Dolphins set to Sign Former $45 Million Rival as Early Season Insurance.
On June 1st, when veteran cornerback and early offseason cut Xavien Howard comes off the books, the Miami Dolphins will have a large amount of contract room available.
Miami will have an additional $18.5 million to spend if they so want after Howard’s deal is finalized. Furthermore, according to Bleacher Report analyst Matt Holder, the team needs to spend some of it to acquire another edge rusher to provide early-season insurance for Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb.
On June 1st, when veteran cornerback and early offseason cut Xavien Howard comes off the books, the Miami Dolphins will have a large amount of contract room available.
Miami will have an additional $18.5 million to spend if they so want after Howard’s deal is finalized. Furthermore, according to Bleacher Report analyst Matt Holder, the team needs to spend some of it to acquire another edge rusher to provide early-season insurance for Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb.
In the event that Chubb or Philips aren’t prepared to play in Week 1, he said, advising the front office to sign a free agent such as Yannick Ngakoue or Carl Lawson, “a veteran edge-rusher with a proven track record of success.”
And Miami might benefit greatly from both of these attractive buy-low options.
Lawson started his career with the Cincinnati Bengals, but Dolphins fans mostly remember him from his days with the division rival New York Jets.
In 2021, the Jets gave Lawson a $45 million contract, primarily based on win-rate and potential. Unfortunately, the pass rusher’s first training camp with the team ended with an Achilles tear, so the transaction fell through.
after his strong comeback performance, Lawson was eventually replaced by first-round pick Jermaine Johnson II in year three, after recording seven sacks and nine tackles for a loss in his second season with NYJ. This was after Lawson suffered an Achilles injury.
For much of his career, Lawson has fallen short of expectations. Despite his physical prowess and attractive defensive end appearance, he has struggled with injuries and finishing plays since joining the league.
Lawson is fully healthy going into 2024 following a season of restricted use. In addition, the 28-year-old might be a valuable rotational addition in Miami if he takes into account the revenge element when facing the Jets.
Through his career, Ngakoue has generated a great deal more than Lawson. Since 2016, he’s had four seasons with 9.5 sacks or more and three campaigns with 10 or more stops for a loss.
And with 123 regular season games and six postseason games under his belt, he’s proven to be far more durable than Lawson over the years.
Still, it’s interesting that Ngakoue hasn’t received a contract offer comparable to Lawson’s Jets deal. Having been picked by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round, he has been a journeyman who has been about the game for a while without ever settling down.
With a reputation as the NFL’s go-to pass rusher, Ngakoue might be the ideal high-floor option for Miami in 2024. The Dolphins don’t necessary need more “ifs” with Chubb, Robinson, and Phillips already on the roster; Lawson certainly has more potential if everything works out.
Ngakoue might, however, make a better teammate out of the two.