The Miami Dolphins are in the process of releasing a number of their veteran players in preparation for their rebuild. Their latest release came on Friday when they cleared $6 million in cap space by letting go of wide receiver Danny Amendola. Amendola originally had signed a two-year, $12 million contract in the 2018 offseason, but only the first year of his deal was guaranteed.
Even with Brian Flores and Chad O'Shea now in South Florida from New England, it did not come as a surprise that the Dolphins elected to cut Amendola. Despite the familiarity with each other, the Dolphins made it clear that their decision to release Amendola was strictly a business decision.
In addition to Amendola's release, DeVante Parker will be released at anytime within the next few days as his fifth-year, $9.4 million salary would become fully guaranteed on March 13th when the start of free agency officially begins. Miami is holding out for now in hopes to find some kind of trade compensation, but that is highly unlikely.
There are also rumors that Miami could elect to move Kenny Stills in a trade as well. Moving on from Stills would be more of a surprise as he currently sits as the Dolphins #1 wide receiver, but if the team feels that they can get something in return for him then it may be the better option for the long-term.
If Miami does elect to move Stills then wide receiver becomes an even more pressing need this offseason. Even if they decide to hold on to him it is still a position of need, although not their most glaring one. There are not a lot of options this offseason for receivers in free agency, and even if there was the Dolphins would not expect to be big spenders in the market.
On the other hand, this is a strong class of wide receivers in the NFL Draft. It's very likely that Miami will look to add a young receiver at some juncture of the draft, likely on Day 2 or 3. Let's take a look at some of the players that may peak their interest.
Deebo Samuel – South Carolina
How early in the draft the Dolphins will look to add a wide receiver will be the question, but you can say with almost certainty that it won't be in the first round. Therefore, guys like D.K. Metcalf and N'Keal Harry can be eliminated from consideration.
If Miami is looking to add one on Day 2, however, then they could have Deebo Samuel in their sights. Samuel showcased great speed at the NFL Combine with a 4.48 time in the 40-yard dash. He followed that up with 15 reps on the bench press.
During his time at South Carolina, Samuel totaled an impressive 27 touchdowns in 30 career games. He caught 148 receptions for 2,000+ yards in that stretch.
Samuel even did some running (154 rushing yards) while at South Carolina. If they wanted to, the Dolphins could use him in similar packages like they did with Albert Wilson last year before he got hurt. He could also complement Jakeem Grant as a kick returner as well. Samuel amassed 1,219 yards in kickoff returns with the Gamecocks, returning four of them for touchdowns.
Riley Ridley – Georgia
Ridley is another Day 2 prospect that the Dolphins could keep their eye on. With his brother, Calvin, drafted to the Falcons a year ago, Ridley had some insight on what to expect from the Combine. While he didn't blow anyone way with his performances, he didn't hurt his stock either, and remains to be a player with one of the highest upsides coming out of this draft.
In his final year at Georgia, Ridley caught 44 receptions for 570 yards, and nine touchdowns. Many of those catches were highly contested, and it showed that he could be an elite talent at the next level.
The Dolphins could be looking at Georgia's Jake Fromm in the 2020 class as their next franchise quarterback. It's not a bad idea to go ahead and draft his leading target from college right now.
Parris Campbell – Ohio State
Campbell was a sneaky Day 3 projected pick until he showcased his lightning speed at the Combine with a 4.31 40-time. It was kind of puzzling as to why Campbell was flying under the radar after posting 90 receptions, 1,063 yards, and 12 touchdowns as a senior at Ohio State.
That is all water under the bridge now as Campbell is flying up draft boards. The Dolphins already possess great speed with Wilson and Grant. Should they add Campbell in the mix, it would create a great arsenal of weapons for whoever their next quarterback is. If Miami is serious about him, however, they'll probably need to snag him no later than the third round.
Anthony Johnson – Buffalo
Since Miami already has receivers with significant speed, they could instead elect to go with a player that relies more on size, and the ability to break away from tackles. Anthony Johnson out of Buffalo fits that mold very well.
Johnson did not run the 40 at the Combine, and instead will elect to run at his Pro Day. Not showcasing a ton of speed on tape, it's not expected to be a very impressive time. If he surprises, however, then we could see him shoot up draft boards as well.
For now, Johnson is looking like a late third, early fourth round selection. Johnson has some flaws in his game for sure, but he has great hands. Eventually, the Dolphins will have a young franchise quarterback, whether they find one this year or next. Whoever that player may be, they can ill afford a receiver that repeatedly drops the football. That would not be a concern with Johnson.
David Sills – West Virginia
Sills is another player widely considered to have a ton of upside that is projected to come off the board late in the draft. He needs to limit the drops, but he is tall, and can get well above smaller defenders in jump ball situations.
Sills had a respectable Combine performance, running a 4.57 40-yard dash, with an impressive 37.5 vertical jump.
He continues to improve his game as a route-runner, which new offensive coordinator Chad O'Shea can surely appreciate. There is the off chance that the Dolphins could select West Virginia QB Will Grier earlier in the draft process. Should they elect to draft both players it could give them each more comfort as they get accustomed to the next level.
Jalen Hurd – Baylor
Hurd is one of the more intriguing prospects in the entire 2019 class. A former running back at Tennessee, Hurd transitioned to receiver in his lone season at Baylor. In his senior season, Hurd finished with 69 receptions, 946 yards, and four touchdowns.
After successfully transitioning from running back to wide receiver, Hurd views himself as the most versatile player in this class, as well as the most versatile in the last several.
New Dolphins head coach Brian Flores loves players that can play multiple positions. Hurd has stated that he can play running back again if asked to. For example, if an injury were to occur to a lead back. That type of mindset could be exactly what the Dolphins are looking for in a player.
Because of the transition from running back to receiver in just a one-year span, it's difficult to project where Hurd could land in the three-day draft process. Some believe that he could land somewhere in the second round, while others believe he could fall as far as the fifth.
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