you have teams who get picks for having minorities hired by other teams as head coaches and GMs, which is what helped San Francisco land three third-round picks.

From Chris H (@Chrishyer31):

Besides Fangio, which new coach (if any) will have the largest impact on their unit?

Hey Chris, let’s first start by running down all the new coaches, who are Fangio, offensive line coach Butch Barry, offensive assistant Max McCaffrey, assistant defensive line coach Kenny Baker, defensive assistant Steve Donatell, passing game coordinator/secondary Renaldo Hill and safeties coach Joe Kasper. By title alone, Hill is the one in the best position to have a major impact, though you could also look at Butch Barry, particularly with Mike McDaniel saying he wanted OC Frank Smith to devote less time to the offensive line in 2023. So I’ll go with Barry.

From Dave (@angryvet59):

Thanks for all your great work Alain. With limited cap space, for now anyway, does Miami do free agency for depth players or 1-2 potential starters ?

Hey Dave, I included your question even though you sent it before the Dolphins made a series of move to create a whole lot of cap space because I can give you an updated answer. Simply put, my expectation all along was that the Dolphins would be going for one fairly significant signing and some depth pieces because they do have a lot of holes they need to fill and can’t be spending big all over the place.

From steve , @jujusimba7777):

If Dolphins are going to make a splash in FA, which position do you think it will be? I go for LB, a vet guy like Wagner, David but it could well be RT, corner, safety, RB?

Hey Steve, well, you sure mentioned a lot of positions. I think I’d narrow it down to the secondary, with linebacker right behind. I’d be very surprised to see a splash signing for a right tackle or running back.

From Dolfandave (@dolfandave);

I've been thinking we can sign/draft a center and move Connor Williams to LG where he was in Dallas. That way we can have a good option for C in case of injury. This as opposed to drafting/signing a LG who can't play center. Thoughts?

Hey Dave, I like the line of thinking, but I’m of the opinion the Dolphins are going to stand pat at left guard and see what Liam Eichenberg can do, hoping he can stay healthy after having some bad luck last year.

From ChrisDavis (@KyLouFinFan):

Hey. Thanks as always. Really do think you’re open-minded to all the Qs. Broadly speaking with their cap space, do Fins try to make 1-2 big splashes or just look for value and depth? If so, where in each category?

Hey Chris, thanks, first of all. I do try to be open-minded and come at everything as objectively as possible. As for your question, as I mentioned earlier, I’d expect one semi-major signing and depth acquisitions at positions like CB, S, LB, NT, T and TE, with obviously a backup QB mixed into the equation.

From Emi Argentina (@fliaper):

What 2024 FA do you see Miami trading because they won’t extend him next offseason. Thanks!

Hey there, man, that’s a tough question because you gotta be looking also at somebody who would have trade value. If I’m looking at the potential 2024 UFAs who would have trade value, my list would have Connor Williams, Christian Wilkins, Zach Sieler, Robert Hunt and Raekwon Davis. Of those, I have all of them except Davis as borderline slam dunks to get extended or re-signed. So that leave Raekwon as the one who might have trade value, and that’s before mentioning that I’m not quite exactly how great a fit he’ll be in the new Vic Fangio defense.

From Mr.T 2D (@Mr_T2D):

Mike White for QB2?

Don’t see it, to be very honest. I know he said he’d love to play for the Dolphins, but that’s only if the Jets don’t re-sign him and because he’s from South Florida. More importantly, is he that much different from Skylar Thompson, a young QB with some ability but some flaws and not as ideal as a veteran who can hold the fort if something happens to Tua.

From Frank Belletieri (via email):

Hi Alain, first of all, I enjoy reading all your articles and the mailbag questions. I was listening to you with the Big O, and you were talking about Canadian singers. This one may be before your time, but you did not mention Paul Anka. He was inducted in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1980. He was also inducted into the Canada’s Walk of Fame. Well, take care and keep up the good work.

Hey Frank, thanks for the kind words. I did not mention Paul Anka, but I am very familiar with him. I actually have a couple of his songs in my library — “I Don’t Like To Sleep Alone” and “The Times of Your Life” — and he also wrote the much-covered “My Way.”

From Mike (via email):

Hello Alain, could the release of Braxton Berrios help solve the Dolphins’ putrid return game problem? What are the chances he becomes a Dolphin?

Hey Mike, hmm, that’s an interesting one there. Berrios does have some ability as a receiver in addition to being a very good punt returner, plus he played at the University of Miami. I think I’d classify it as a distinct possibility with Trent Sherfield and River Cracraft both free agents.

From Daniel Kucera (via email):

The Phin Phanatic / Matt Serniak wrote an article on the service of Eric Rowe over the last, I guess, 5 years. He was complimentary to the job he has done. I feel the same way. I think the first 2 years he covered TEs like a blanket. What do you think? Is it time to replace him with Elijah Campbell?

Hey Daniel, Eric Rowe will be an unrestricted free agent next week and given his diminished role the past two years, I’d be shocked if he returned in 2023.

From FJS (@Samper__):

Will there be attempts to work on their O line again?

Hey there, if by “attempts,” you mean signing a big-name free agent like Armstead or Williams last year, I think I’d be surprised to see that. I would, however, not be surprised to see Brandon Shell being re-signed and then the coaching staff working with Liam Eichenberg and Austin Jackson again to see if they can take a step forward.

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