When Xavien Howard, a veteran cornerback and early offseason cut, hits free agency on June 1, the Miami Dolphins will have a significant amount of cap room available. Miami will have an extra $18.5 million to spend if they so want after Howard’s contract is cleared. And Bleacher Report analyst Matt Holder feels the team has to use part of it to bring in another edge rusher to provide Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips early season insurance.
Holder noted, “The Penn State product is widely considered a project that needs some time to develop, even though the Dolphins did use a first-round pick on Chop Robinson.” “Projected starters Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips are currently recovering from serious leg injuries they sustained towards the end of the 2023 season.”
The front office should sign a free agent such as Yannick Ngakoue or Carl Lawson, he continued, saying that they are “a veteran edge-rusher with a proven track record of success in case Chubb or Philips aren’t ready to go for Week 1.” Furthermore, Miami has fascinating buy-low potential with both recommendations. Despite starting his career with the Cincinnati Bengals, Lawson’s tenure with the division foe New York Jets is perhaps what Dolphins supporters remember him for. Lawson was given a $45 million contract by the Jets in 2021, primarily on the basis of his win-rate and potential. The pass rusher tore his Achilles during his first training camp with the team, so the deal fell through.
Following his Achilles injury, Lawson went on to record seven sacks and nine tackles for a loss in his second season with NYJ. Despite his strong comeback effort, Jermaine Johnson II, a first-round pick, finally replaced Lawson in the third season.Throughout his career, Lawson has frequently fallen short of expectations. Although he is a physically strong player with the appearance of a 20-sack defensive end, he has struggled with injuries and finishing plays ever since joining the team.
Heading into 2024, Lawson is fully healthy following a season of restricted use. while you combine that with the desire for vengeance while facing the Jets, the 28-year-old might be a valuable rotational addition in Miami.Throughout his career, Ngakoue has generated a lot more than Lawson. Since 2016, he has had three seasons with 10 or more tackles for a loss and four seasons with 9.5 sacks or more. Throughout the years, he has also proven to be far more resilient than Lawson, participating in 123 games throughout the regular season and six playoff contests.
Ironically, Ngakoue hasn’t received a contract offer comparable to Lawson’s agreement with the Jets. After being selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round of the draft, he has been a journeyman who has spent a considerable amount of time moving around the league without really settling in. Ngakoue, who presents himself as a kind of NFL pass-rushing mercenary, might be Miami’s ideal high-floor option in 2024. Lawson may have more potential if everything works out, but with Robinson, Phillips, and Chubb already in the lineup, the Dolphins may not need to add any more “ifs.”
Instead, it’s certainly possible that Ngakoue is the better team fit of the two.