Fellow Phinfever fans. I know at the end of the day my idea will mean next to nothing, but I am dead serious with this request from anyone that wants to participate sending me the following information:

Send me your TOP free agent pick up suggestions for this upcoming off season and why you are selecting that person. Also, think ahead to the college draft and I figure there are names of people that we all follow and based on Miami's needs, make your suggestions here and why you pick that individual.

I am literally going to send a Fed Ex package to Jeff Ireland/Stephen Ross/Coach Philbin and give our opinion of talent they should look at and make no mistake, I KNOW this is a complete reach and we are no NFL scouts when it comes to the draft or gurus when it comes to understanding salary caps vs. needs in Free Agency, but I personally feel that sending SOMETHING from fan ideas just may get grazed over for some ideas on their part. They have a professional team of scouts that already do this and I know that is a given, but I still want to add more opinions and specifically from the fans point of view.

I believe the Executive Assistant or whomever may open this first will end up getting this to the three principles and I will take my chances that they will recognize that the fans do have some sort of an opinion and voice. It may not matter, but I don't care.

Besides, there are a core of fans in this forum that really have good knowledge of the Fins and the league and I will take some of you over the Miami area beat writer opinions any day.

Thanks in advance for anyone who will write me back your opinions as I am going to assemble this together as a "wish or suggestion list" from dedicated Dolphin fans. If you think what I am doing is a joke, no problem, but I am going to do this regardless, but again would love some of the true Dolphin fan opinion to help me forward.

I look forward to reading your thoughts and try and be somewhat descriptive on your picks.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miam ... 620.column

Part of what David Hyde suggests (see link that has been shared previously), I certainly agree with. Swerve wrote a nice set of core draft ideas. Please keep adding your thoughts back to me.

Just said it in another post and I know people will think its nuts but go balls out and sign both Wallace and Jennings to top contracts. Its the move this team needs to go from plodding to fast paced. Its not the typical Ireland approach and its the big risk this team needs to make.

This is Ireland's last dance. Go out in style and change your legacy here. Give your QB two targets that most other QBs would kill to have. If Tannehill is what we are being sold then two game changers who could feed off of each other would have this team playoff bound for the duration of their contracts and allow Miami to try and develop drafted guys to succeed them.

Man , I just am not a free agent guy I guess. They just seem to be nowhere of the impact player they were with their original team , especially when they come here. Wallace & Jennings really do nothing for me except use up a lot of cap space. I am not a big draftnik but there has to be some options at #12 while maybe signing other guys who can fill a need at the WR position & will not hurt so much in the wallet.

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GASE IS ON THE CASE!!! 2017 , 2018 , 2019 SB CHAMPIONS.

Because the TE position is so weak in April, (at least that's my personal opinion), that's my top priority in Free Agency. Personally I love Jared Cook.

I'd cut ties with Incognito and try to replace him in free agency if the opportunity presents itself. It's clear he just doesn't fit the blocking scheme, and quite honestly isn't even close to worth 5 million.

I'd make a run at Jennings/Wallace, but realistically Wallace is going to be way out of my price range. Being aggressive and making a splash doesn't mean spending 50 million on one player. As I've stated elsewhere, I'm going for Jennings IF he takes a contract appropriate with a 30 year old, (arguably) system WR (granted, a good one). 4 years, 25 million is my max for Jennings.

Defensively I'm not touching free agency except for depth, given how talented the draft class will be on that side of the ball. The one exception would be Ed Reed if he feels like playing a year back down in South Florida, but I don't see that being the case.

In the draft, I want a pass rusher at 12 BADLY. People complain about a lack of playmakers defensively, and while that's true, an impact rusher opposite Wake will open up things for the rest of the defense completely. All of a sudden your LB's have more rush lanes, you can play coverage while still getting at the QB, and your DB's can play that much more aggressively. Given the talent available in this year's draft, I just can't pass one up at 12.

Getting after the passer because of personnel rather than scheme is everything in this league.

After that I'm looking to making quality picks, not a quantity of them. Use your 4 picks in Day 2 to go get guys you have convictions about. Trade up for a WR (personally I like Terrance Williams a lot for this offense). I'd use that other round 2 pick on an OT (easier said than done obviously, but be aggressive. Go get the guy you want).

I'm prioritizing DE over CB, and weapons on the outside over protection up front.

Let Jake walk. Let Fasano walk. Bring back everybody else at the right price. Obviously depending on what happens to Smith, and how they feel about Richard Marshall could change my thoughts on CB. But overall, my goals are to get 1) Playmakers on the outside for Tannehill. 2) Improve the pass rush significantly. 3) Improve your pass protection.

