The Miami Dolphins are currently putting together the final strategy to open their off-season in 2021 – while challenging the roster in several areas, in an effort to make the most complete roster possible. For Miami, this proposal is a little more challenging than initially planned due to the reduced salary limit of 2021 due to the loss of revenue from the 2020 season.
Miami is still in a much healthier place than many other teams, but they will still need to be strategic in allocating their hood space for the coming season.
One such underrated strategy to save themselves a bit of leeway could be linked to the 2021 NFL draft and, more specifically, traded from the No. 3 pick. Yes, Miami has a chance to secure a blue chip player, but the demand for quarterbacks may be too fast for Miami because they want to explore all options and calls for the no. 3-choice will make.
How would an exchange help the dolphin’s cap?
It depends on how far the team intends to trade. Current projections for the 2021 NFL Draft Vegetable Wage can be found thanks to Over The Cap – and the price for owning the overall number 3 on the 2021 prize is sturdy.
According to Over The Cap, Miami’s expected cap hit for the overall number 3 is $ 6,201 million and a contract totaling 4 years, $ 34.105 million plus a fifth year option for the club. This is not a small number and would be the Dolphins’ 9th biggest captain hit of the 2021 season behind:
- CB Byron Jones – $ 16.1 million
- CB Xavien Howard – $ 13.5 million
- WR DeVante Parker – $ 12.11 million
- IOL Ereck Flowers – $ 10 Million
- DE Shaq Lawson – $ 9.83 million
- DE Emmanuel Ogbah – $ 7.5 million
- US Bobby McCain – $ 7.14 million
- QB Tua Tagovailoa – $ 6.88 million
But the number is not fixed in stone and the Dolphins can secure much more winding space if they actually trade and pick up more. If the Carolina Panthers decided to pick a No. 3 to field a quarter of their pick, Miami would earn some savings on capital, especially if they could make a choice in the future and later this year players could set up what it could do. replaces a handful of expensive players.
Carolina, for example, would have to pick a minimum number for numbers 8 and 39 in any trade with the Dolphins, plus a future first-round pick. The limit cost for those assets?
- 8 overall: $ 3.838 million
- 39 overall: $ 1,525 million
- Choice in the first round of 2022: Zero strikes against the hood of 2021
The savings from this carrot trade would be just under $ 800,000 compared to the 2021 salary cap. But if the Dolphins could field an extra player on the overall number 39, says a safe or extra-wide receiver, the door would be open for Miami to then move away from Bobby McCain ($ 5.659 million in savings if it trades Albert Wilson / Jakeem Grant (combined savings of $ 5,737 if both are cut).
The gains are even more noticeable, the further Miami is willing to slip into the order. Suppose the San Francisco 49ers at number 12 are desperate to jump in order and offer Miami a ‘godfather deal’ – one they cannot refuse. The predicted San Francisco allotment for their important choice is as follows:
- No. 12 overall: $ 3,105 million
- 43 overall: $ 1.435 million
- No. 103 overall: $ 870 thousand
Miami could yield a top-12 pick and return additional picks in both the 2nd and 3rd rounds of 2021 plus probably more than 20 early round additions for 2022 (at least a first-round pick of 2022 plus another premium choice of a 2023 first choice (round choice or a 2022 second round choice) for the same financial savings that a trade to choose number 8 with Carolina would earn. And again, the waterfall effect of setting up more high-quality players early in the year and the savings opportunities Miami can offer to move away from players currently on the list will be even more influential.
The Dolphins will have to weigh all their options. But one thing we do know is that the Dolphins, if they want all these performances in the NFL draft in 2021, will have many factors that contribute to their decision-making process; the cap included.