NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

Miami Dolphins have not talked to Evan Mathis’s agent yet

By Kevin Parvizi

facebooktwitterreddit

Former Philadelphia Eagles star left guard Evan Mathis isn’t just the best offensive lineman available on the free agent market, he’s easily the best player left on the market. However, it’s worth noting that there hasn’t exactly been a frenzy surrounding him, as teams have only been mildly linked to a player who will, by all accounts, take his time waiting for just the right opportunity.

ALSO ON SPIN ZONE: Where Does Tannehill Rank Among Top QBs?

Some see the Miami Dolphins as a sensible landing spot for Mathis, and that’s because they could really use one of the best guards in the league. Branden Albert, who is recovering from an ACL tear last season, is locked in as a franchise left tackle, and the Dolphins have another high-level offensive lineman in center Mike Pouncey. But the Dolphins guard situations on the left and right side are completely unsettled with a four-deep of Billy Turner, rookie Jamil Douglas, Dallas Thomas, and veteran Jeff Linkenbach at the guard position.

More from Philadelphia Eagles

It’s clear that the Dolphins could use an upgrade at the guard position, and Mathis would be a monstrous step-up on any of those four players. Ryan Tannehill would benefit from Mathis’s solid work in pass protection, but signing the former Eagle, of course, would help running backs Lamar Miller and Jay Ajayi the most. Considering Miller averaged a whopping 5.1 yards per carry last season, you can only imagine how efficient he could be with a guy like Mathis up front.

But the Dolphins haven’t seemed to show any interest in Mathis to this point, and that hasn’t changed in the last few days. According to the Miami Herald’s Armando Salguero, the Dolphins “have not even begun” to talk to Mathis’s renowned agent Drew Rosenhaus about a contract that would take the 33-year-old somewhat-debated talents to South Beach.

Salguero adds that he has this information “on good authority”, but we wouldn’t have a reason to doubt him otherwise. Nothing has linked both parties since June, save for, perhaps, common sense. I mean, the fit just makes too much sense on paper, especially given just how much the Dolphins have invested in their offense this past offseason after trading for Kenny Stills, signing Greg Jennings and Jordan Cameron, extending Ryan Tannehill, and drafting DeVante Parker in the first round.

Signing Evan Mathis would be another big financial commitment, and while it would only be a short-term commitment, you have to at least understand the Dolphins rationale here a little bit. Just as Mathis would like to take his time before making a decision, so, too, would the Dolphins like to take their time and evaluate their guards.

Odds are that Joe Philbin and the organization will come to realize that they don’t have a diamond-in-the-rough, but, as Salguero tweets, they want to see Turner, Douglas, and Thomas at work for a little bit before considering making a big splash. I have very little hopes for Thomas, but Douglas and Turner are worth monitoring closely this offseason.

The Miami Dolphins once showed interest in Mathis, so there’s a good chance they will re-kindle their interest in him later on. Again, they have the need, and their guard situation right now just might be the worst in the NFL. I don’t think that’s going to change, but the Dolphins probably have time to wait. Of course, you never know what could happen. Someone else might suddenly give him an offer he can’t refuse, especially if one of their guard’s goes down with a training camp injury.

Next: Who Is The Dolphins Best MVP Candidate?

More from NFL Spin Zone

Home/Philadelphia Eagles