Dolphins FA signings

white1 wrote:From Clemson too, I bet Wilkins is doing backflips!

rightchea wrote:I have a weird feeling that Miami might be trying to make this team better

MEGAN ARMSTRONG wrote:Former Dallas Cowboys cornerback Byron Jones has opted to sign with the Miami Dolphins in free agency, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport on Monday evening.

"This deal is large," Rapoport added. "Sounds like $17 [million] a year or more."

ESPN's Adam Schefter then reported that Jones' new contract will be for five years and $82.5 million with $57 million guaranteed. There will be $40 million paid out in the first two years.

The deal would become official once the new league year begins at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday.

ESPN's Josina Anderson had reported earlier Monday that the Dolphins, New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders and Philadelphia Eagles were among the teams that had "discussed interest" in Jones.

JEGnj wrote:I'm not liking it. We were supposed to draft and build a young team not sign FA Vets to cement us as an average franchise again.

JEGnj wrote:I'm not liking it. We were supposed to draft and build a young team not sign FA Vets to cement us as an average franchise again.

Matt Bowen wrote:On CB Byron Jones to #Dolphins...

MIA played man-coverage on 60.8% of opponent dropbacks in ‘19 (fourth most in the NFL).

That’s a fit with Jones. 6-foot-1 frame with high-end coverage traits + press-man ability.

rightchea wrote:per tweet

Matt Bowen wrote:On CB Byron Jones to #Dolphins...

MIA played man-coverage on 60.8% of opponent dropbacks in ‘19 (fourth most in the NFL).

That’s a fit with Jones. 6-foot-1 frame with high-end coverage traits + press-man ability.

This is why this signing makes total sense. Miami defense love to play man to man coverage and this man can handle his own.

JMP wrote:Phins sign Kyle Van Noy!!! Hell yeah!!! 4 years, $51 million.

This is a MAJOR piece for the defense...he is one of those guys that literally plays everywhere.

The Dolphins defense got a whole lot better today!

JMP wrote:WOW!!!!  Grier and company are making moves to make this team competitive right now!

Jones was the definition of "shutdown corner" last season...teams literally almost never threw at him.

This is a GREAT signing and a huge boost to the secondary.

There are only five instances in which any of these players earned above-average production in both yards per attempt and success rate during a single season -- and Byron Jones accounts for two of them. Ronald Darby and Johnathan Joseph each completed the feat in 2018, while cheap free agent Brian Poole did so in 2019. However, Jones is the only player of the four to be that productive over both seasons. Poole was awful with the Falcons in 2018 before a resurgence with the Jets in 2019. Darby, on the other hand, was a fantastic lockdown cornerback in 2018 before battling a slew of injuries through the 2019 season. Joseph just got old.

A handful of players, such as James Bradberry, scored above-average in one season and managed to be within the average range in their other season, but that's it. Nobody else among this year's free-agent cornerbacks showed top-notch play year-over-year -- at least by the numbers. Granted, this is only a two-year sample in order to represent their most recent play rather than their entire careers, but it still serves to highlight the inconsistency in coverage production from one year to the next.

Conversely, six players (Darby, Joseph, and Poole included) earned an above-average score in an area during one season, but came in below average in the other season. Six players did not earn above-average production in either area during either season. Two players (Rashaan Melvin and Jalen Mills) earned below-average production across the board for both seasons. The evidence for either inconsistent or uninspiring play is overwhelming compared to evidence that suggests any of these cornerbacks are consistently capable.

With questionable play from many of Jones' peers in this free-agency class, the former Cowboys corner is in a clear tier of his own. Not only is Jones the only free agent cornerback to post above-average success rates over each of the past two seasons, he is the only one to come in above-average in more than two of the four columns. Jones' blend of consistency and high-end production almost completely excludes him from the conversation about paying vs. drafting cornerbacks considering how sound a bet he is compared to the rest of the free-agent class. While Jones is likely to reset the cornerback market, it is rare to find a legit No. 1 cornerback with his production profile in free agency. Any team not strapped for cap space should feel good taking on the cost in exchange for the comfort to be able to allocate a first-round pick elsewhere. The real conversation about free agency vs. the draft begins once Jones is out of the picture.

white1 wrote:My confidence in our front office is soaring.

Now, about that QB position... you know there is a hell of a lot of uncertainty right now.  Brady is moving on (as of this morning) but no one knows where yet.  Brees is unsigned.  Bridgewater still out there.  Rivers still out there.  Will the Fins upgrade the veteran QB over Fitz, and still plan to draft a rookie while letting him sit a year or two?