Five under-the-radar players the Miami Dolphins should pursue in free agency

Some think the Miami Dolphins won the off-season in terms of coaching hires. Now they need to do the same in free agency.

With free agency right around the corner, the Miami Dolphins are going to be looking to make a big splash in the free agent market. The Dolphins are projected to have just over $60 million in cap space, which tops the NFL. That figure puts them just ahead of the L.A. Chargers ($57.5 million) and the Jacksonville Jaguars ($56.1 million). The disparity in cap space becomes even greater as you move down the list. According to Spotrac.com, the Dolphins have double the space of the Washington Commanders, who sit at 9th overall in the NFL.

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With great money comes great responsibility and for the Dolphins, that responsibility will include not whiffing in the free agent market. Last season, they brought in Will Fuller V on a $10.6 million contract, and he caught a total of four passes. While many fans are looking at flashy names in free agency, there are a handful of lesser-known names that the Dolphins should be in on. These are names that could make an impact right away, but also won't break the bank.

Five under-the-radar players the Miami Dolphins should aim for in free agency

#1 - Foyesade Oluokun (LB)

For years, the Dolphins have been weak in their linebackering unit. One of the biggest issues with the unit has been speed and athleticism. Foyesade Oluokun will resolve this issue right away. Oluokun is best suited to play middle linebacker. He might look to be on the smaller side for a linebacker, but his strength is off the charts. He also has speed to burn, which would help the Dolphins in their zone schemes protect the middle of the field.

Oluokun also isn't a slouch against the run. His power and speed allows for him to consistently hit the hole and make contact with the ball carrier. While Miami's current group of linebackers are solid, there is without question some room for improvement and Oluokun can certainly be an improvement.

Under-the-radar players the Miami Dolphins should aim for in free agency

#2 - Connor Williams (G)

The offensive line is likely the biggest issue facing the team heading into the 2022 season. In fact, the line struggled over the majority of Brian Flores' tenure with the Dolphins. According to PFF.com, the Dolphins' offensive line ranked 32nd in the league in 2021. They gave up the most QB pressures (235) and had the worst pass-blocking efficiency score in the league.

Connor Williams is coming off of a season in which he was ranked top-five amongst guards over the final third of the season. Williams' body of work this past season in Dallas proved that he is capable of playing in a system that runs multiple blocking schemes. This would benefit Miami and the unique offensive system that new coach Mike McDaniel is expected to install. With Robert Hunt being the highest rated guard on the offensive line, Williams would likely fit better at LG as opposed to RG.

#3 - Ben Jones (C)

Michael Deiter is likely the best option at center for the Dolphins heading into the 2022 season. Deiter ended the season with a rating of 60.6, the second-highest on the entire line. While some might scoff at focusing on an area in which there are three players ranked lower, it's foolish to give much credence to being second best in anything when the entire line was horrible last season.

Ben Jones had an up-and-down season with the Titans in 2021. While he shined in the passing game, he struggled at times in the run game. That being said, there were weeks in which he was amongst the highest graded centers in the run game, and he just needs to do that more consistently. Jones will be 33 this summer, which might be a deterrent for some, but the Dolphins are in no position to be turning away talent when it comes to this unit. More importantly, Jones is available, and he has played over 1,000 snaps in all of his pro seasons but one.

Under-the-radar players the Miami Dolphins should aim for in free agency

#4 - Braxton Berrios (WR)

There are a lot of potential unknowns amongst the receiving core in Miami. It's clear that Jaylen Waddle will be one of the primary focuses in 2022. After Waddle, DeVante Parker has been a solid contributor when healthy, but he has struggled mightily to stay healthy. Outside of those two, there are a lot of question marks and potential.

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Braxton Berrios is someone that would impact the offense in a variety of facets. Berrios is a skilled return man, an area that Miami struggled to fill after trading away Jakeem Grant. Berrios caught 46 passes in 2021 for 431 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Over his career, he has averaged 10 yards per reception. Berrios has good hands and would be a solid option in the slot and underneath, two places Tua Tagovailoa prefers to throw to. It might also benefit Berrios to have a guy like Wes Wekler coaching his unit.

#5 - Dalton Schultz (TE)

Dolphins fans love Mike Gesicki, there is no denying that. There is also no denying that Gesicki cannot block. Don't get it twisted, it's not that he struggles at times to block, he struggles all the time to block. As a result, the Dolphins generally telegraph their offense just by having him on the field. With Miami likely looking to bolster their run game and pass protection in 2022, keeping Gesicki might be more of a liability for the direction they are heading in.

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But fear not, because Dalton Schultz could be on the way. Schultz is coming off an above-average season in Dallas. PFF.com ranked Schultz as a top-10 TE in 2021 (8th overall), and he was third in the NFL in receptions amongst TE's with 78. Schultz also ranked in the top third of all TE's in blocking in 2021. While Schultz might not have the athleticism of Gesicki (he was a former volleyball afterall), he more than makes up for it with his passing ability. Adding Schultz to the offense would be the optimal way to either replace Gesicki, or compliment him should Miami decide to go with two offensive weapons at TE.