8 Players I THINK The Miami Dolphins Should Target in NFL Free Agency

The 2025 NFL legal tampering period officially kicks off later today, which means any second now, NFL insiders will be reporting on contracts that definitely weren’t being discussed before today. More importantly — for fans of the Miami Dolphins — it’s a time to sit back and watch General Manager Chris Grier and Head Coach Mike McDaniel conduct business. And with an ever-important 2025 season in the cross hairs, some could argue this offseason is as essential as any.

We all know Miami has glaring needs on both the offensive and defensive lines, the secondary, and backup quarterback, but which players should they target? Well I’m glad you asked! Here are eight players I think the Miami Dolphins should target as 2025 NFL Free Agency is set to begin!

(Please Note: These are players that I like. $$$ and opportunities to start will factor into their decisions. Viewer discretion is advised. )

RUNNING BACK | J.K. DOBBINS

2024 Stats: 195 carries, 905 yards, nine touchdowns. 32 receptions, 153 yards. Spotrac Projected Market Value: $4.1 Million annual salary

One of my all-time favorite running back prospects is now a free agent, and the Dolphins just so happen to have a need for that position. A position that McDaniel said the team would add at least two or three more players to this offseason. Javonte Williams is another my guy, but I think Dobbins would be a special player in Miami’s offense. He can carry the workload, but has also shown the ability to break off the big plays. He’d also take some of the workload off of De’Von Achane and Jaylen Wright. A win-win, IMO.

Other: Javonte Williams

DEFENSIVE TACKLE | JAVON KINLAW

2024 Stats: 195 carries, 40 tackles, 4.5 sacks, two forced fumbles. Spotrac Projected Market Value: N/A

If you go back and find the article I wrote last offseason about players to target (maybe it was the year before, I can’t find it), Javon Kinlaw would again be on that list. At the time, I think I mentioned Miami’s loss of Christian Wilkins and Kinlaw’s ties to McDaniel and San Francisco as a factor. Additionally, he was one of the top players in the 2020 NFL Draft and if memory serves correctly, he put on a clinic at the Senior Bowl. It was so impressive, he left early and was still being talked about as the MVP of the week and a top pick. The 6’5, 320-pound behemoth may have never quite lived up to the hype, but at 27, there’s still plenty of time. Pairing him alongside a guy like Zach Sieler might just do the trick.

Other: Sebastian Joseph

GUARD | AARON BANKS

2024 Stats: Lots of pancakesSpotrac Projected Market Value: $9.7 Million annual salary — others have suggested much more!

Aaron Banks will make bank this offseason, which almost kept me from putting him on my list of players I’d target. It may not be realistic, especially for a regime that has proven they don’t put too much value into the guard position. But in a do-or-die year with both Grier and McDaniel admitting they messed up, why not get the hottest available interior offensive lineman on the market? One that McDaniel has a ton of familiarity with?!? An absolute glove fit for what Miami needs. What’s stopping them?!?! The salary cap is #fakenews and Stephen Ross loves to open up the checkbook. Solidify one side of the offensive line and get a deal done!

Other: Will Fries

CORNERBACK | BRANDON STEPHENS

2024 Stats: 70 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 10 pass breakups. Spotrac Projected Market Value: $8.3 Million annual salary

Past relationships may not mean a whole lot — or maybe they do (see: Durham Smythe) — but that doesn’t stop me from tracing back a player’s origin story and ensuing timeline. In doing so, I stumbled upon cornerback, Brandon Stephens, formerly of the Baltimore Ravens. Last season, Stephens played ____ snaps for the Ravens, primarily playing on the boundary. Miami recently released veteran Kendall Fuller. Could Dolphins’ defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver be looking to replace him with a familiar face, opposite shutdown cornerback Jalen Ramsey?

Other: Ifeatu Melifonwu

WIDE RECEIVER | ELIJAH MOORE

2024 Stats: 61 receptions, 538 yards, a TD. Spotrac Projected Market Value: $4.5 Million annual salary

I’d like to see the Dolphins bring in a big-bodied wide receiver this offseason but considering we haven’t seen it — outside of the failed Chase Claypool experiment — I don’t expect to see it now. And with tons of uncertainty outside of receivers Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and slot Malik Washington, the Dolphins have some targets available, which is where 24-year-old Elijah Moore comes in. Yes, De’Von Achane could switch to receiver — or so it’s been hypothesized — but either way, there will be a need for another receiver. Moore is still young and hasn’t been placed in the most favorable situations. Let’s see what he can do with Robert Prince and McDaniel. #LetElijahMooreCook

Other: Josh Palmer

SAFETY | TALANOA HUFANGA

2024 Stats: 38 tackles. (Played seven games)Spotrac Projected Market Value: $11.9 Million annual salary

Maybe it’s the hair, that had me thinking, “Oh shit, is that Hall of Fame safety, Troy Polamalu?”, once or twice while watching the 49ers. Or perhaps it’s the way he drops down into the box and puts a hit on a ball carrier. Whatever the reason, Hufanga is the player I’d like to see most in Miami. Sure, he’s had injury issues that forced him to miss a handful of games over the last two seasons, but every time he’s in that 49ers defense, they’re better. And with a glaring need at safety and again, the past relationship he has with a particular head coach, I think Hufanga belongs in Miami.

Other: Jeremy Chinn

QUARTERBACK | ZACH WILSON

2024 Stats: N/ASpotrac Projected Market Value: $3.3 Million annual salary

Marcus Mariota has been the QB2 most commonly linked to the Dolphins, and I’m okay with that — I guess. But at the end of the day, I want to see McDaniel bring in a QB3 that has some potential. I hope that Miami drafts a player on day two or three with very good traits and intangibles (they should do this every year), but there’s no guarantee that will happen. So instead, I’d like to see Miami bring in a former first-round pick who, at one time, was highly sought after by NFL teams. His name is Zach Wilson, and although he didn’t quite work out with the New York Jets, I think there may still be something worth investigating. Worst case? You toss him aside and bring back Snoop Huntley :).

(Writer’s Note: In the perfect world, I’d sign Justin Fields.)

Other: Mac Jones or Trey Lance (If McDaniel approves)

OFFENSIVE TACKLE | JEDRICK WILLS

2024 Stats: Short Stack of Pancakes Spotrac Projected Market Value: $2.2 Million annual salary

The intriguing part about Wills is whether or not he’d be willing to move inside, like Mekhi Becton did last season with the Philadelphia Eagles. This idea was first brought up by my co-host, Jake Mendel, on a recent episode of Another Dolphins Podcast, and I can’t help but wonder if that would be the perfect move for Wills. I can’t say for sure, but as one of the linemen I highly coveted in the 2020 NFL Draft class (IDK if that means anything), I’d like to see him in Miami. If not to try and transition inside, then to kick the tires on a once highly-sought after prospect that may just need a change of scenery. And a guy like Butch Barry to put postage notes on his locker.

Other: Josh Jones

BONUS: 3 PLAYERS I THINK THE DOLPHINS SHOULD BRING BACK

LINEBACKER | TYREL DODSON
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN | ISAIAH WYNN
EDGE | TYUS BOWSER