Counting Down The Top UFA Signings

As we get ready for the opening of the 2020 free agency period, we look back at the top Dolphins signings through the years.

- Alain Poupart

Keep in mind we’re including only unrestricted free agents, players whose contracts with their previous teams had expired and not players who had been let go. It’s because of that reason that you won’t see Chad Pennington on this list, for example.

And we’re not talking about the best players signed, we’re talking about the signings that proved most successful.

So here we go with the countdown:

10. S Brian Walker (2000, from Seattle)

Walker had two different stints with the Dolphins, playing 16 games as a backup in 1998 before returning after one year in Seattle. He started every game at strong safety in that 2000 season, led the team in interceptions with seven and probably would have made the Pro Bowl had he not been overshadowed in the Miami secondary by Sam Madison, Patrick Surtain and Brock Marion.

9. DT Larry Chester (2002, from Carolina)

Chester was the only player the Dolphins signed as an unrestricted free agent in 2002, but he made an immediate impact as a run-stuffing specialist. After being a backup his first four NFL seasons, Chester arrived in Miami and teamed up with Tim Bowens to give the Dolphins a wall in the middle of the defensive line. With those two leading the way, the Dolphins were second in the NFL in run defense in 2002. Chester started 15 games in 2003 before his career ended after he sustained a knee injury early in the 2004 season.

8. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (2019, from Tampa Bay)