Dolphins Talking With Rishard Matthews

[DolphinsFreak]

Heading into last season, it looked like Rishard Matthews would be the odd man out at wide receiver for the Dolphins.

They drafted DeVante Parker in the first round, traded for Kenny Stills and signed Greg Jennings to go with 2014 second-rounder Jarvis Landry, moves that Matthews responded to with a desire to move to a different team. He eventually reported to OTAs, however, and went on to a productive season.

Matthews had 43 catches for 662 yards and four touchdowns in 11 games before missing the rest of the year with broken ribs. Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald reports that the Dolphins are interested in more from Matthews in 2016. Per Beasley, they’ve reached out to Matthews to talk about a deal that would keep the wideout from becoming an unrestricted free agent.

That interest may not be enough to keep Matthews from checking out the open market. Alshon Jeffrey is the top receiver eligible for free agency, although the Bears might not let him get there. Beyond Jeffery, Matthews slots in with Marvin Jones, Travis Benjamin and Rueben Randle as the next best options and that could lead to a better deal and/or spot on the depth chart than Miami will offer.

[FTLDOLFAN]

Travis Benjamin is someone I like if we can't resign Matthews. I don't know if singing a premier free agent WR is that wise though since we have so many other areas of need that we have to address. Parker Landry and Stills are the starters. We just need a #4 and #5 WR. We could bring Matt Hazel back. He showed some good things in the preseason last year which allowed him to make the roster. Then we can either sign a very cheap free agent WR or draft another WR in the later rounds.

[DolphinsFreak]

In My Opinion Matthews makes sense, for the right price. He is familiar with Tannehill and vice versa. There is no reason to waste time signing another free agent that Tannehill will need to develop chemistry with. Jones is a really good receiver and he had an excellent season with Dalton a couple years back prior to his injury. But, he is mainly a deep threat, and he would NOT be a threat on the Dolphins considering they play the short game. I don't think Benjamin is going to leave the Browns, they desperately need him. Randle would be a nice fit but I am not sure about his price. For the right price Randle, in my opinion, would be an excellent fit.

[DolphinsFreak]

Thank You, Sir! I did see something in him early AND, it was hard to praise a 7th round pick that Ireland made. Aha He was that good to me and hasn't let me down. With all the WR signings and draft picks used on the position I am not sure there is room for him, but I would prefer him over most of the FA's that are available. Let's hope he gives a hometown discount.

[Idahomer]

I like Mathews and felt we finally used him enough to see his talent last year. But with that said I don't know that there is enough balls to go around and I don't want to take opportunities away from Juice, Parker, or even Stills for that matter. I like Hazel and feel we can add another decent WR either through FA or the draft that would be cheaper.

IMO we have too many other needs than to pay what Mathews will command. We have cheap and solid WR's now, which I want to keep for years to come. Signing Mathews will tie up more $$ and we could use it much more in other positions of need like G, LB's, and secondary.

[DolphinsFreak]

I understand where you are coming from but if I understand signing a player, the money can be spread out so much that the cap hit won't even be noticeable for years to come. I would trade Still and keep this young group together and see what they can do. By the time Landry, Parker, etc. start to want new contracts themselves, then they can cut Matthews loose before hit cap numbers start to climb. JMO

[cuchulainn]

If Philbin hadn't sat on Matthews so much in previous seasons, he may have played well enough that we never drafted Parker. He was having an excellent season in the first half last year and catch for catch was more productive than any other WR.

Matthews quietly had a very efficient year. 70% catch rate which was higher than Landry, yet 15.4 ypc, which is 5 more yards per catch than Landry. Out of the 119 wide receivers with the most playing time, Matthews is the only one who ranks in the top 25 for catch rate and ypc. Usually it's one or the other because deeper targets correlate with lower catch percentages. I'd like to bring him back and see what he and Parker could do together and cut Landry's targets while distributing the ball more. Gase has to be excited about this receiving corp regardless - especially if we can get more out Stills, who fought injuries all last season.