But the thing to remember is that it's a long term process, not a "How to make the playoffs in 2013" plan. You can't get desperate. You can't feel like you HAVE to get the next guy or somebody because you didn't get Jennings, for example. Have a responsible plan, and stick to it.

I'm prioritizing DE over CB, and weapons on the outside over protection up front.

A good pass rush will make sorry DBs look good. Sign Wallace/Jennings and Cook/Keller. If a game changing DE is there at 12, take him. Then draft another WR thent OL, ol, ol and hopefully we can get a steal. Sprinkle in a DB, safety, and a late rd RB with talent and there, jeez, we need 3 drafts to fill our needs...lol

IMO Miami has to go Wallace. He is young & blazing speed. Miami lacks speed so badly at the WR position bringing in Bowe does not make since & he is a little of a headcase. Jennings is nice, but paying 10 million to a almost 30 yr old Wr with injury concerns just scares me.

Would love Cook, but really do not see Tenn letting him walk, even though they pay him little to no attention.

I think it might be more a matter of him not wanting to go back, then what Tennessee wants. He hasn't been happy there.

You're the man Finhead! I've seen you and I think you should personally deliver it. Intimidation goes a long way. LOL

I don't get all the Jared Cook love here. I mean he's OK, but not an impact player.
I'll take Tyler Eifert, Zach Ertz or Joseph Fauria anyday over Cook

It can be both, but you're correct, you can't just sign the next guy and over value him. Whomever "your guy" is you best be prepared to go all in and get him/them.

Bingo! I think the 3 of us have been on the same page with this idea all along. Wanna make your DB's look good??? Establish an elite pass rush. When we're on the clock in the 1st round come April, the best available players are gonna be names like Zeke Ansah, Sam Montgomery, Barkevius Mingo, Dion Jordan......this is the strength of this draft. Might as well go with that strength instead of reaching for a glaring need.

I am hoping for as many artificially inflated top ten quarterbacks as possible. Most years there are 2 or 3 surefire QB's picked in the top 10. Not the case this year. But the QB needy teams will overvalue guys like Barkley, Tyler Wilson and Mike Glennon. I wish all 3 of them along with Geno Smth would get drafted in the top 10 and knock down more elite prospects to us at number 12.

lol@Swerve,those lineman would throw me around like a rag doll!

Thanks so far for all the opinions as I already knew you guys would come out with good suggestions. I will let a few days go by and I will seriously assemble a list and put that into a nice format and what the heck, nothing to lose but deliver over to the Dolphins brain trust.

I do have a picture with Jeff Ireland and although I don't expect him to remember me, that picture may trigger at least my face from spending a good 20-30 minutes talking when he came to Houston.

Like I said, I know this doesn't mean anything but for my own edification as a die hard fan as you guys all are, I think our voice should at least be heard or in this case, read.

In the meantime, I look forward to reading more ideas.

FA snapper....should be at the top of everyone's list. Fields was our best weapon.

[b]FA snapper....should be at the top of everyone's list. Fields was our best weapon.

Come on Gary as opinionated as you are this is all you got? I need substance, come on man, tell me some off season pickups and draft talent that Miami should target.

I am also waitng on Wkloiber13 as he always puts a lot of thought into his answers.

Carpenter and Denney are both signed through 2013. Fields is signed through 2016. I think we're good with our specialists.

As far as this upcoming offseason goes. I would first like to see Ireland re-sign Hartline, Bush(at the right price), Fasano, Smith(at the right price), Starks, and Clemons(at the right price). I'd offer Long a RT contract (he'll then go elsewhere). Then I'd wait until after the draft to sign any veteran free agents. In the draft I'd like to see us target two o-linemen, two receivers, two defensive backs (cb/fs), one pass rusher (de), and a tightend. The offensive linemen I like are Jake Matthews (OT - A&M), Barrett Jones (C/G/OT - Alabama), and Khalid Holmes (C/G - USC). The receivers I like are Justin Hunter (Tennessee), Terrance Williams (Baylor), and Robert Woods (USC). The defensive backs I like are Xavier Rhodes (FSU), David Amerson (NC State), and Tyrann Mathieu (LSU). My favorite pass rushers is William Gholston (Michigan State), I think he's a sleeper. The tigheds I like are Zach Ertz (Stanford) and Joseph Fauria (UCLA). A dream draft for me would be one where we trade back twice, and pick up an extra 2nd and 3rd for doing it, and then get an extra 3rd as a compensatory pick for Long. Then we would draft like this in the early rounds:
1st - Jake Matthews - OT - Texas A&M (Starting RT)
2nd - Terrance Williams - WR - Baylor (Outside Receiver / Redzone)
2nd - Xavier Rhodes - CB - Florida State (Outside Corner)
2nd - David Amerson - CB - NC State (Convert To FS)
3rd - Tyrann Mathieu - CB - LSU (Nickel /Slot Guy)
3rd - Khalid Holmes - C/OG - USC (OG / Backup C)
3rd - Joseph Fauria - TE - UCLA (Redzone Receiver)
3rd - William Gholston - DE/DT - Michigan State (DE Pass Rusher)

