Ndamukong Suh is expected to be released once the new league year begins today at 4 p.m. Should the Patriots make a play?
Suh signed a monster six-year, $114.3 million contract three years ago and has seen $60 million from that deal to this point. Amazingly, even with three years gone by and the salary cap rising every year, that deal is still the most lucrative contract signed by a defensive player.
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The Dolphins are letting him go not because he can't play; he's still one of the most dominant linemen in the league when he wants to be. But his massive cap hit is one Miami isn't willing to deal with any longer as they try to build something there.
Now . . . about the Patriots. Suh, 31, has some very obvious and exciting traits as a defensive lineman.
He can play all three downs, and he's durable, having played at least 80 percent of his team's defensive snaps since 2011. He's played in (and started) 126 of a possible 128 games in his career, which is a remarkable run.
Suh is as versatile as anyone his size, which the Patriots would covet. Though he's been more of a penetrating player in Miami, he certainly has the ability to two-gap if the Patriots wanted him to. He's also someone who can align in a variety of techniques and give opposing offensive linemen -- be they tackles, guards or centers -- fits with his athleticism and power.
The Patriots don't have a glaring need on the defensive interior. They recently traded for Danny Shelton, and Malcom Brown and Lawrence Guy are coming off solid seasons in 2017. Vincent Valentine and Adam Butler are also under contract. But in New England, Suh's sheer presence, which would attract the attention of multiple blockers, would improve everyone around him. Tackles, end and linebackers could all have an easier time getting to the quarterback if he were to land in Bill Belichick's defense.
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The question, as always, will be cost. The Patriots are not among the teams with the most free cap space who could use front-seven help, and it's unclear what they would be willing to offer -- especially with their left tackle situation still up in the air. It's also not certain how the Patriots would view Suh's personality fit in the locker room.
But there's no question, as soon as Suh is released, one of the most talented defensive players in the league will be available and generating interest.