The NFL league year has moved to 2023 and brought with it the official start to the free agency period. Throughout the negotiating - or “legal tampering” - period, teams all around the league worked on contracts with players who were scheduled to become free agents. Now that the signing period has officially arrived, those reported deals can become official. The Miami Dolphins were busy over the last three days, and we should start hearing those moves get announced, as well as other moves begin to be made.
Miami started the moves on Sunday, before the tampering period started, with a trade for All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey, acquiring him from the Los Angeles Rams for a third-round pick and tight end Hunter Long. Once the negotiating period began on Monday, running through to Wednesday’s 4 p.m. ET start to free agency, the Dolphins also agreed to terms with quarterback Mike White from the New York Jets and linebacker David Long, Jr., from the Tennessee Titans on free agent deals. Miami also re-signed several of their own potential free agents.
We are continuing to keep you up to date on all of the Dolphins’ moves throughout free agency right here. Everything we know, or think we know, is included below. The main articles are on the front page of the site, but you can catch up with anything you may have missed below.
Will free agency set up the Dolphins for a second-straight playoff run in 2023? Will it impact the team’s odds to win the Super Bowl? According to DraftKings Sportsbook, the Dolphins are currently 10th in terms of odds to win the Super Bowl, sitting at +2500 (bet $100 to win $2,500). Their odds have continued to improve throughout the offseason. In January, they were listed at +4000, then in February they were at +3000. How will Ramsey and the rest of the offseaon moves Miami will make over the next couple of weeks shake up the odds?
For the AFC East, the Dolphins are third at +360. The Buffalo Bills are the favorites at +120, while the New York Jets are second at +225 - with the rumor that the team is set to acquire quarterback Aaron Rodger fueling their improved odds for this year. The New England Patriots are fourth in the division at +800 to win the AFC East title. How will those odds change as free agency kicks off?
Update (1:15 p.m. ET, March 15): The Dolphins remain +2500 to win the Super Bowl, but the DraftKings Sportsbook odds in the AFC East have moved slightly over the course of the “legal tampering” period. The Bills are now +130, the Jets remain at +225, the Dolphins are now +350, and the Patriots remain at +800.
Update (12:45 p.m. ET, March 16): Miami’s Super Bowl odds are still +2500. The AFC East DraftKings Sportsbook odds have again shifted just a little. Buffalo is still on top but are now at +135, with the Jets second at +200, the Dolphins are at +360, and the Patriots remain at +800. The Aaron Rodgers effect continues to have bettors excited about the Jets and continues to have them inching toward the Bills atop the division - at least according to the odds.
(Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.)
Dolphins salary cap (Top 51) (as of 11:45 a.m. ET, 3/28/23)
- $2 million (according to OverTheCap.com)
- -$9.1 million (according to 3/24 report from NFLPA.com)
Dolphins rumors and signings
- RE-SIGN (3/24): Dolphins announced they have re-signed CB Justin Bethel
- RE-SIGN (3/21): Linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel is returning to the Dolphins
- SIGNING (3/18): Dolphins adding OLB Malik Reed according to his agent
- SIGNING (3/17): Dolphins announced they have re-signed fullback John Lovett
- SIGNING (3/17): Dolphins announced they signed punter Jake Bailey
- Visit (3/17): Dolphins hosting former Patriots punter Jake Bailey on free agent visit
- Rumor (3/17): According to Barry Jackson, the Dolphins are interested in former New York Jets offensive tackle George Fant
- Rumor (3/16): According to Barry Jackson, the Dolphins are active in the right tackle market, but no moves appear to be imminent. The team still believes in Austin Jackson, but likely will look for competition for him.