If we cannot re-sign Matthews, watch the pats, panthers, raiders, or boys make a run at him. He played very well, has talent and knows how to get open. In a weak FA WR class, he's going to sought after.

[Seadog]

That may have been a good thing Philbin did, one of only a few, maybe just one of one....I believe Parker may become a elite WR in this league, and IF Gace turns this team around and IF Gace gets a GREAT D, then Parker will be a great asset in the SB...just saying...lol

[cuchulainn]

No argument... just glad Philbin and Coyles are gone. Hoping Gase is as good as advertised.

[Driven_Phinsane!]

I'm a big fan of Matthews & have been impressed with him from the first time he stepped onto the field for the Fins; had he been given the opportunity he deserved (earned) he would've been firmly entrenched as our #2 guy by now...That being said, i believe he'll look elsewhere for a better opportunity!

[cuchulainn]

Probably... I'd think we'd offer him in the neighborhood of $5 to $6M a year. That said, not sure we can keep him, Miller, and OV. If we can't sign him, hope doesn't end up in the AFCE.

[Seadog]

Keep Mathews, Parker and Landry and go from there, no one can argue that we need WR help at that point.....I really believe after watching Parker, that kid will be the best thing Miami's seen since Danny Boy.....

[gulfcoast74]

That would be a solid WR lineup

[DolphinsFreak]

I agree. Keeping Stills is a waste of his talent and a waste of the Dolphins money. Parker is fast enough to be a deep threat. There is no need to have Wallace 2.0, aka Stills, since Tannehill is not consistent enough on the deep balls. Just keep Matthews and trade Stills because Parker, Landry and Matthews ALL have a better rapport with Tannehill and run routes that better fit his skill set.

[61finfan]

Agreed. Landry Parker and Matthews is a nice trio at Wr

[FTLDOLFAN]

I checked this out on overthecap.com and we can trade Stills and none of his $1.647M salary will count against our salary cap. Meaning there will be no dead money against our cap. Now that I know that I am all for trading Stills. I don't think we would get much in return for him. Maybe a 5th round pick. In hindsight that was a horrible trade Tannenbaum made giving up a 3rd round pick for him. I would now look to trade him and resign Matthews. A trio of Parker Matthews and Landry would be very good. Maybe the Saints would take him back for a 4th round pick since he was productive there.

[DolphinsFreak]

I checked this out on overthecap.com and we can trade Stills and none of his $1.647M salary will count against our salary cap. Meaning there will be no dead money against our cap. Now that I know that I am all for trading Stills. I don't think we would get much in return for him. Maybe a 5th round pick. In hindsight that was a horrible trade Tannenbaum made giving up a 3rd round pick for him. I would now look to trade him and resign Matthews. A trio of Parker Matthews and Landry would be very good. Maybe the Saints would take him back for a 4th round pick since he was productive there.

I heard last year that part of the reason why the Saints were trading Stills was because he and Brees didn't get along. I'm not sure if that is true but if it is, the Dolphins might want to contact other teams about that trade.

[Dolfan1]

I don't remember hearing anything about him and Brees specifically but I do remember reading at that time that he had maturity issues.

[cuchulainn]

Personally, I hope we bring Kenny Stills back. He's still only 23 and had a productive year for us despite the nagging injuries and lack of snaps. The Saints had plenty of receivers already. Mickey Loomis was openly offering trades for most everyone on the Saints roster in an effort to upgrade their defense. They got Seattle's 1st round pick for Jimmy Graham, which went to ILB, Stephone Anthony, who I was hoping we'd draft in the 2nd. As they had 2 #1 picks, they could afford to take Anthony early.

In 2013, Stills was a 5th round pick. Getting a 3rd round pick and ILB Ellerbe for him was good business. Also allowed us to dump Ellerbe and gave us a deep threat option who wasn't a ''me first'' type player. The Saints drafted 6 defensive guys last year. The 3rd rounder they got from us in the Stills trade was used on Florida State CB, PJ Williams.