The Miami Dolphins have a lot of spending money ($43.9 million of cap space to be exact). They also have a lot of free agents.

The team has remained mostly quiet in their intentions to this point, but The Miami Herald reported Tuesday that the Dolphins have "discretely targeted" both wide receiver Brian Hartline and safety Chris Clemons with the hope of signing the players to extensions before the league year begins on March 12.

Hartline had a career-high 74 catches for 1,083 yards in 2012 and would serve as an ideal No. 2 receiver if Jeff Ireland succeeds in giving Ryan Tannehill a top target this offseason. Clemons started all 16 games last season and registered a career-best 99 tackles.

Neither player should be considered a franchise cornerstone, but both can be pieces of the puzzle. And if the team's biggest goal right now is continuing the development of Tannehill, keeping his favorite target in town makes a lot of sense.

Chris Clemons very well could be the only one left. I know the Dolphins are negotiating with Hartline, but I don't see them giving Hartline 6 mill/per year. Especially when you can probably getting Greg Jennings for 7-8 mill per year.

I don't see the Dolphins using the Franchise Tag on Sean Smith or giving him 8 mill/per year. I think they will make a last run at long, but not at 10 mill/per year.

It's just sad to see... I mean at least we're hitting on some guys now... with Reshad Jones and Chris Clemons both being 5th round picks I think we've gotten great value out of them.

Still... I'd like to see more high round picks work out... especially since we're talking about not resigning Long, meanwhile Matt Ryan is going strong in Atlanta.

(to be fair... Dorsey is likely out of KC too so two of the top three are moving on from that draft)

Yep, Ireland is a genius. Sure glad he has 5 picks in the first 3 rounds and extra money to blow. It will take all that for him to get one starter.....while more leaks spring up. 7-9 +/- a game is a pretty good bet for 2013. The team has been dancing that tune for four years now. I do think Philbin is an improvement over the fist pumper, but I don't know whether or not even Shula could coach these guys to the playoffs. Heck.....many of the team's best players are on the block now and the team was bereft of playmakers as it was. What makes anyone think Ireland will get it right this time? He would probably have to acquire a top free agent, or two, and hit on all 5 of his first picks to replace the free agency losses and hope to have any hope for improvement on the field. I don't see it happening......the track record doesn't support it.

Yep, Ireland is a genius. Sure glad he has 5 picks in the first 3 rounds and extra money to blow. It will take all that for him to get one starter.....while more leaks spring up. 7-9 +/- a game is a pretty good bet for 2013. The team has been dancing that tune for four years now. I do think Philbin is an improvement over the fist pumper, but I don't know whether or not even Shula could coach these guys to the playoffs. Heck.....many of the team's best players are on the block now and the team was bereft of playmakers as it was. What makes anyone think Ireland will get it right this time? He would probably have to acquire a top free agent, or two, and hit on all 5 of his first picks to replace the free agency losses and hope to have any hope for improvement on the field. I don't see it happening......the track record doesn't support it.