Where Dolphins can turn if they cannot agree to Williams contract. Three ways to play this

Though general manager Chris Grier somewhat quibbled with the notion, the numbers show the Dolphins’ run and pass blocking diminished after Connor Williams’ season-ending ACL injury against Tennessee in Week 13.

Based on 2023 performance, Pro Football Focus rated Williams the NFL’s top center overall and the top run blocking center.

So re-signing him — in our view — needs to be a priority, even though the sides failed to come to a multiyear extension last offseason, and even though agent Drew Rosenhaus suggested Williams will take his time in determining his next contract following a torn ACL in December.

“Connor was playing some good football for us and the leadership stuff he provided,” Grier said. “Unfortunately with football, injuries happen. He’s been great communicating with Mike [McDaniel] through us here through the end of the season. Again, we’ll stay in touch with him and see what happens....

“He’s just going through his rehab right now. He’s a free agent and we’ll see where that goes. We’re giving him the space and time. He just wanted to focus on rehabbing right now. But we’ll stay in touch with all those guys and see where it leads.”

Grier said the line play was fine without Williams: “I mean, we ran the ball against Baltimore, Buffalo, and we did some good things. Liam Eichenberg came in and battled through his bumps and bruises and did a great job for us.”

But that doesn’t tell the full picture.

Keep in mind that Williams yielded just one sack and six pressures in 280 pass blocking snaps over nine games.

Conversely, Eichenberg allowed two sacks and eight pressures in the last three games.

Also, PFF rated Eichenberg 35th of 37 qualifying centers.

The view here is that Williams needs to be one of a handful of priorities this offseason, even though his Dec. 11 ACL injury might sideline him early in the season, and even though Williams might slow-play things.

“I do think that we’re going to be very methodical and take our time relative to the contract,” Rosenhaus told WQAM’s Joe Rose lack week. “A lot of it may be predicated on how Connor is feeling physically. He may not be a player who signs at the very start of free agency. He may take more time based on how he’s feeling physically.

“Connor’s situation has a degree of uncertainty that’s going to be tied to how he’s feeling. And really, we’ll just take it one day at a time once we get into the offseason. But I’m not sure that that is one that’ll be resolved as quickly as some of the other players that we represent.”

Because Williams could miss the first few weeks of the season, the smart play for the Dolphins would be signing him to a multiyear deal, unless the money becomes untenable. One veteran general manager said Williams should command good money in free agency, despite the late-season ACL injury.

Pro Football Focus ranks Williams as the top free agent center this offseason, with this assessment:

“Williams started his career with the Dallas Cowboys at left guard and has blossomed in Miami at center, thriving as a run-blocker in Mike McDaniel’s zone-blocking scheme where he’s able to quickly get to the second level and lead the way. While he doesn’t have the world’s strongest anchor in a phone booth, his fast first step off the line enables him to seal off defenders on the backside of runs by getting in position.”

ESPN’s Matt Bowen wrote a piece in which he listed the best option for the top free agents. His spot for Williams? The Dolphins.

“Williams suffered an ACL injury in his left knee in December, which has an impact on his value on the free agent market,” Bowen wrote. “However, Williams was really good on tape before the injury, posting a 93.9% pass block win rate. He’s a positional blocker at the point of attack and an easy mover in the run game, creating positive angles to cut off defenders. I see Williams staying with Miami in Mike McDaniel’s offense. But also keep an eye on Chicago; the Bears need to address the center position.”

There are three ways the Dolphins could play this at center:

1). Wait patiently on Williams and make sure they re-sign him.

2). Leave the Williams situation unresolved but plan on using the 21st pick on a center who also can play another offensive line position — Oregon’s Jackson Powers Johnson or Duke’s Graham Barton — or perhaps the 55th pick.

3). Sign a veteran free agent center early in free agency and move on from Williams.

Here’s a look at the starting centers set for unrestricted free agency and their PFF ranking:

▪ Las Vegas’ Andre James: He has been the Raiders’ starter for the past three seasons. PFF rates him ninth overall among centers — eighth as a pass blocker, 11th as a run blocker.

He would be an appealing option if Williams leaves.

PFF rates him the No. 2 free agent center behind Williams, noting:

“James is patient and a clean fit in pass protection, able to mirror the shiftier interior pass-rushers and generally withstand power rushes, save for a few matchups with the true brute forces on the inside.”

▪ Dallas’ Tyler Biadasz: PFF rated him 14th among centers and fifth on the list of impending unrestricted free agent centers, with this comment:

“Biadasz’s extensive starting experience dating back to his Wisconsin days shows up with clean technique and good hand usage, but he’s prone to getting driven off the ball by power rushers. As a run blocker, Biadasz executes combo blocks well. Prospective teams could do a lot worse in adding a mid-tier center with football smarts.”

▪ Denver’s Lloyd Cushenberry: He started 17 games for the Broncos this past season and PFF rated him 10th among all centers.

PFF rates him the No. 3 available free agent center, adding that “any limitations as a run blocker in space are vastly outweighed by his pass-blocking strength. Penalties could stand to come down a bit, but that’s nitpicking an ascending young player who looks the part of a centerpiece of an offensive line for years to come.”

▪ Tennessee’s Aaron Brewer: He moved from guard to center this season and played well, ranking 11th overall in PFF’s grades. Brewer would be a good fit in Miami’s zone blocking scheme.

PFF rates him the No. 4 free agent center, noting “Brewer belongs in a zone rushing scheme where he can use his quick first step and springiness at the second level to reach linebackers quickly or wall off backside defenders by beating them to the spot.

“Brewer needs to continue to add good weight, both to his lower half and through his shoulders, because he’s prone to bigger rushers bulling through him with regularity. However, in the right spot, he’s a great fit, and his plus athleticism suggests he could continue to excel even after bulking up to improve in other areas.”

▪ San Francisco’s Jon Feliciano: He started for the Giants at center in 2022 and started seven games as a multiposition player for the 49ers this past season. The former Miami Hurricane has started 61 games in a nine-year career.

▪ The Bears’ Lucas Patrick: He was Chicago’s starting center for most of the season, but wasn’t particularly effective. PFF rated him 32nd of 37 qualifying centers.

The Bears signed Patrick from the Green Bay Packers two seasons ago, on a two-year, $8 million deal. He will be cheap but would be a major step down from Williams.

▪ Detroit’s Graham Glasgow: The veteran center split time between center and both guard spots for the Lions this season, playing effectively after his release from the Broncos last March.

▪ The Seahawks’ Evan Brown: He started 16 games at center for Seattle this season. But PFF rated him only 28th of 37 centers. He was a member of the Dolphins for the final month of the 2019 season but was released two months later.

▪ The Rams’ Coleman Shelton: The guard/center is ranked sixth among free agent centers by PFF, which says “Shelton has proven over the past two seasons that he is capable of playing guard in addition to center after earning the starting right guard job in 2022 and holding up very well as a pass protector at both spots throughout the season. The positional versatility on the interior and Shelton’s agility could make him a fit for many teams.”

▪ Among others: Jaguars guard/center Tyler Shatley (51 career starts); Pat Elflein (Minnesota’s starting center in 2017 and 2018 and a six-game starter at guard for Carolina this past season); Arizona guard/center Billy Price (an 11 game starter last season); guard/center Scott Quessenbery (missed the season with a torn ACL and MCL sustained in an August practice); Tyler Larsen (started seven of 14 appearances for Washington this season); Chargers guard/center Will Clapp (primarily a backup); Steelers backup center JC Hassenauer.