2020 Free Agency Preview: Part 1

As draft season continues to chug along. A positive medical check on one of the draft's top rated quarterbacks will get into Pro Football focuses list of their top one hundred free agents available ahead of next week's free agency opening, and we'll explore some philosophical advantages the Dolphins have with

the current makeup of this team. All of that and more on this Tuesday marks the tenth edition of the Drivetime Podcasts, and we start this show off by talking about the medical check on the number seven overall player on Daniel Jeremiah's Top fifty and the number three player on the Draft Networks Big Board overall. Former Alabama quarterback to a tongue of Voloa has been cleared for football activities per his four month check that occurred on Monday,

March the ninth. So what exactly does that mean for TOA as we are now just six weeks away from the NFL Draft. Well, it was that four month mark, the four month medical check since the surgery on the injured hip that cleared to UH to participate in light football related drills such as dropping back and throwing as

well as low impact running. This is a ramp up from the measured rehab they instituted since the injury occurred, and the quarterback prospect is still on track for the target date put out by Two's agents and those that represent him for an April ninth private pro day. Not locked in according to the source listed on NFL dot com,

but that's the plan for now. Tongue of Volohas doctor Dr Lyle Kane says, the rehab process is moving forward and will be conservative as it does so, but they do believe those close to to and his doctor believe that long term concerns do not seem to be an issue, as those issues were previously listed as long term stability of the hip, blood flow abnormalities, and other long and short term concerns. According to Dr Kane on the article on NFL dot Com as for pro days that are

happening and happening right now. Illinois hit the field on Monday for their workouts ahead of the NFL Draft, and the Illinois Pro Day had no players that were featured at the scouting combine in Indianapolis. But there is a particularly interesting player that we have talked about on this podcast in the past because of his connection and the kind words he had for new Dolphins linebackers coach Austin Clark.

Clark coach last season at Illinois and now works of course with the Dolphins, and he had some glowing praise from his former player in Ola Wally Bettakou Jr. Who, if you recall the article on Miami Dolphins dot Com from last week talking about the coaching staff versatility Betta who listed Clark as one of the primary reasons for him getting his career turned around, going from a five star recruit to usc to not playing a whole lot,

then transferring over to Illinois, and he mentions Clark's attention to detail and his ability to teach to get the production out of Betaku, who had a major jump in production last year at Illinois under Lovey Smith and under coach Clark. Bettaku worked out on Monday at the Illinois Pro Day. He measured six ft three two nine pounds. He ran an explosive one point five nine ten yards split. He had a nine seven broad jump thirty two inches on the vertical and a four point to six second

short shuttle seven three three on the three cone. So really explosive jumping and short area metrics for a guy that size, the explosiveness and the size and power at that position to play kind of that hybrid outside linebacker slash defensive end and edge position in today's NFL. And Bettacu had that three year development in college with limited production there at USC to going to nine sacks and thirteen tap us for a lost last season under coach Clark.

And to call back the idea of development and finding players that have the right mentality for this game, I want to go back to a interview I had at the scouting combine with Florida State running back Cam Acres, who was asked a question at that combine availability about his contact with Miami, and Acres said that he has had a lot of contact with the Dolphins, as they will with a bunch of backs in the steep class, but they're keeping tabs on the local product in their backyard.

But the sound bite I want to play for you is in regards to another question that was asked to cam Akers, asked by me as a matter of fact, about Florida's state and their typical expectations heading into a football season or for Acres case, an entire career where the Seminars win loss record was not up to the expectation the f s U fans normally expect from a program that has such a rich tradition and history of

winning football games. Here's acres answer on that question came with the Florida state not only living up to the expectations you guys normally expect, were able to take away from some of the adversity you went through this last season, Like you know, I'm making a mistakes. So whatever situation you put in making work and make it work. You gotta be the best you and whatever situation you and you gotta be a leader, Steer, you gotta be a

young man. You gotta be the young made one. And that's what we bring this up from a mock draft that had cam Akers to Miami in the second round and you hear Acres talk about the ability to overcome the adversity and to be the same guy every single day regardless of your results, regardless of the success or failures of the team, And that mentality really shows up on tape when you do watch Acres, because he runs hard.

