5 teams that should sign Olivier Vernon

The talented former Miami Dolphins defensive end is back on the market and will command plenty of attention.

An already-deep free agent class of pass rushers got a little stronger on Wednesday morning.

Last week, the Miami Dolphins put the transition tag on defensive end Olivier Vernon in an attempt to retain him for at least one more season. That transition tag would have paid Vernon around $12.7 million in 2016 while giving Miami the right to match any long-term contract another team offered.

However, on Wednesday, the first day of the new league year, the Dolphins decided to rescind the transition tag on Vernon, partially because they added defensive end Mario Williams on a two-year, $17 million deal. That means Vernon will be headed elsewhere in free agency, while Miami will receive a third or fourth round compensatory pick, depending on how large Vernon’s contract is.

Vernon can sign as early as 4:00 on Wednesday evening, and it shouldn’t be long before he finds a new home. Based on Vernon’s play over the past couple of seasons, he could sign a contract approaching the six-year, $90 million deal with $42 million guaranteed that Malik Jackson just got from the Jacksonville Jaguars.

After not starting a game for Miami as a rookie in 2012, Vernon has blossomed into a star over the past three years. Vernon has racked up 25.5 sacks and 119 tackles over that timeframe, while many believe he still has some untapped upside left to show.

At just 25 years old, Vernon could be the cornerstone of a pass rush unit for the next few seasons. Vernon won’t come cheap, but these five teams should be interested in reaching a deal with him.

Next: Tampa Bay Buccaneers