MIAMI GARDENS — The Dolphins have six free agents that rank among the NFL's Top 150, according to Pro Football Focus.

Miami is up against it when it comes to the salary cap. So how many of these players can they afford to re-sign? Three? Four? We'll see.

Here are where the Dolphins' top pending free agents rank:

Christian Wilkins, #7 overall, #3 defensive interior

PFF Take: "Wilkins hoped to get an extension done before the 2023 season but didn't let the lack of one amid many at the position slow him down. Wilkins is as good a run defender as any interior defensive lineman in the NFL, setting career highs in every pass-rushing category this season — including pass-rush win rate, pressure rate, sacks, quarterback hits and pressures."

Our Take: The Dolphins love Wilkins. The management. The coaches. His teammates. But can they afford to pay a massive bounty at a non-premium position? Perhaps the Dolphins franchise tag Wilkins. Perhaps they tag-and-trade him. It doesn't seem in their best interest to just walk away. But we'll see.

The Quote: "Christian and I actually had a really good conversation today. I was very happy for him. He bet on himself after a summer of negotiations where we made a couple offers and one we felt very good about, was fair, and he and his representation said as much, but we couldn’t close that gap at the end. So he bet on himself and it paid off for him. I’m very happy for him. So we’ll stay in communication and see where this ends up, but he earned the right to be a free agent. Again, I’m happy for him. We drafted him here, developed him here, and he’s the type of person we’re looking for. So we’ll see what happens.” - Dolphins GM Chris Grier

Robert Hunt, #27 overall, #2 guard

PFF Take: "It came as a bit of a surprise that Hunt was not the young Dolphins offensive lineman agreeing to terms on an extension before the season concluded, but it could also be a signal that he knows he can command a strong contract on the open market with a large sample size of good play. At 6-foot-6 and 335 pounds, Hunt got his NFL start at tackle, lining up on either side in his rookie season and holding up admirably. He found a home for the past three seasons at right guard and was a great fit in the team’s zone rushing attack under head coach Mike McDaniel."

Our Take: The Dolphins signed Austin Jackson before Hunt because Jackson accepted what Miami felt was a fair-market deal. And because Jackson is a tackle, protecting Tua Tagovailoa's blind side. Hunt is an excellent guard. But he is a guard. We think something can get done because both sides would like to make it work. But guards are rarely a top priority when cutting costs.

The Quote: "I'm happy for Rob that he got to get back at the end of the year for us. We drafted him here. He’s gone through a bunch of different coaching philosophies and styles of an offensive line, and I think Mike (McDaniel) and then Butch Barry this year coming in did a fantastic job. Rob and all those offensive linemen worked tirelessly to improve and get better and buy into the scheme and so for us, like all of them, he’s earned the right to be a free agent. We did have a conversation with him during the season, so we’ll see what happens here as we go through it. But again, these guys have earned the rights to be free agents. We would like them to be here. They want to be here. So we’ll have to see what happens.” - Grier

Connor Williams, #33 overall, #1 center

PFF Take: "Williams started his career with the Dallas Cowboys at left guard and blossomed in Miami at center, thriving as a run blocker in Mike McDaniel’s zone-blocking scheme where he was 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. Williams unfortunately suffered a torn ACL in Week 14, which will negatively impact his free agent market as his recovery process coincides with the beginning of free agency in March."

Our Take: We think it would be smart for Williams to work out a contract to return to the Dolphins, even if only one a one- or two-year deal. Why? It was Miami who had the foresight to move him to center. He has a chance to prove he is completely over any snapping woes. He is an ideal fit for Miami's scheme. He is coached well by Butch Barry, Frank Smith and McDaniel. Perhaps he misses the first four weeks on PUP and then steps back in for Liam Eichenberg. There's a decent chance Williams won't do that, though, and that he departs for the most guaranteed money.

The Quote: "Connor was playing some good football for us and the leadership stuff he provided. 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.” - Grier

Andrew Van Ginkel #59 overall, #11 edge

PFF Take: "Van Ginkel has been a productive player in a rotational capacity and closed out the 2023 season with strong efforts in a bigger role following the Jaelan Phillips loss. Van Ginkel makes up for a slender frame and shorter arms with good burst off the line and plus movement ability in space, but he can get swallowed up by blockers. When he does get a free release upfield, he’ll make the play more often than not in the backfield. Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio asks his outside linebackers to drop in coverage rather frequently, and Van Ginkel was up to the task in 2023, including recording three batted passes and a pick-six against the Washington Commanders after reading a screen perfectly and taking it to the house unassisted."

Our Take: We were surprised at how many free agent edges were in this class. Perhaps that gives Miami a bit of hope they can bring AVG back. With injuries to Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips that figure to keep them off the field at the start of next season, bringing Van Ginkel back could be a huge bonus. He vibes with Fangio. He's a fan and coaching staff favorite. He's even a strong special teams contributor.

The Quote: "Whenever I step on the football field, I just play for each and every one of my family members and try to make them proud. It's all about pride at the end of the day. Either you have it or you don't." - Van Ginkel

Raekwon Davis, #102 overall, #17 defensive interior

PFF Take: "A top free agent comparison is Angelo Blackson in 2021." (Blackson has played for five NFL teams in nine NFL seasons).

Our Take: Davis has not been as dominant as hoped since entering the NFL as a second-round pick out of Alabama. In 63 games, he has two sacks and five tackles for loss. Davis did have his best run defense grade as per PFF since his rookie season of 2020. But in Fangio's system Davis saw a reduction in starts and snaps. He lost a ton of weight before last season but there wasn't a big uptick in dynamic plays.

DeShon Elliott, #135 overall, #14 safety

PFF Take: "Top free agent comparison is Louis Delmas, 2015." (Delmas played five seasons for the Lions and one for the Dolphins.)

Our Take: Elliott did a good job as a starting safety opposite Jevon Holland and it would be great for all parties if he returned. In Fangio's safety-friendly defense, Elliott had a career-high grade of 71.4 and career-best run defense grade of 87.3. It's also true Brandon Jones will be healthier and could be an option to start in 2024. Elliott does bring an element of toughness that Miami needs on its roster.

Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and Twitter @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: NFL Free Agency 2024: The Top 150 NFL free agents are out, where do Dolphins rank