The Miami Dolphins are set to gain additional cap space on June 1 when veteran cornerback Xavien Howard’s contract comes off the books.
This will free up $18.5 million for the Dolphins, and Bleacher Report analyst Matt Holder suggests using some of it to add another edge rusher as early season insurance for Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips.
“While the Dolphins did use a first-round pick on Chop Robinson, the Penn State product is widely considered a project that needs some time to develop,” Holder noted. “Meanwhile, projected starters Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips are recovering from significant leg injuries sustained toward the end of the 2023 season.”
Holder recommends targeting a free agent like Carl Lawson or Yannick Ngakoue, both of whom are veteran edge rushers with proven success, to ensure coverage if Chubb or Phillips aren’t ready for Week 1.
Both options present intriguing buy-low potential for Miami.
Carl Lawson, who previously played for the division rival New York Jets, could be a strong addition. Although he struggled with injuries, including a torn Achilles in his first training camp with the Jets, Lawson managed to post seven sacks and nine tackles for a loss in his second year with the team. He was eventually replaced by first-round pick Jermaine Johnson II despite his recovery and performance.
Lawson has often failed to meet expectations due to injuries and a tendency to not finish plays. However, he is now 100% healthy heading into 2024 and could be a valuable rotational player for Miami, especially with a potential “revenge factor” when facing the Jets.
Yannick Ngakoue might be a better fit for the Dolphins. With four seasons of 9.5 sacks or more since 2016 and a history of durability, appearing in 123 regular season games and six playoff games, Ngakoue has been more consistent than Lawson. Despite not securing a long-term contract like Lawson, Ngakoue has proven himself as a reliable pass-rusher across multiple teams.
Given his consistency and durability, Ngakoue could be the ideal addition for Miami in 2024, providing a high-floor option compared to Lawson’s higher but riskier potential.
