2012 Free Agents: PFF Ranks Pass Rushers

by Kevin Nogle on Feb 19, 2012 10:00 PM EST in 2012 NFL Free Agency

Is it any surprise that Mario Williams is the top pass rusher available this free agency period?

The Miami Dolphins will be looking to make a splash during this up coming free agency period. While everyone knows the team will be looking to upgrade the quarterback position, the other major need for the team has been hidden behind the Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn debate. The Dolphins need to find a pass rusher to play opposite Cameron Wake, and the 2012 free agency could be exactly where they find the right guy.

Which brings us to Pro Football Focus, who recently ranked the top ten pass rushers available when the new league year begins on March 13.

Below you will find the listing of the top ten, and you can hit the link above to see the write-ups about each free agent.

Tweet Comment 15 comments | 1 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I would be good with any of the top 4.

However if we go and spend a ton of money on a FA QB, then I don’t think we will have the money for any of them. Yes, I understand the numbers. I, like many of the Dolphins faithful have been pouring over the numbers and the possibilities and time and time again. I just see us looking to the draft for this need. Defensive linemen seem to be very stacked in the draft this year.

Can we just wheel Shula onto the field at the start of ever game being pushed by one of the Miami Cheerleaders? Talk about mixing fear and distraction...

by Hollywood Dolfan on Feb 20, 2012 12:03 AM EST reply actions

Cliff Arvil...

… but I doubt Detroit allows it without a fight….

A woman is an occasional pleasure but a cigar is always a smoke.
- Groucho Marx
Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats. -H.L. Mencken.
"Never miss an opportunity to make others happy, even if you have to leave them alone in order to do it."
"The world is divided into two kinds of people: those who have tattoos, and those who are afraid of people with tattoos."

by Alpha6 on Feb 20, 2012 12:10 AM EST reply actions

Watch out for Kamerion Wimbley

He’s due 11 or 12 million and isn’t taking a pay cut so he will probably be released.

I got S + What a Dog's Tail Does.
One of them "Young Guns"

by Va FinFan on Feb 20, 2012 1:15 AM EST reply actions

lets just draft one

by ricenbeans82 on Feb 20, 2012 2:15 AM EST via mobile reply actions

i say stick Misi on the line and see what he can do.

Our dline coach is notorious for taking someone with marginal talent and coaching up their strengths. Besides, in a 3-4 he posted 5.5 sacks, in a 4-3 a position hes played well in college, you could se that number raise by at least 2-3.

Sign Scott from the Raiders for competition.

by dolphinfan4lyfe on Feb 20, 2012 3:22 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Misi didn't really get much of a chance last year ...

And his rookie season he did put up 4.5 sacks. That is the same number as JPP put up in 2010 as a rookie. The difference was in 2011 we stuck him behind JT and didn’t give him many opportunities. He only started 9 of the games and was completely out of 4 games due to injury. Give him one more chance if we can’t bring in another guy. I also think it will be different if we can ever get to the point where we play from a lead.

We had [Brady] down… but we didn’t kick him. We helped him up and gave him a PowerPuff Girls band-aid for his knee. What exactly did you expect would happen when we did that?

by Jason Scott_90 on Feb 20, 2012 6:38 AM EST up reply actions

yall are funny

comparin Misi to JPP.
he has no pass rush moves at all. wasn’t a pass rusher in college and wont ever be one in the nfl.

"I think we can all agree the best thing about this years Superbowl is the Jets aren't in it. The Jets are a lot like the Yankees...everyone hates them. Only they don't have good players, a winning tradition or a coach who doesn't beat off everytime a player gets their ankle taped." - Daniel Tosh

by Davone_Is_BessT on Feb 20, 2012 10:46 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Its not always about the pass rush

Though he only recorded 10.5 sacks in his college career, one that was only three years playing football, he also had 3 strips and fumble returns for touchdowns. In three years at Utah, he tied the team record with 209 tackles. You have 3 guys that can rush the passer on any given down for Miami, and contrary to your claims, he already has 55 solo tackles 5.5 sacks, a strip and a return for touchdown. This is in limited playing time sharing with Wake, and Taylor. So the claims he isnt a pass rusher are semi bogus.

Face it, he simply isnt the guy YOU want as a pass rusher, but you cant negate the other skills he brings to the team. He is a huge factor in our run defense, and has the work ethic to improve.

Is he JPP? No, will he get better, yes. Stop looking at what he hasnt accomplished, and look at what he has, and you will see a versatile player that can line up all over the field. Imo we are handicapping our team by not giving this kid a chance.

by dolphinfan4lyfe on Feb 20, 2012 12:54 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

I can’t debate with someone who doesn’t watch the games.
that “return for a td” was him fallin on a ball in the endzone.
most of those sacks were starks or wake chasin the qb out of the pocket and misi being the high motor player he is wud chase down the qb.

I like misi but he is not a pass rusher. I think he is a better fit at 4-3 olb.

by Davone_Is_BessT on Feb 20, 2012 1:22 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Mario Williams could make our defence elite.

by BahamaDolfan on Feb 20, 2012 6:29 AM EST reply actions

Mario Williams cant play safety

You have three pass rushers on the line in the 4-3, people forget that in practically his first full year as a starter, Odrick posted 4.5 sacks himself. He can play anywhere on the line as is and this was without a full training camp and coming off injury.

You sign Williams, sure you get a great player but you handicap the team from handling other pressing needs, and your ability to re sign Wake, perhaps even Jake Long in the end.

For the money we would pay him, we could sign Jake Scott AND Flynn. Taking care of two pressing needs with players that fit the description of what we actually are looking for.

by dolphinfan4lyfe on Feb 20, 2012 10:05 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

^ this

might I add, I still would want ingram, coples, or upshaw in the draft at #8/9 even with Williams. You can never have too much pass rush. The NY Giants have 2 Lombardi trophies in 5 years due in large part to the success of their pass rush.

by bbickley on Feb 20, 2012 6:49 AM EST reply actions

draft a pass rusher

Save money for peyton. But could you imagine wake and mario on the same line? It’d be a heck of a pass rush.

Body in chaos mind at rest. Mind in chaos body at rest.

by carabetta13 on Feb 20, 2012 8:35 AM EST via mobile reply actions

i would love to have 1 of those top 4

but i do agree that if we put all that money into a FA qb we wont be able to afford them, but we could afford maybe 1 of the 2nd tier OG in FA (grubbs or scott)

by Phinatic13 on Feb 20, 2012 9:36 AM EST reply actions