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The start of the NFL's "legal tampering" period was Monday at noon Eastern time, meaning all 32 of the league's teams can now talk contract parameters with the agents for players who will become free agents on Wednesday at 4pm, when the new league years begins. Last year, during what was then a three-day period, versus this year's two-day legal tampering time, the Miami Dolphins "expressed interest" in defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. This year, the Dolphins are already off and running with at least one free agent target.
According to the Miami Herald's Armando Salguero, the Dolphins have already shown interest in Seattle Seahawks guard J.R. Sweezy. NFL Network's Rand Getlin added more about Sweezy:
One player generating a ton of early interest? #Seahawks OG J.R. Sweezy. I'm told at least 10 teams have expressed serious interest.
— Rand Getlin (@Rand_Getlin) March 7, 2016
For OG J.R. Sweezy, teams who've expressed interest: #Bucs, #Falcons, #Lions, #Dolphins, #Saints, #49ers, #Jags, #Bears, #Jets, others.
— Rand Getlin (@Rand_Getlin) March 7, 2016
Why Sweezy makes sense for the Dolphins
Miami needs to address their offensive line this offseason, particularly the guard positions. Since the team drafted quarterback Ryan Tannehill in 2012, he has been the most sacked quarterback in the league. The Dolphins have a Pro Bowl left tackle in Branden Albert and a Pro Bowl center in Mike Pouncey, as well as 2014 first-round Draft pick Ja'Wuan James, at three of the offensive line positions, but were unable to find the right combination of Dallas Thomas, Billy Turner, and Jamil Douglas last season to fill the final two spots. This year, Miami is expected to look for two new starting guards, though they could address one spot and use the Thomas-Turner-Douglas trio to fill the other.
A seventh-round Draft pick in 2012 by the Seahawks, Sweezy appeared in 13 games with three starts in his rookie season, before taking over the starting spot in his second season, missing just two games over the last three years.
Why Sweezy does not make sense for the Dolphins
With the number of teams already expressing interest in him, Sweezy is expected to be in demand, and potentially receive a large contract, this offseason. He also has not necessarily been a dominant guard, and the fact that the Seahawks are not desperate to bring him back is not a good sign. If the contract needed to sign Sweezy is not that large, he could be added to Thomas-Turner-Douglas trio to compete for a starting job.