After the draft in this dream scenario we would sign Greg Jennings to a veteran free agent deal and let him mentor our young group of receivers that would look like this:
1 - Greg Jennings
2 - Brian Hartline
3 - Davone Bess
4 - Terrance Williams
5 - Rishad Matthews
6 - Armon Binns

Wideout would then become an area of strength in this scenario. Of note, I'd also take a look at Ryan Swope the WR from Texas A&M if he's available in the 4th or 5th round. He was Tannehill's top target from A&M and he's a Jordy Nelson type of player from what I've read.

In our secondary we would have:
1 - Sean Smith (LCB)
2 - Xavier Rhodes (RCB)
3 - Tyrann Mathieu (Nickel / Dime)
4 - Richard Marshall (Nickel / Dime)
5 - Nolan Carroll (Depth)
6 - Reshad Jones (SS)
7 - David Amerson (FS)
8 - Chris Clemons (Depth)
9 - Jimmy Wilson (Depth)
10 - Dimitri Patterson (Depth) - Attempt to Restructure Deal*

Depending on how we drafted we could have turned this big area of need into an area of strength as well. Patterson only sticks around if he's willing to restructure his contract. He's overpriced right now.

Our third major are of need would be offensive line. In this scenario I would also like to see us sign veteran free agent And Levitre OG from the Bills. I'd put him at LG and move Incognito to RG. Then our OL situation would look like this:
1 - Jonathan Martin (LT)
2 - Andy Levitre (LG)
3 - Mike Pouncey (C)
4 - Richie Incognito (RG)
5 - Jake Matthews (RT)
6 - Nate Garner (Depth OT)
7 - John Jerry (Depth OG)
8 - Khalid Holmes (Depth C/OG)
9 - Josh Samuda (Depth (C/OG)

Under this situation we would improve big time if everyone gelled quickly. Of note, I'd also look to find a nice OT prospect in the mid rounds, probably the 4th or 5th.

After all of this, I'd also look to give contract extensions to Mike Pouncey, Reshad Jones, and Dan Carpenter.

Good write up WK, but taking an OL in the 1st scares. I wonder how many tackles in the playoffs right now were 1st rd picks. I think OL can be developed and picked later in the draft.

why do we have so many picks in that Mock?

I understand, but I honestly don't see this as being a top heavy receiver draft. I think by signing Jennings and adding another receiver in the 2nd round, we will have done enough to significantly boost the receiver corps. In addition, by adding a tightend we give ourselves another redzone target. I think that is more than enough weapons for one offseason.

I also see the offensive line as our biggest area of need. For how long have we been trying to fix our line??? Every year it seems like it has issues. I think it's time we finally address it for good. The protection and run blocking was very inconsistent this year. I think by adding a top tier prospect like Matthews we would not only get a day one starter, we'd also have a guy who is very familiar with the staff and knows the type of play our staff is looking for. In addition, if you looke at Holmes from USC, he's a great young interior lineman that could also likely start day one. But instead we'll use him as depth, develop him, and then use him to replace Incognito when his contract is up.

In that scenario we would trade back from #12 to the early 20s and pick up a 2nd. Then we would trade back again from the low 20s to the late 20s/early 30s and pick up a 3rd. Plus I'm guessing that we would get a 3rd round compensatory pick for Long considering his resume. That would give us a late 1st round pick, three 2nd round picks, and four 3rd round picks. I feel that we need a lot of help in a lot of different areas, that's why I think our best option is to use our high pick and turn it into several picks. I really like a lot of the talent that is potentially going to be there in the 2nd and 3rd rounds of this draft.

Tyrann Mathieu (Nickel / Dime)

VERY interesting pick wkloiber13! This kid was destined to be a first round draft pick until he messed up getting kicked off LSU team.

If he can just grow up and use his God given talent, he is starting NFL material.