For most of the 21st century, the New England Patriots have been the team to beat in the AFC East. However, for whatever reason, the ever-struggling Miami Dolphins have often been a thorn in their side.
The Dolphins are still ahead 64-57 in the all-time head-to-head with the Patriots. That's why watching them implode and rebuild might be a breath of fresh air and a welcome break for Mike Vrabel's team, for a change.
That's also why, contrary to what most people would think, the Patriots should want them to trade for Joey Porter Jr. The young cornerback is disgruntled with his situation with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Bleacher Report's Alex Kay has the Dolphins trading a 2027 third-and fourth-round pick to get him.
The Patriots should actually want Joey Porter Jr. in South Beach
"The Miami Dolphins are in the midst of a rebuild, but adding a star-caliber cornerback like Joey Porter Jr. could help expedite the process. The team is extremely thin in the secondary and is largely lacking impact veterans like Porter who could get the franchise trending in the right direction," argued Kay.
For starters, watching the Dolphins part ways with 2027 draft picks would be a big win. Even if we're talking about mid-round picks, the 2027 class is, on paper, one of the most stacked and promising in recent years. If anything, teams are trying to stockpile as many picks as they can.
Now, let's talk numbers. Porter's impasse with the Steelers reportedly stems from his financial aspirations, as he wants to earn top dollar despite not being a top cornerback. He's good, and he might turn out to be great, but he's not quite there yet.
The Dolphins would immediately have to sign him to a record-breaking extension. Devon Witherspoon is the highest-paid cornerback at $32 million a year, so he'd be looking at something like $132 million over the next four years.
We're talking about a team that has already committed big bucks to Malik Willis and De'Von Achane. The salary cap is going up, but watching them spend a significant chunk on a guy who might crack the top-10 at his position would be hilarious and beneficial to the Patriots' aspirations in the division.
On the downside, Porter is a young player with some upside, so he can definitely be a problem here and there in those matchups. Still, Jeff Hafley's team is projected to be one of the worst in football, so the Patriots should love their chances against them anyway.
Also, the Dolphins don't have a history of keeping their stars. If he breaks out, chances are he will only be there for a couple of years until they ultimately trade him at the deadline amid yet another panic sale.
Another potential negative effect is that his extension would inevitably drive Christian Gonzalez's already-high asking price even higher, but that's a bridge the team would have to cross when (if) they get there.
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