Miami Dolphins free agency 2017: How do you grade day one?

The first day of the NFL’s free agency signing period has come and gone, with moves all around the league as contracts fly into the league offices. The Miami Dolphins were busy on the day, with some re-signings, some trades, and some free agent additions. How did they do on day one? We let you make the grade.

Starting on March 8, the Dolphins began re-signing some of their own. The team placed four tenders on exclusive rights free agents, locking up Thomas Duarte, Mike Hull, Lafayette Pitts, and Anthony Steen. They then re-signed defensive end Andre Branch (though that move has not yet been officially announced, meaning ink has not hit paper yet). That night, word broke that the team had also re-signed wide receiver Kenny Stills, who it is widely believed took less money to stay in Miami rather than move to a new team for a higher salary (and this deal has been officially announced by the team).

Thursday started with the last few roster moves before free agency began at 4pm, including placing a restricted free agent tender on Michael Thomas, Kiko Alonso, and Damien Williams, as well as restructuring the contract of Nick Williams. The Dolphins also announced, right as free agency began, that they had signed a contract extension with safety Reshad Jones, who was scheduled to enter the final year of his contract in 2017.

The 4pm start of the new league years, besides allowing free agency to begin, also allowed trades to be executed, with the Dolphins completing two trades with the Jacksonville Jaguars. One trade sent Branden Albert to the Jaguars for a 2018 seventh-round pick, while the other trade brought Julius Thomas out of Duval County and down to South Florida in exchange for a 2017 seventh-round pick.

In free agency itself, the team added tight end Anthony Fasano, bringing back the veteran who played for Miami from 2008 through 2012. The Dolphins were also expected (though not yet announced) to sign former Chicago Bears guard Ted Larsen.

Tight end Dion Sims, who was Miami’s 2013 fourth-round pick and played four years with the club, is expected to join the Chicago Bears, so there is one player Miami is losing this year.

The team also scheduled meetings with free agents Lawrence Timmons and Nate Allen. They are also hoping to get a meeting with Zach Brown scheduled.

The Dolphins completed a visit on Thursday with Jabaal Sheard, with the team officially announcing the visit. No contract was signed, though that does not mean one will not be completed in the future.

Finally, we will throw in the over-night trade that Miami completed, even though it technically fell on March 10. The Dolphins around 1am completed a trade that would send a sixth-round draft pick to the Los Angeles Rams for defensive end William Hayes and a seventh-round pick.

Lots of things happening in the last 24-plus hours. Were they good moves? Is there still something to be desired from the first day of free agency? Let us know in the comments and vote in the poll to give Miami a first-day grade.