The Miami Dolphins are one of the best positioned teams in free agency heading into the 2013 offseason, as they started off with $45 million in cap space and could make a splash to help counter the probable loss of running back Reggie Bush.
According to ESPN.com and NationalFootballPost.com, Bush is likely on his way out of Miami when he becomes a free agent after two years, while the team is targeting tight end Jared Cook from the Tennessee Titans to help with the possible loss of Anthony Fasano. The report says that Omar Kelly of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel writes that the Dolphins are interested in adding Cook after the Titans didn't franchise him.
The Dolphins are trying to add more weapons for Ryan Tannehill, which is one reason why they are going after Steelers wideout Mike Wallace, who is considered to be one of the fastest players in the NFL and led him team in receiving touchdowns despite missing some time due to a holdout.
Miami freed up a nice amount of money after cutting some players and former number one overall draft pick Jake Long is set to leave as a free agent. Cook would provide a security blanket for Tannehill and he is considered one of the most athletic players at his potion at 6-foot-5, 246-pounds. He has speed and good hands and although he made 44 receptions for 523 yards and four touchdowns in 2012, he is still one of their top targets.
Cook had his best season in 2011, making 49 catches for 759 yards and three touchdowns and was originally drafted in 2009 in the third round by the Titans. The Dolphins could decide to re-sign Fasano, but Cook would provide some insurance if they could not do so. Cook could also have interest from the Giants, Atlanta Falcons and Oakland Raiders while there are a number of other tight ends available, including Martellus Bennett and Brandon Myers.
The Dolphins have had issues at tight end over the past few years, as Fasano has only made 177 receptions and scored 23 touchdowns during his five year run with the team. The team could also look to the draft for a replacement, as it is deep at the position with Notre Dame's Tyler Eifert, Stanford's Zach Ertz and Florida's Jordan Reed available.
The Titans almost used their tag on Cook, but didn't, although they could try to reta8in him.
"Cook is definitely someone that we feel very strongly about. We feel he's a big part of us having success next year," Titans coach Mike Munchak said at the NFL Scouting Combine.
The Dolphins now have about $30 million left in cap space after using the franchise tag and could bring in Cook as well as Wallace and possibly James Harrison, who could follow his former teammate Joey Porter's path from the Steelers to Miami. Harrison was released by the team to save cap space and the Dolphins could be a good fit for the linebacker
Bush is leaving after two productive seasons that saw him rush for 2,072 yards and 12 touchdowns while making it over 1,000-yards in a season for the first time in his career. The Dolphins and Bush likely were far apart in contract money, but both sides benefited from the original signing, as Bush proved he could be an every-down back and Miami had an explosive rushing threat.
