Dolphins place transition tag on DE Vernon

You can be certain Vernon will receive offers and figure the price tag approaches $15 million per year. This would leave the Dolphins with little recourse and could result in being financially unable to match an offer. At the heart of this issue is the fact that despite being on the wrong side of 30 and his play diminishing a bit in 2015, the Dolphins have no viable options to start in his place.

The Bucs could try to do that, they did something similar with restricted free agent George Johnson past year, but they’d have to pay an absolute premium to get anywhere close to Vernon. In the end, the Dolphins opted not to match Clay’s offer from Buffalo and he was lost.

Here’s the situation: By placing the transition tag on Vernon, the Dolphins are giving him a one-year, $12.7 million tender for 2016.

It’s understandable why the Dolphins are being conservative.

The Giants need all sort of defensive help and head into free agency almost $60 million under the salary cap of $155 million – the most they’ve ever taken into the market.

There are several talented pass rushers who could be selected by the Dolphins with the No. 8 overall pick. At nearly 13 million for Vernon as well, the Dolphins are set to spend a lot of money on the defensive line.

With all that in mind, it seems unlikely that the Dolphins will be able to keep Vernon.

The tag provides a significant raise for Vernon, who made just $1.542m in 2015 during the final season of his rookie contract. On top of that, he raised his play after Wake went down with an Achilles injury last season, compiling 5.5 sacks and 33 solo tackles in the Dolphins last nine games of the season.

This former University of Miami standout deserves everything that’s coming to him because of the hard work and productivity (29 sacks in four years) he’d had in his National Football League career. Part of the problem with losing an impact player such as Vernon is the adverse effect it has on those around him.