MIAMI — Jordan Poyer is not positive Mike McDaniel even had time to learn his textual content.
After agreeing to phrases on a contract with the Miami Dolphins, the previous Buffalo Payments security despatched his new head coach a prolonged textual content message at roughly 6 within the morning.
Poyer’s cellphone rang nearly instantly.
Better of NFL Nation
• Rams serving to Stafford on offense in free company• Extra roar: How the Lions improved by means of FA• Is Marquise Brown the Chiefs’ subsequent 1K-yard WR?• Explaining Cowboys’ quiet free company• Raiders nonetheless on the lookout for extra QBs• Titans nonetheless have work to do in FA
“As quickly as I hit ship — I do not even assume he had an opportunity to learn my textual content,” Poyer stated. “I despatched him an extended textual content and I do not assume he had an opportunity to learn it. My cellphone began buzzing and it was him. I picked up the cellphone and we talked for a very good half-hour. His power is unmatched.
“You see it on the sphere once you cross [paths]. It is simply him, man. He is an important dude and an important coach. I’ve lots of respect for him.”
Poyer is considered one of 14 additions the Dolphins made through the first week of free company. His signing is a part of a reset on protection for the 2024 season. Miami parted methods with cornerback Xavien Howard and linebacker Jerome Baker, earlier than shedding defensive deal with Christian Wilkins, security Brandon Jones and linebacker Andrew van Ginkel to free company.
Common supervisor Chris Grier hasn’t made many splash strikes; Poyer, cornerback Kendall Fuller, linebacker Jordyn Brooks and tight finish Jonnu Smith headline Miami’s free agent class up to now. However Grier attacked the defensive deal with place notably laborious, signing Jonathan Harris, Benito Jones, Neville Gallimore and Daviyon Nixon.
It was a transparent place of want for Miami after shedding Wilkins, though none of its new signees is predicted to match the manufacturing that earned Wilkins a four-year, $110 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders.
“Clearly Christian Wilkins is a good participant and is a tough man to exchange regardless of who you herald,” Harris stated. “We simply have to determine the fellows we now have right here, and everybody must be an professional of their position, and we work out who our D-line is now with the folks we now have right here now.”
Whereas their wants on protection have largely been addressed, the Dolphins have others on offense.
They introduced again Isaiah Wynn (one-year deal) to reclaim his beginning job at left guard and signed Aaron Brewer (three-year deal) to grow to be their new beginning heart. However they’re going to nonetheless have to discover a new proper guard after Robert Hunt signed a four-year, $100 million contract with the Carolina Panthers.
Miami might additionally use a 3rd vast receiver behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Cedrick Wilson Jr. signed a two-year cope with the New Orleans Saints. And whereas Miami re-signed Braxton Berrios, his manufacturing will come totally on particular groups.
A 3rd vast receiver does not essentially imply a 3rd choice within the passing sport, nevertheless. That honor ought to go to tight finish Jonnu Smith, who’s coming off a career-best 582 receiving yards with the Atlanta Falcons in 2023. He ought to add a component the Dolphins missed final season. Durham Smythe was their third-leading receiver behind Hill and Waddle final season with simply 366 yards.
Editor’s Picks
2 Associated
Smith is trying ahead to the chance.
“That is going to create lots of area. These two pace guys, a number of the quickest guys within the NFL, if not the quickest,” he stated. “That is simply going to trigger a lot havoc to the protection. To have the ability to use these guys to my benefit, these guys are going to have the ability to open up area. And likewise, me as properly, simply including one other pass-catching ingredient to this offense and having the ability to get these guys open extra.
“We’re all going to make one another higher, all going to play off one another. And in the end, I am positive these guys are group guys. I am a group man. I feel it will simply be an important match.”
Miami has roughly $17 million of cap area, with Howard representing an $18 million cap financial savings as a post-June 1 lower. There’s area for Grier to proceed so as to add depth, whereas additionally discovering starting-caliber gamers at guard and vast receiver.
It should not be tough. Life in South Florida is a simple promote, as is life with McDaniel as your head coach.
“I have not had a lot of a private dialog with him but — however personally from what I’ve seen and heard and simply learn concerning the dude, he is received that juice about him,” Brewer stated. “He is simply very educated. He is obsessed with what he is doing. I simply love you can really feel it with out even realizing him. You are feeling that zeal about him, so I like that and that undoubtedly performed a job in me coming right here.”