- SIGNING (3/16): Braxton Berrios signing one-year deal with Dolphins
- RE-SIGN (3/16): Dolphins bringing back Geron Christian at offensive tackle
- SIGNING (3/16): Dolphins add Dan Feeney to offensive line
- Rumor (3/16): Former Dolphins linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel visiting Patriots
- RE-SIGN (3/15): Miami is bringing back cornerback Nik Needham on a one-year contract
- OFFICIAL (3/15): The Dolphins have made official the release of cornerback Byron Jones and waiver claim of wide receiver Freddie Swain
Roster Moves | We have released CB Byron Jones and have been awarded WR Freddie Swain off waivers. pic.twitter.com/eHPoVPdHXO
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) March 15, 2023
- SIGNING (3/15): Dolphins add tight end Eric Saubert
- Waiver Claim (3/15): Dolphins claimed wide receiver Freddie Swain off waivers from Broncos
- RE-SIGN (3/15): Dolphins complete return of running backs group with re-sign of Myles Gaskin
- SIGNING (3/15): Dolphins adding safety DeShon Elliott as free agency officially begins
- RE-SIGN (3/15): Dolphins bringing back offensive lineman Kendall Lamm
- OFFICIAL (3/15): The Dolphins have made official the trade for cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
Roster Move | We have traded with the LA Rams for CB Jalen Ramsey in exchange for a 2023 third-round pick & TE Hunter Long. pic.twitter.com/OnvQNN7kFv
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) March 15, 2023
- AFC East signing (3/15): Dolphins fans may have been hoping for Jordan Poyer signing, but safety returning to Buffalo Bills
- Grades (3/15): Dolphins earn top marks from CBS Sports for early free agency moves
- RE-SIGN (3/14): Dolphins re-sign running back Jeff Wilson Jr. to a two-year deal
- RE-SIGN (3/14): Dolphins re-sign running back Raheem Mostert on a two-year contract
- Rumor (3/14): Dolphins interested in trading for Dalvin Cook, Derrick Henry or Austin Ekeler
- RE-SIGN (3/13): Dolphins keeping LB Duke Riley on two-year deal
- SIGNING (3/13): Dolphins signing linebacker David Long, Jr. to two-year deal
- SIGNING (3/13): Dolphins reportedly agree to terms with quarterback Mike White.
- TRADE (3/12): Dolphins and Los Angeles Rams have agreed to a trade sending Jalen Ramsey to Miami. The trade cannot be made official until 3/15 at 4 p.m. ET.
- RE-SIGN (3/10): The Dolphins re-signed running back Salvon Ahmed to a one-year contract. The deal is believed to be for $1.8 million.
- Restructure (3/10): Dolphins continue their cap-space saving restructures, this time adjusting wide receiver Tyreek Hill’s contract to save about $18 million in space.
- Restructure (3/10): Dolphins restructured offensive tackle Terron Armstead’s contract, saving about $11.9 million in cap space for this year.
- Restructure (3/9): Dolphins restructured linebacker Bradley Chubb’s contract, saving about $14.7 million in cap space for this year.
- Rumor (3/7): Dolphins will not pursue Lamar Jackson.
- Release (3/7): Tight end Cethan Carter was released, saving the team around $2.3 million in cap space.
- TENDER (3/7): Miami tendered cornerback Elijah Campbell. The exact tender level was not reported.
- Release (3/7): Dolphins set to release cornerback Byron Jones with a post-June 1 designation. The move will give the Dolphins an additional $13.6 million in cap space on June 2.
- Rumor (3/6): Running back Jeff Wilson wants to return to the Dolphins in 2023.
Dolphins free agents
Unrestricted free agents
-
Justin Bethel, corner- Re-signed - Teddy Bridgewater, quarterback
-
Cethan Carter, tight end(Released) -
Geron Christian, tackle- Re-signed -
River Cracraft, wide receiver- Re-signed -
Michael Deiter, guard- Signing with Texans - Sam Eguavoen, linebacker
- Clayton Fejedelem, safety
- Eric Fisher, tackle
- Trey Flowers, defensive end - Visiting Patriots
-
Myles Gaskin, running back- Re-signed -
Mike Gesicki, tight end- Signing with Patriots - John Jenkins, defensive tackle
- Byron Jones, cornerback (Released)
- Melvin Ingram, linebacker
- Greg Little, tackle
-
Thomas Morstead, punter- Signing with Jets -
Raheem Mostert, running back- Re-signed -
Nik Needham, corner- Re-signed -
Duke Riley, linebacker- Re-signed -
Elandon Roberts, linebacker- Signing with Steelers - Eric Rowe, safety
- Adam Shaheen, tight end
- Brandon Shell, tackle
-
Trent Sherfield, wide receiver- Signing with Bills -
Andrew Van Ginkel, linebacker- Visiting Patriots; Visiting Raiders - Re-signed -
Jeff Wilson Jr, running back- Re-signed
Restricted Free Agents
(If not tendered by Wednesday, they will become unrestricted free agents)
-
Salvon Ahmed, running back- Re-signed - Elijah Campbell, safety - Tendered
-
John Lovett, fullback- Re-signed