With the Green Bay Packers experiencing salary cap issues and contemplating what to do with their notable free agents, their 2020 All-Pro center Corey Linsley is expected to hit the free-agent market come March 17th.
It’s been reported that the Packers and Linsley have not been in any talks for an extension, and with the Packers already roughly $4 million over the cap, they have to decide who to let go and who to keep.
In effect, Linsley becomes an intriguing option for the Miami Dolphins at center during this free agency period.
That is partly because of the Dolphins’ current starting center, Ted Karras’s situation. He is a pending free agent, and according to Spotrac, Karras could command a new contract upwards of $10 million per season due to his market value.
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Linsley, however, is expected to have a market value of $9.7 million per season. Not much of a difference, but if Karras decides to test the free-agent waters to get a big long-term payday, then Linsley could become a nice short-term option for the Dolphins.
Originally a backup and spot-starter for the Patriots, Karras came to the Dolphins via free agency in 2020 after a strong year filling in at center for the injured David Andrews in 2019. However, the Dolphins’ strategy that particular free agency period was to sign players onto short-term “prove it” contracts. As a result, Karras was signed to a 1-year, $3 million contract.
Karras proved his worth, and the Dolphins would like him to return. But sometimes, a player needs to do what is best for him as an individual and for his family. As this coming free agency period would be Karras best chance in his career to make his money, Karras could be saying his goodbye’s to the Dolphins if they don’t offer him an enticing deal.
Linsley is 29, three years older than Karras, and will be turning 30 before the start of the 2021 regular season. The Dolphins shied away from players who were in their 30’s during 2020 free agency. However, due to Linsley’s relative durability (only missed 3 games in the past 4 seasons) and his quality of play (2020 All-Pro season. PFF overall grade of 89.9, compared to Karras’s 65.3), the Dolphins could very well make an exception.
This guy is who the Phins need at Center to anchor the Oline. Stop for a second and think about the possibility of Linsley, and Sewell added to the 3 rooks from last year. Bingo ! Stone wall Oline that is the true start of helping Tua in the best way possible. Now, after that, find his “toys”. Plenty will still be in this draft even if Sewell is taken at # 3. While the Phins miss out on either Chase or Smith, the likes of Bateman, Toney, Waddle, Moore, will still be available, plenty of WR’s to choose from. In round 2, find the RB that was missed out on last year. N. Harris may be gone, but two Carolina studs, Carter and Williams, and Etienne may still be around for the picking. Still, it all starts with the Oline and the Phins have a once in a lifetime chance to make it an elite line by signing Linsley and picking Sewell. Want help for Tua ? Start right up front.
While I agree linsley is 30 years old ,either resign harris or draft Dickerson or Humphries .30 year olds trying to make last. Big contract ain’t who dolphins are draft chase at 3 resign karris grab Joe thuney and Curtis Samuel in FA. Cut grant and his 5 mill add 2 mill and pay Samue.t