Miami Dolphins free agency 2020: Top 5 targets

Whether or not the Dolphins are looking to start a rookie at quarterback in 2020 or let Ryan Fitzpatrick do his thing for another year in Miami, the best thing the franchise can do is solidify the interior along its offensive line. One player who will be pricey, but would be worth it at guard would be Brandon Scherff of the Washington Redskins. He can be a difference-maker for this franchise.

Scherff was the former No. 5 overall pick by the Redskins in the 2015 NFL Draft out of the University of Iowa. Though the Redskins struggled for much of his time in the nation’s capital, Scherff has been a three-time Pro Bowler thus far in his NFL career. Though Washington has $46.1 million in available cap space, Miami is a rebuilding team that can outbid the Redskins.

Using the franchise tag on an offensive lineman is a tricky proposition, especially on a guard. However, Scherff might be the guard worthy of the $14.9 million projected costs to tag him. For that reason, it’s more likely he’d get a multi-year deal than being slapped with the tag in Washington. No doubt he’s a great player, but Washington has so many other holes to fill.

While using the free-agent market to build a roster isn’t always wise, as it’s essentially a high-priced garage sale, getting a proven commodity along the offensive line on his second contract is a risk worth taking. If Miami ever wants to appropriately replace Dan Marino at quarterback, having a perennial Pro Bowler upfront in Scherff might be a reason for the signal-caller’s success.