But know this: From talking to people around the league, there’s clearly more optimism about this team’s long-term potential than we're accustomed to in recent Decembers. No, we’re not talking Super Bowl-optimism, not with this offensive line, the unknown variable of Ryan Tannehill’s ceiling and other issues.
But when you combine the talent assembled, the improvement of Tannehill and several other key young players, the portent of at least $38 million in cap space this offseason and other factors, “I see no reason why the future isn’t bright,” ESPN analyst and former Colts general manager Bill Polian said last week.
“They have a good defense already. If you’re going to go far, you need pass rushers and they have that. The running game is good now and will get better as the offensive line gets better. It’s a good group of talent in the passing game. Tannehill is right on schedule. Fixing the offensive line is not as hard as you think. If you get the tackle situation squared away, you can manufacture guards.”
Another former GM, Charley Casserly, also told me the Dolphins now look like long-term playoff contenders: “I would be optimistic. I like the moves they made, and they have a nucleus to work with. Tannehill is an above average quarterback. I like their long-term prospects better than the Jets and Bills because it starts with the quarterback, and I have a lot more confidence in Tannehill than Geno Smith or E.J. Manuel.”
Said CBS analyst Phil Simms, by phone: “I would be encouraged about their future. But the difference between making the playoffs and going to the Super Bowl is dramatic. There is a long way to go. But at least it’s a start. They are a fast team. They have some great elements that do well in the NFL.”
More reason for hope: The Dolphins have just $106 million in cap commitments (including dead money) for 2014, well under the projected cap of $126 million. They also have about $18 million in unused 2013 cap space that can be carried over.
That adds up to $38 million in space for this upcoming offseason, and they can clear even more space if they cut Dimitri Patterson (which would be a $5.4 million saving) or ask him to take a pay cut after he played in only five games. (I'm not endorsing that, because Patterson was very good when he played, but his inability to recover from a groin injury raises questions about whether Miami will want to pay him that much.) They also could clear space by restructuring Mike Wallace’s contract to reduce his 2014 cap number from $17.2 million.
Read more here:
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/#storylink=cpyClick to expand...