Dolphins Free Agent Spending Analysis

The Miami Dolphins actually spent more on newcomers than they did last March

Jordyn Brooks / Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

While it sure did appear that the Miami Dolphins stepped back their aggressive approach to free agency this offseason, the reality doesn't actually match the perception.

On the contrary, the Dolphins actually were just as aggressive as they were last year, if not more, with one glaring exception.

That one exception was Jalen Ramsey, who the Dolphins acquired in 2023 in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams for a third-round pick and tight end Hunter Long, soon followed by Miami giving the Pro Bowl cornerback a three-year, $55 million extension.

When it came to pure free agent signings, though, the Dolphins actually stepped it up this year even while losing Christian Wilkins, Robert Hunt and Andrew Van Ginkel to better offers from other teams.

THE DOLPHINS' 2024 FREE AGENT SPENDING COMPARED TO 2023

The Dolphins have signed 13 veteran free agents since the beginning of March, not including defensive tackles Daviyon Nixon and Isaiah Mack being added the week before the start of the new league year, up from eight last March.

The contracts of those 13 newcomers totaled 19 years for $93 million, an average of $4.9 million annually. That compares to an average of $3.2 million annually for the 10 newcomers signed in March 2023.

As a reminder, the 13 free agents signed this March (excluding Nixon and Mack) were CB Siran Neal, LB Jordyn Brooks, LB Anthony Walker Jr., DT Neville Gallilmore, C Aaron Brewer, DT Benito Jones, TE Jody Fortson, G/T Jack Driscoll, DT Jonathan Harris, S Jordan Poyer, CB Kendall Fuller, LB Shaquil Barrett and TE Jonnu Smith.

Four of those 13 were signed to contracts longer than one year: Brooks, Brewer, Fuller and Smith.

That compares to only two last year, QB Mike White and LB David Long Jr.

The highest annual average for a free agent signings last March was Long's $5.5 million, and that was topped this offseason by the contracts given to Brooks (almost $9 million average), Brewer ($7 million), Fuller ($7.5 million) and Barrett (up to $9 million).

In terms of re-signing their own free agents, the numbers are almost identical between this year and last, with nine re-signings in 2024 after there were 10 in 2023.

The bottom line is that maybe the idea of the Dolphins reining in a little their all-in approach this offseason actually doesn't necessarily match reality.

When it comes to free agent additions, the Dolphins actually gave out bigger contracts this offseason.