He commits to every single assignment, whether it's involvement in the running game or involvement as a blocker in past protection, catching the football. He does everything in a hundred miles an hour, and his love for the game shows up on tape. I think you heard it and that answer, and you definitely can see it when you plug on

his tape in college. And we will be talking plenty of draft on this podcast from now all the way up through April and giving you guys full on player profiles of the guys that Dolphins do in fact select on Draft night, and when it comes to free agency, will definitely have you covered on the players the Dolphins

import during that period of the NFL calendar. And with that mind, I wanted to give a quick glance over at the Pro football focus dot com list of top one hundred available free agents this year heading into next week's new league calendar. Year. March sixteenth is the legal tampering date, and then March eighteenth as your official kickoff for the new league year and the actual free agency date when players can sign with new teams. We start here at number one hundred on Pro Football Focuses list

of top one hundred three agents. We're gonna go all the way through eighty today. Get you twenty players on this list. DJ Swearing Jr. Senior who has really been around the block in his NFL career so far, which spans seven seasons. He was draft pick of the Houston Texans, spent last year with the New Orleans Saints, and Swearing Jeer has always had a reputation as a missile, a big hitter, a guy that can deliver the blow down the box, and that's exactly where the Saints had him

playing last year. Two hundred and three run defense snaps. He did play two hundred and sixty one coverage snaps. He rushed the quarterback twenty times out of his total four hundred and eighty four snaps. His best grade on Pro Football Focus was the run defense at seventy two point eight, that is well above league average for that position.

The number ninety nine player on their Top one hundred free agents list is Will Parks, the cornerback from Denver, a six ft one, one ninety four pound product out of Arizona two thousand, sixteen sixth round draft pick, and Parks played quite a bit of defense last year five hundred and thirty seven total snaps, three sixty seven of those in coverage one and run defense, so more of a sub package cornerback there for the Broncos last season,

and his best statistic last season was his tackling. He did not miss a tackle after Week four in a game against the Jaguars, went twelve consecutive games without missing a tackle last year for the Broncos defense. Number on Pro Football Focuses Top one hundred free agent list j v On Elliott from the Carolina Panthers, staying in the secondary. Another twenty sixteen draft class product of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

He a little bit smaller than Parks five eleven, one seventy six and in four hundred and thirty nine snaps for the Panthers defense, he played consistent across the board. Had green grades across the board for Pro Football Focus overall, run defense, pass rush, and coverage, and those green marks mean you're playing above your position average, according to Pro Football Focus, and three hundred and seventy seven of those four hundred and thirty nine snaps came from the slot

last year for Elliott. Number ninety seven is Danny Trevathan, the linebacker formerly of the Denver Broncos and most recently with the Chicago Bears. He was a twenty twelve draft pick of the Broncos in the sixth round. He's six ft one to thirty nine, smart player, instinctive player, and really gave the Bears some good production in the pass

rush department. Played five hundred and fifty nine snaps. Only forty three of those were as a pass rusher, but his seventy seven point three grade on Pro Football Focus puts him well into the green as he wound up with ten total quarterback pressures on forty three pass rush snaps. He also made thirty one run stops and those were stops within two yards of the line scrimmage on two

hundred and nine rundown defensive plays. He only played ten games last year missed the rest of the season with an injury, but he was productive when he was out there. For the Bears defense. Number on the list is the Rams center Austin Blythe who played nine nine snaps last year for the Rams and allowed two sacks and two hits, so just four total hits on his quarterback Jared Goff.

He allowed three penalties, so a pretty clean season for blythe across pressure and penalty statistics accordingly, and if you go back to eighteen, he allowed just one sack and had two penalties for the Rams, playing hundred and nine snaps, so a pretty dependable guy that plays every snap for the Rams at center the last couple of years. He was a seventh round draft pick in sixteen, so he developed into a nice player along those four years up.

Next number on the list is Broncos defensive lineman Derek Wolf. He was a second round draft pick back in twelve. He did get an extension with the Broncos, but he now again will come to the end of a second contract with the Broncos. He played five hundred and twenty three snap up last year for Denver, had twenty two total pressures, twenty two run stops, and twenty two solo tackles.

That seems to be his number. He did have seven sacks last year, so he's a very impactful rusher and that's kind of been his m O throughout his career. Did have a ten sacks season back in fifteen, had eight sacks a couple of years ago, in missed some time in seventeen eighteen, his sack total dipped, but he's a consistent pass rusher who post grades in the green and even in the blue across Pro Football Focus, which is the lead level of player grades on Pro Football Focus.

So Derek Wolfe had to hit free agency after a nice career there in Denver. Number nine on the list is Jonathan Joseph, the cornerback from the Houston Texans. He was drafted back in two thousand six, so he's been in the game for a minute. Very good player, very good career for Jonathan Joseph. He goes five ft eleven, one hundred and eighty six pounds and he can still run.

