The Miami Dolphins previously ended their 2021 campaign on a disappointing note after they fell short in securing a playoff spot last season. Still, there are a ton of positives that the rebuilding team can carry over to 2022 as they play under the tutelage of new head coach Mike McDaniel.
As of the moment, they have a lot of room to make moves as they still have $49 million in cap space available, per Spotrac. The Dolphins have a lot of holes on their roster and rightfully filling them with quality pieces can put them in a good position to get over the hump sooner than later. Hopefully, the changes that they will bring will be enough as they aim to end their five-year playoff drought come 2022.
With that said, let's take a look at the three names that the Dolphins can target in the upcoming NFL free agency.
Miami Dolphins Free Agency Targets
Cordarrelle Patterson has always been an under-the-radar talent until his breakout season in 2021 with the Atlanta Falcons. He showed his athleticism and versatility as he moonlighted as a running back, wide receiver, and return specialist for the team last season.
Patterson chalked up 618 rushing yards and six scoring drives along with 548 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 16 games played. Despite his ability to play multiple positions, it might take a while for a team to figure out how to best utilize him. Nonetheless, there is no doubt that he can be a great contributor once it all comes along together for him on the field.
The Dolphins currently need more depth at the running backs, wide receivers, and special teams unit which Patterson can all fill next season. Luckily for them, his value in the market won't be that high as he is already 30 years old but they can still bank on the contribution that he can bring across several position groups on the field. If he manages to carry over his level of production from 2021 then he will play a crucial role in turning things around for the Dolphins moving forward.
2. D.J. Chark
Another under-appreciated talent in Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver D.J. Chark should be on the list for the Dolphins in the upcoming season. He hasn't had the privilege of playing with a legitimate starting quarterback ever since he came to the league yet he already reached the 1,000-yard mark back in 2019.
Playing with Trevor Lawrence in 2021 could've helped him achieve that feat again but he was sidelined for a significant time due to finger and ankle injuries. Chark ended the season with 154 receiving yards on seven catches and two touchdowns in four games played.
His injury situation certainly affected his value going into the offseason as an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career. With that said, the Dolphins can swoop in to acquire his services while he is still bound to take a discount after an injury-plagued campaign.
Currently, the LSU product is just 25 years old and can surely get back on track next season, barring any major injuries. Having D.J. Chark along with Jaylen Waddle as primary weapons in the passing game will surely be a huge boost for Tua Tagovailoa when he leads their offensive attack next season.
The Dolphins' offensive line has been a huge problem in 2021. It is in dire need of getting an upgrade in the upcoming NFL free agency. One of its weakest links can be found in the OT position with both Liam Eichenberg and Jesse Davis struggling to perform at a decent level last season.
With that said, they can opt to acquire veteran tackle Terron Armstead who just completed a five-year, $65 million contract with the New Orleans Saints. He missed significant time last season as he only appeared in eight games due to COVID-19 issues and a knee injury.
Without a doubt, he remains to be one of the most explosive linemen who can excel both as a pass protector and a run blocker on the field when healthy. After failing to ink a long-term deal with the Saints, the 30-year-old is bound to enter free agency with Miami shaping up to be an ideal destination for him in 2022.
Surely, it wouldn't be enough for the Dolphins to only acquire Terron Armstead and expect the rest of the offensive line to improve by itself. They will also have to go for other talented linemen to upgrade the other spots though making a run at the veteran's services in the offseason will certainly be a step in the right direction for the Dolphins.
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