Free agent CB Smith wants $8-10M per season

Free agent CB Sean Smith is expected to seek $8-10 million annually on the open market.

Smith and his agent anticipate a deal somewhere between Brandon Carr (five years, $50 million) and Jason McCourty (five years, $43 million). Per the Miami Herald, the Dolphins don't believe Smith is worth that much and for good reason. Although very physically gifted and only 25, Smith struggles versus smaller, quicker receivers, and Pro Football Focus charted him with more combined first downs and touchdowns allowed than any NFL cornerback in 2012.

Cornerback was already high on the list, but with Sean Smith wanting that type of money, I expect him to be gone.

Sean has the potential to be a special player, but so far Miami has only seen little previews of that. He is quite simply not worth that type of money.

Right now, cornerback has become one of THE priority positions to be addressed in the draft or free agency.

this is why i would give away Odrick for a 2nd or high 3rd. Grab 2 corners in the top 90 picks. This draft is strong at corner in the top 120 picks.

this is why i would give away Odrick for a 2nd or high 3rd. Grab 2 corners in the top 90 picks. This draft is strong at corner in the top 120 picks.

Miami lacked foresight in trading Davis. I was afraid of when they made that trade it would not only weaken the sec, but also put Miami over a barrel with Smith..

Smith's agent know this.

Miami has (2) 2nd round picks and (2) 3rd round picks. There is no need to weaken the defense by trading away a talented DE/DT that you still have right to at a relatively cheap cost.

So trade a former 1st who is performing for a 2nd or a 3rd? Not something I would do.

Odrick is nothing special. We;d hardly notice his abscence.

sure there is. that would give us 6 picks in the first 3 rounds,....for WR, OT, CB, DE, CB and TE
we need picks!!!

Well if he is nothing special, then why would a team pay his contract & give up a 2nd or a high 3rd for him?

Antoine Cason and Cary Williams are 2 free agent corners we should make a go at.

Antoine Cason and Cary Williams are 2 free agent corners we should make a go at.

Cary Williams is a bit of a hothead. But then again, we need a guy like that on defense.

Jason Cole

Dolphins CB Sean Smith could be gone

With a month to go before NFL free agency, there isn't a lot of serious talk yet, but one name getting some play already is Miami CB Sean Smith. Two NFL execs said they expect at least a half-dozen teams to pursue Smith and figure his average salary will surpass $8 mill per, which could take him out of range for Miami despite its large pool of cap space. The price could get to $10 mill per, along the lines of Dallas CB Brandon Flowers and St. Louis CB Cortland Finnegan last year in free agency. Smith isn't a great ballhawk (5 INT in four years), but he's a big corner (6-foot-3) and works effectively in press coverage.

By Omar Kelly Sun Sentinel

7:53 a.m. EST, February 13, 2013

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RT@oose90: If Sean Smith doesn't return what do the Dolphins do at cornerback?» Probably draft one, and I'm told there will be good, cheaper cornerbacks on the market once this round of salary cap cuts takes place.

MY TAKE: Everyone knows I'm a Sean Smith fan, but re-signing this former second-round pick isn't a major priority in my opinion. And placing the franchise tag on him isn't an option.

The price for veteran starting cornerbacks in the NFL is roughly $6 million a season, and considering Smith has been the biggest bargain on the team for four seasons look for him to chase the money. Even though Smith's performance for the Dolphins hasn't been steady there will likely be a market for him because of his measurables (6-foot-3), experience (four year starter) and durability (has never missed a game).

If you look at Kevin Coyle's history in Cincinnati he's used draftees and stopgap players to build respectable Bengals secondaries, and I'm guessing that will be Miami's approach because they don't seem eager to re-sign Smith before free agency starts.

Cary Williams, Keenan Lewis, Aqib Talib, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Derek Cox, Leodis McKevlin, Tony Carter, Mike Jenkins and Tracy Porter are the young (under 30), promising cornerbacks competing with Smith for their share of the free agent market. There are also a couple former Pro Bowlers, players like Carolina's Chris Gamble and Philadelphia's Nnamdi Asomugha, who will likely get released because of their bloated salaries.

No matter what route Miami goes they will have options at cornerbacks if Smith leaves. Richard Marshall, Nolan Carroll and Dimitri Patterson as the top three returners at the position and it would be wise to get younger and cheaper in the backend. The 2013 draft features 11 cornerbacks who are viewed as theis draft's top 100 prospects. Selecting one early (the first three rounds) would give the coaches someone young to develop, which is needed.

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Dolphins CB Richard Marshall says his surgically repaired back has healed enough that he could play in a game today.
The Fins may hold Marshall out of early-offseason workouts as a precaution, but it sounds like he's pretty close to 100 percent. Marshall is currently the top corner on Miami's roster signed for 2013, as Sean Smith is a free agent. Expect Marshall to open the season as a starter barring something unforeseen.

Marshall is currently the top corner on Miami's roster signed for 2013, as Sean Smith is a free agent. Expect Marshall to open the season as a starter barring something unforeseen.

I hope we do not over pay to keep him.

Tell me that isn't a depressing thought. Something tells me the Dolphins add another cornerback in free agency and drafts one.

Tell me that isn't a depressing thought. Something tells me the Dolphins add another cornerback in free agency and drafts one.

If we end up spending two top picks to replace Smith and effectively, Vontae Davis, then I think you get another fine illustration of how awful Miami is at evaluating, acquiring and grooming talent.

If we end up spending two top picks to replace Smith and effectively, Vontae Davis, then I think you get another fine illustration of how awful Miami is at evaluating, acquiring and grooming talent.