Miller Time

The Dolphins have a few key players headed to free agency. Lamar Miller is one that the Dolphins should offer a new contract to.

The NFL is a pass-centric league and teams typically put most of their chips on the quarterback. A running back that can run, block and catch like Miller should not be taken lightly by the Dolphins.

An excellent football site is Pro Football Focus. Players are rated with a grading system. Lamar Miller is ranked second, by a small margin, from being the top free agent running back.

Sort that free agent list by age, youngest to oldest, and Miller, 24, is the youngest player at any position with a top grade in free agency, 85.6. The highest free agent grade of 94 belongs to Von Miller and Olivier Vernon. If the Dolphins are truly intent on developing their own talent, Miller's a keeper.

Our nemesis in the division is looking for a running back, please Miami, don't disrespect Miller so that he comes back to haunt us twice a year as a Patriot!

Von vs. Dion

Super Bowl MVP Von Miller is a free agent, but there's no way he becomes a Dolphin. Denver will probably give him the franchise tag. However, the Dolphins may have their own version of a Von Miller-type player under contract.

That player is Dion Jordan, the top outside linebacker prospect in the 2013 draft. Naturally, Miami  him at defensive end!

Before you lose your cool about this comparison, look at the measurables from the combine. Yes, the combine results from these two is highly irrelevant at this point in time, but it's the best way to show their similarities.

Miller was the second pick of the 2011 draft, Jordan was the third pick of the 2013 draft.

Miller 6'-3" 246 lbs., Jordan 6'-6" 275 lbs.

40-yard dash - Miller 4.53s, (2nd best linebacker) Jordan 4.54s.

Vertical jump - Miller 37 in..(3rd best) Jordan 32.5 in.

Broad jump - Miller 10 ft. 6 in.(1st), Jordan 10 ft. 2 in.

On paper, it's intriguing. Jordan may have the skills, but we still don't know if Jordan will ever be an outside linebacker or play another down for the Dolphins.

Offensive Cap Crap

NFL free agency begins March 9. The Dolphins will be able to resign their own free agents after the Super Bowl.

In 2015, the Dolphins spent 38.78% of their cap on the offensive side of the ball.

8.31% was spent on four quarterbacks. Ryan Tannehill got 7.24%, Logan Thomas(0.41%), Zac Dysert(0.37%) and Tyler Murphy(0.28%).

With seven wide receivers, the Dolphins spent 6.94%. Greg Jennings gets the lion's share with 3.42%, followed by DeVante Parker with 1.54%. Jarvis Landry(0.59%), Kenny Stills(0.42%), Tony Lippett
(0.36%), Robert Herron(0.33%) and Damarr Aultman(0.28%).

On two centers, the Dolphins expended 6.64% of the cap. Mike Pouncey got 6.24% and Jamil Douglas got 0.41%.

The Dolphins' cap hit for two tight ends was 6.40%. To Jordan Cameron went 6.40% and to Dion Sims went 0.49%.

One left tackle, Brandon Albert, gets 6.31%.

Right tackle numbers two players knocking down 1.76%. Ja'Wuan James picked up 1.43% and Vinston Painter 0.33%.

Three guards cost the Dolphins 1.40%. Billy Turner(0.54%), Dallas Thomas(0.53%) and Anthony Steen(0.33%).

The Dolphins allot 1.02% to three running backs. Damien Williams(0.37%), Jay Ajayi(0.36%) and Jahwan Edwards(0.28%).

Pouncey is the fourth highest-paid center. For the guards, dead last in the NFL. Not far ahead are the running backs at third from the bottom. Even the highest-paid, Tannehill, is 21st.

Cap Crap

Free agency begins at the conclusion of the Super Bowl. Considering that's less than a week away, let's look at how the Dolphins have spent their cap. We'll focus first on defense.

The Dolphins spent 57.13% of their cap on defense.

Four defensive tackles take up a league high 20.96% of the cap. As you fans all know, Ndamukong Suh accounts for 17.79% of that. The other three are Earl Mitchell(2.18%), Jordan Phillips(0.62%) and DeAndre Coleman(0.37%).

At defensive end, the Dolphins spent 10.77% on four players. The bulk of that belongs to Cameron Wake(6.10%) and Dion Jordan(3.86%). The other two are Damontre Moore(0.44%) and Terence Fede(0.38%).

The five Cornerbacks costs the Dolphins 9.45% of the cap. Brent Grimes accounts for 5.91% of it. The others, Brice McCain(2.18%), Jamar Taylor(0.72%), Bobby McCain(0.36%) and Tyler Davis(0.28%).

The Dolphins spent  9.05% on their five outside linebackers. Quinton Coples leads the way with 4.82%, followed by Koa Misi at 3.03%. The others, Jelani Jenkins(0.49%), Chris McCain(0.37%) and Neville Hewitt(0.33%).

At strong safety, the Dolphins spent 5.38%. Reshad Jones has 5.10% of that and the rest goes to Dax Swanson(0.28%).

Three inside linebackers take up 1.08% of the cap with Terrell Manning, Zach Vigil and Mike Hull.

Walt Aikens is the only free safety and he counts 0.44% against the cap.

Suh, Wake, Jordan, Grimes, Coples and Jones are the most expensive players. These six account for 71.33% of the Dolphins defensive cap space. Suh and Jones are keepers, but questions abound about the Dolphins futures of the other four.