If the Miami Dolphins plan to make a splash in free duty next week – and that seems to be all the clues – the team got much-needed clarity as to who their top priorities will be. At 4:00 pm EST this afternoon, the NFL window to designate free agents as “franchise players” under the franchise tag was passed; a deadline that sparked a lot of action across the league as teams wanted to keep their best players with expiring contracts. Some, like the Broncos’ safety sign Justin Simmons, were expected. Others, like the Jaguars’ decision to put OT Cam Robinson under the franchise tag, won’t affect the Dolphins at all.
But a free agent reportedly a potential target of Miami met the franchise tag deadline unscathed – because the Green Bay Packers chose not to put the running Aaron Jones under the tag’s control. Although, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the team will continue to work for the next week to try to get a longer contract extension with Jones to keep him in Green Bay.
The Dolphins, who saw a number of potential targets taken off the market, will reportedly take a very close look at Jones if he’s still available upon entering free agency’s ‘legal sabotage’ window next Monday – and Jones would said to be mutual. interest in bringing his talents to South Florida.
If the Dolphins signed Jones, it would give the team some extra flexibility in the early parts of the 2021 NFL Draft. And that could make Miami a more impactful player early in the draft, while also bringing in a player in a higher-rated position and keeping him under a rookie contract for several seasons.
So there are talent and economic motivations for Miami to chase Jones – and the fit makes sense, provided the Dolphins don’t match some of the suggested numbers that a new contract would cost Jones (over $ 10 million per season). ). The price must be right for Miami. But we now know that the franchise price of about $ 11 million was too high for Green Bay – boding well for the Dolphins’ potential to get Jones at a more reasonable rate next week.