Dolphins ranked as one of most likely free agent destinations for Giants star Leonard Williams

The Miami Dolphins were ranked as one of the teams that could most likely land New York Giants star defensive end Leonard Williams in free agency.

Williams, 26, was the No. 6 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. This season, he has tallied 8.5 sacks for the Giants and will likely be one of the biggest names on the free agent market in the offseason.

“The Miami Dolphins appear to be on the rise,” Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox wrote. “They’re 8-5 and poised to be relevant in the AFC East for the foreseeable future. This isn’t the only reason why Miami could be an attractive landing spot for Williams.

“With a projected $35.7 million in cap space, the Dolphins could afford to give Williams the lucrative contract he’s seeking.”

Williams will likely get a deal that pays him around $20 million per year, and the Dolphins would also give him an opportunity to win.

Miami has surprised a lot of people by getting out to an 8-5 start this season.

“With Miami, Williams would get to play for a defensive head coach in Brian Flores and join a blossoming front seven that includes Christian Wilkins, Emmanuel Ogbah and Kyle Van Noy,” Knox wrote. “Williams could help lift a very good unit — ranked second in points allowed (18.8 per game) — into a championship-caliber one.

“Flores and defensive coordinator Josh Boyer have transformed the Dolphins defense over the last year—it ranked dead-last in points allowed last season (30.9 per game). It’s hard to imagine they couldn’t unlock Williams’ superstar potential.”

The Dolphins already have one of the best defenses in football, but they could make a big splash in the offseason. Miami already signed cornerback Byron Jones to a big deal last offseason, so there’s no reason to think that it wouldn’t make another big move.

Right now, Flores and the Dolphins are focused on making the playoffs this season.