NFL Miami Dolphins

Miami Dolphins Need To Prepare For Life Without Charles Clay

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By @CouchGuyFB

Dion Sims, Miami Dolphins

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With Charles Clay set to hit the open market in free agency this offseason, the Miami Dolphins may be looking at a very different dynamic at the tight end position in 2015; but is that necessarily a bad thing?

There is bound to be a ton of outside interest in Clay, meaning that the Dolphins may be priced out of a bidding war for the tight end with teams that have more cap space like the Atlanta Falcons or Jacksonville Jaguars. That leaves Dion Sims as Miami’s top option for 2015.

Sims improved in his second season to haul in 24 catches and two touchdowns, and at the same time he provided a strong presence as a blocker. His increased playing time in offensive coordinator Bill Lazor’s offense last season indicates that Sims is likely to see even more of the field in 2015, and if Miami feels that he will continue to progress, the Dolphins may not need to shell out the kind of money that it will take to keep Clay.

Still, it is unlikely that Sims is ready to take over the load entirely, meaning that the Dolphins will have to find a second option in the draft. The University of Miami’s Clive Walford has been mocked to the Dolphins by a number of sources, and he would be a solid addition to the team if Clay leaves Miami. Other tight end prospects projected to be available in the middle rounds include Florida State’s Nick O’Leary, Notre Dame’s Ben Koyack, South Alabama’s Wes Saxton and Auburn’s C.J. Uzomah, all of whom could contribute from day one.

A world without Clay is a scary prospect, but it is one that Dolphins fans need to prepare themselves for. Depending on how the aforementioned tight ends perform at the Combine, it may make long-term sense for the Dolphins to let Clay test the waters of free agency if the price gets too high.

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