He can still move and get down the field. Played all sixteen games once again this past season and allowed a completion percentage of sixty one point five percent when

targeted in coverage. Number three on the list is former Titans receiver Taj Sharp, who had twenty five catches last year for three nine yards and four touchdowns, didn't drop a pass, also had one seven quarterback rating when passing to Taj Sharp did the Titans offense so an effective efficient producer in that regard, and he had his best season as a pro in terms of his Pro Football Focus grades, checking off Green across the board in three categories.

The number ninety two player on the Pro Football Focus free agent list is Kenyan Drake, a named Dolphins fans are very familiar with. He averaged four point eight yards per carry last year and scored eight touchdowns on the season. Up next number one on the list former Colts receiver Devon Funcius, who was drafted by the Panthers back in a second round draft pick. There didn't play a whole lot last year five targets, three catches, but he is a massive, massive frame with a huge catch radius who

also serves as a nice red zone target. He scored twenty two touchdowns through his first four years with the Carolina Panthers. Number ninety would go back to the defensive secondary in cornerback Eric Murray, who was a fourth round draft pick of the Chiefs back in sixteen, and he checked in with a stellar run grade of seventy eight point four on running down snaps, playing one and forty one snaps against the run last season with thirt team stops.

He also had five pressures on twenty two pass rush reps and also has an extensive history playing special teams, whether it's kick coverage, kick return, punt return, or punt coverage throughout the course of his career. Number eighty nine on Pro Football Focus is top one hundred free agents is running back Jordan Howard, who was a fifth round pick of the Chicago Bears. Back in six six ft two hundred and twenty four pounds real bruising, zone style runner.

He had five hundred and twenty five rushing yards last season and six touchdowns on four point four yards per carry. Made some nice big runs as a product of forcing miss tackles. He forced twenty miss tackles and average two point nine three yards after contact per attempt a very good number there, and had seventeen explosive runs of seventeen or more yards. Number eighty eight takes us back to the offensive line and the guys that blocked for the

running backs. Darryl Williams, a former Carolina Panther, a fourth round draft choice, and he played all across that Carolina offensive line last season. He gave the Panthers one hundred and seventy three snaps at left tackle, forty five at right tackle. He played four hundred and twelve snaps at left guard and two hundred and eighteen at right guard, so he can play four possessions on your offensive line,

as he did for the Panthers last season. Number eighty seven on the list is j Ron Curse of the Minnesota Vikings. He is a big safety that goes six ft four two hundred and fifteen pounds out of Clemson. Was a seventh round draft pick in sixteen and has mostly been a special teamer throughout this point of his career.

He played all across special teams, covering kicks and punts return teams, as well played some slot corner last year a hundred and eight snaps there also gave the Vikings eighty six snaps as a free safety, so a bit of a jack of all trades there as a sub package safety and special teamer for the Minnesota Vikings. Traymont Williams comes in next as the number eighty six player. He's a cornerback who's been around the block as well.

Drafted back in two thousand six by the Houston Texans five eleven one pounds, and Williams has always been an instinctive, savvy cornerback that can play multiple spots. He can kick inside,

he can play out wide. Had a great coverage grade last year on Pro Football Focus eighty two point two overall and coverage played seven hundred and sixty one snaps, five hundred and four of those coming in the slot, and he has a career passer rating against of eighties six point five, well below the current league average in today's National Football League. Number eighty five is former Cowboys

defensive lineman Malik Collins. He came out of Nebraska back in sixteen, a third round draft choice of the Dallas Cowboys. Back in seen. He had a lot of pressures this year on opposing quarterbacks. He had thirty six hurries this past season. He also picked up eight hits and four sacks, so forty eight total pressures on four hundred and ninety two pass rush snaps. A productive year for the Cowboys

defensive lineman. We'll see if he hits free agency next week on March eighteenth and number eighty four on the list is safety Tavon Wilson from the Lions. He was drafted by the Patriots back in twelve, a second round draft pick there, and he definitely checks the versatility box. Had eight hundred and forty snaps last season. He played four hundred and forty nine of those down in the

box as a run supporter and potential pass rusher. One fifty seven of those came as a free safety, seven in the slot, so he plays a little bit of

everywhere on that line's defense under Matt Patricia. You look at his grades and his production on Pro Football Focus, he really limited the amount of yardage on receptions, allowing just nine point one yards per catch last year for the Lions, and you go back over the course of his career, there is a lot of green and blue marks in terms of his PF grades over the course of an eight year NFL career, staying in the secondary.

For player number eighty three on the Pro Football Focus Top one hundred free agents list is dark wees Denard first round selection of the Cincinnati Bengals. He played four hundred ninety five snaps last year and he posted some impressive advanced metrics on PFF fifty four point five completion percentage, nine point seven yards per catch, just one touchdown allowed, and a seventy nine point six NFL passer rating against him.

