Dolphins offseason: 3 free agents Miami could sign to ‘prove it’ deals

In 2024, the Miami Dolphins won’t probably be able to provide large free-agency contracts. However, they can search for those “prove it” contracts that offer high value for this year.

Every summer, the Miami Dolphins prefer to make a huge splash by signing a well-known star who can improve the offence.

Although this approach has helped the team sign players like Tyreek Hill and Jalen Ramsey, it has put Miami in a difficult situation with regard to the 2024 salary cap.

The Dolphins will probably be trying to cash in on players that require a “prove-it” deal for 2024 in addition to trying to make the biggest splash they can this year.
A player who wishes to go to Miami in 2024 will be added to show they are worthy of a long-term, high-dollar contract in 2025, could prove to be mutually beneficial for the player and the team.

The Dolphins are on a tight budget this year, with some players likely needing to accept lower-value contracts this season with the hopes of betting on themselves for next year.

Who might Miami target this year as a deal maker? We examine three (or four) candidates who may be included in the Dolphins’ “prove it” deal list.

Edge, A.J. Epenesa, Buffalo Bills

As they await the recovery of Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips from injuries that ended their seasons last year, the Dolphins must acquire pass rushers this year.

They may utilise a self-promotional individual who would use a strong year to raise his pay expectations during the 2025 free agency window.

Like Miami with its pay cap, the Buffalo Bills will not be able to re-sign every player, so they have forced to make cuts to ensure they have enough room to operate for the entire season. Just one of the athletes leaving Buffalo is edge rusher A.J. Epenesa.

Despite recording 6.5 sacks in each of the previous two seasons, he has not received the playing time necessary to be considered a top-tier free agent by the Bills. Instead, he has been mired on the depth chart.

Epenesa could be best served by signing a one-year deal that would ensure him playing time and give him a chance to enter the free agent market in 2025.

Epenesa might provide the Dolphins with the stopgap edge rusher they need to start the season if they sign him to a “prove it” contract.

Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Poona Ford

Here, why not remain loyal to the Bills for a second straight year? Ford left the Seattle Seahawks after five seasons in 2023 to join Buffalo.

Being a reliable player on the Seahawks’ defensive line who filled in as a defensive tackle as well as a nose tackle, Ford’s presence in Buffalo was anticipated to improve Buffalo’s front end defence right away.

Rather, Ford was limited to just eight games as a healthy scratch on game day for the most of the season.

The Dolphins may need to add players to the defensive line since Christian Wilkins could go in free agency. Ford might, at most, be a reserve player to provide the squad with some flexibility  at the position.

But with the disappointing 2023 campaign, Ford could be looking to bounce back in 2024, then look for a lucrative deal in 2025 as he turns 30.

That could lead to Miami finding a defensive tackle or nose tackle with a chip on his shoulder to solidify the line for this season.

Ford, who signed a one-year, $2.25 million contract with the Bills, cannot be expected to receive a significant pay increase after making only nine tackles and one sack in less than half of the team’s games played.

49ers’ Chase Young has an advantage.

The Washington Football Team selected the 2020 second-overall pick, and now he may have to accept a one-year prove-it deal in order to get a top-tier contract in 2025.

He was traded from the Washington Commanders to the San Francisco 49ers during the season, and in his nine games there, he struggled to establish a rhythm.

He was able to record a total 25 tackles and 7.5 sacks during the season while playing for both San Francisco and Washington, but he finds himself in a strange predicament for 2024 due to injury worries and an uneven 2023.

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