The Miami Dolphins have had an active offseason, adding talented players and coaches to their roster and staff that should put them in the best position to make the playoffs again and hopefully win at least a game once they get there.
However, the Dolphins still do have some cap space and plenty of things they could do to continue improving their situation before they step on the field at SoFi Stadium in Week 1 for their opening matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Recently, ESPN’s Field Yates compiled a list of one move that each team should make before the start of their regular season. For the Dolphins, he suggested they extend Christian Wilkins before the start of his final season under contract.
Here’s what Yates wrote about the potential move:
“The Dolphins are deservedly generating plenty of buzz this offseason, as they once again acquired an All-Pro player via trade in Jalen Ramsey. But there’s still in-house business to take care of in extending Wilkins, their 2019 first-round pick who has been the team’s most consistent front-seven player in recent seasons. While tackles can be a misleading stat at some positions, Wilkins’ 187 tackles over the past two seasons align with his high-activity skill set. He just finds a way to perpetually make plays.”
Wilkins, 27, is in his prime and is a massive part of the core of Vic Fangio’s defense. He may not put up the impressive sack numbers that Aaron Donald does from the interior, but he impacts the game in so many ways that his loss would certainly be detrimental to the team’s future.
If Miami can lock him down before the regular season, they could use some of their extra cap space, to keep the 2023 cap number higher and lower those in the coming years.
No matter how they decide to structure it, signing Wilkins to a long-term extension would be a smart move before the season kicks off.
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Story originally appeared on Dolphins Wire