If the Miami Dolphins want to contend for a Super Bowl in 2024, they will need to make significant improvements in the offensive line’s interior.
Last year’s starting right guard Robert Hunt, Week 1 center Connor Williams, part-time left guard Isaiah Wynn, backup guard Robert Jones, and depth center Jonotthan Harrison are all set to hit free agency in March — as is swing tackle Kendall Lamm on the outside — and Miami doesn’t have the cap space to re-sign all of them.
With that in mind, Bleacher Report analyst Kristopher Knox proposed a novel proposal dubbed the Dolphins’ “dream offseason trade scenario” that targeted veteran left guard Laken Tomlinson. The only difficulty was that it required collaboration with a bitter AFC East opponent, the New York Jets.
“While the Dolphins may—and probably should—address the line with the 21st pick in the draft, they’re not going to fill every hole in April,” Knox said. “Unfortunately, the free-agent class isn’t exactly stacked with premium linemen.”
The NFL writer cited several factors, including Tomlinson’s potential cap casualty in 2024, his incredible durability (he hasn’t missed a single game in the last five seasons), and the fact that Tomlinson and Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel previously worked together in San Francisco. In other words, the Jets’ LG is a proven scheme fit.
There are two obstacles to this fantasy scenario: Tomlinson’s 2024 cap figure and the Jets’ willingness to trade to a division foe.
Why may the Jets trade Laken Tomlinson to the Dolphins, and how much would he cost Miami?
“Releasing or trading the 32-year-old would save the Jets $8.14 million in cap space,” Knox stated in his explanation. That is one reason New York may be prepared to trade with Miami, but it is far from the only one.
First and foremost, Jets head coach Robert Saleh is close friends with McDaniel from their time with the 49ers. Both head coaches have already spoken publicly about their friendship, and as long as they lead their respective organizations, there is likely to be less antagonism between them than usual.
Aside from durability, Tomlinson has not met expectations with the Jets after earning a $40 million contract in 2022. According to Pro Football Focus, the veteran blocker has struggled in the run game since joining Gang Green, and his pass protection will suffer in 2023.
The Jets used the same San Francisco scheme that McDaniel introduced to Miami when Saleh took over in 2021, but his first offensive coordinator, Mike McDaniel, was fired following the 2022 season. Tomlinson is now playing for a new offensive coordinator, Nathaniel Hackett, and an offensive line coach, Keith Carter, and the results have not been good.
If the Jets can salvage a “Day 3 pick” for Tomlinson rather than releasing him, as Knox eventually proposes in his essay, there may be a middle ground that benefits both division rivals.
Knox went on to say that “while Tomlinson’s $12.6 million base salary would be problematic for a Dolphins team facing a $51.2 million cap deficit, it’s likely less than what Miami would have to pay a starting-caliber guard on the open market.”
It would also make sense to extend Tomlinson after trading for him, essentially deferring his $18.88 million cap cost until 2024.
Dolphins LT Terron Armstead is expected to return for the 2024 season.
On February 21, there was one piece of positive news for the Dolphins: left tackle Terron Armstead does not plan to retire in 2024.
According to Miami Herald insider Barry Jackson, “the full expectation is that Miami’s Terron Armstead will play next season.”
“I was re-assured yesterday,” Jackson said, adding that “the classy Armstead had left his future in doubt in [January] remarks” along with the fact that “his salary — already partially guaranteed — becomes fully guaranteed [on] March 16.”
Tua Tagovailoa, the Dolphins quarterback, has his left tackle back in 2024.
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