He also has some nice run stop numbers, with sixteen last year, twenty three the year prior, and twenty nine run stops in two names left for today's list. Number eighty two Michael Brockers was drafted by the Rams on

the defensive line back in two thousand twelve. He picked up four sacks this year and had forty five solo tackles, which was fourth among defensive interior lineman played seven hundred and sixty six snaps for the Rams, a big workload on the interior defensive line, Brocker's has a nice combination

of size, thickness, and athleticism. He's six ft five three oh five quick off the football, and he had thirty six total pressures last season, four sacks, seven hits, twenty five hurries, and he finished up with an eighty two point six run defense grade in the middle of that Rams defense. We finished off this list with number eighty one. Connor McGovern the here your offensive lineman of the Denver

Broncos plays a lot of center for them. He can't play guard as well, although all one thousand, twenty eight snaps for him last season came at the center position. He allowed just one sack all season, three hits on his quarterback, and zero penalties, So a very clean player, and that led to an eighty two point five pass

blocking grade on Pro Football Focus. So those are players number one hundred through eight one, DJ Swareinger, Will Parks, J v and Elliott, Danny Trevathan, Austin Blythe, Derek Wolf, Jonathan Joseph, taj Sharp, Kenyan, Drake, Devin Funcis, Eric Murray, Jordan Howard, Darryl Williams, j Ron Curse, Tremon Williams, MALIEK Collins, Tavon Wilson, Dark Weise, Dennard, Michael Brocker's and Connor McGovern.

And we will get into players sixty one through eighty on tomorrow's podcast, and we're gonna see what free agency brings for this team. But again to hearken back to the same idea, the same theme that I've been trumpeting all along, the Dolphins just have this ultimate flexibility and how they can want approach this offseason in the draft and free agency and otherwise they currently have such a low dollar amount invested in their core players and don't

get it twisted. That particular aspect of the roster is why so many national pundits were out there clamoring for Brian Flores to get recognition for Coach of the Year and the Dolphins and the record setting number of players to take a snap last season was all about consistently searching for guys out there that can make an impact on this team and stick as part of that core group.

So you can look at this roster and identify up to thirty, maybe even thirty five core players that provide the Dolphins with a variety of player types, whether it's blue chippers, plus level starters, rotational sub package contributors, special teams aces, they have depth. All of those components are important.

So when you think about twenty five or thirty of those guys, with the resources of Dolphins have this offseason, in addition to yet another off season program of development, finding another several diamonds in the rough, you on low risk free agent buys like Eric Rowe prove that type of deals for guys like Devonte Parker, the undrafted free

agents like Preston Williams, Nick need Hum, Jonathan Ledbetter. You just have to be excited about the prospect of this fifty three man roster really rounding into form this season. And the best part is the singular vision by which this team can be built really bodes well for the Dolphins in the future. It's all gonna be built under the same umbrella, under Brian Flora's and Chris Career's vision. It's not mixed matching parts from a previous regime to

a new regime. It's not finding that proverbial matching part to repair the car. It's building the car from scratch, from the ground up, using the same mechanic. And that process is already well underway, as finding and uncovering all those core parts of the roster made year one under Flora's a smashing success, and the Dolphins are certainly in a position to go out and add a whole bunch of horsepower this offseason to that car with those premium

picks and with that free agency allowance. But they can also a craft a team according to its current parts. For instance, they can invest in their own investments, and what I mean by that is putting more experience and more production around guys that you have a vested interest in recent draft picks, who you want to accelerate their learning curve. Maybe you give them a position mate that can free up certain players to get the most out

of their abilities. You go back to the early two thousands Dolphins a good example of this, when they had those premier lockdown corners and Sam Madison and Pat Surtan. You go out and find a safety like Brock Marion who can come down and be free to play the box, to pick his gaps, to pull his trigger, and make plays. Accordingly, the old adage goes, a rising tide lifts all boats, and I think that certainly applies here to this Dolphins

football team. And we are just one week away from the madness kicking off, well in actuality eight days away. But it is getting here, a new league year season about to begin the off season, the building process of this team. I can't wait. But as for today, that is going to be my time. You all please be sure to subscribe to the podcast on Apple, podcast, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Play, wherever you get your podcast from. Go ahead and leave us a rating, leave us a review. Follow

me on Twitter at Wingfield, NFL. Follow the Dolphins at Miami Dolphins. Check out the Audible and the Fish Tank podcast, all three of us under the Miami Dolphins Official Podcast Network, and of course, Miami Dolphins dot com. Until next time, fins up.