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Seth Wenig/Associated Press

It was a dream come true for both Olivier Vernon and Lamar Miller when the two players were selected by the Miami Dolphins in the 2012 draft.

Both players are South Florida natives who not only went to high school there (Vernon is an alum of American High School near Miami Lakes, while Miller attended Killian High School in Kendall) but wound up going to the University of Miami.

Vernon told Andy Kent of the Dolphins' official site in 2012:

It was crazy. We never really thought about that before and we didn’t think it was going to happen. I remember one day Lamar and I were talking about it over lunch and we never would have thought we would have been where we are right now. But we’re just enjoying it and taking it in stride right now. Our parents don’t have to waste any money on plane tickets so they’re enjoying it as well.

Now entering their fourth seasons with the club, Vernon's and Miller's drafting has been a dream come true for the Dolphins and Dolphins fans, as both local kids have made good.

Miller is coming off a breakout season in 2014 that saw him run for 1,099 yards and eight touchdowns for an average of 5.1 yards per carry, while Vernon has started 30 games in the last three years while amassing 21.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and 96 tackles on the defensive line.

Now comes the nightmare: Both players are entering free agency after the 2015 season, and it might be difficult for Miami to sign both of them, or even one of them.

Miller's contract might not be too much of a challenge. The running back position has been devalued in recent seasons, and as good as Miller has been, he's still not seen as an every down running back. That might stunt his value even more, allowing the Dolphins to re-sign him to a reasonable deal.

Vernon, being a pass rusher, is at a very high-valued position at which teams are willing to throw big money around (Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald said that $12 million a year is the floor for negotiations between Vernon and the Dolphins). Considering how much money the Dolphins have thrown around in recent years, their cap situation in 2016 looks to be onerous, and sacrifices will have to be made.

It's conceivable that Miami could decide that Vernon isn't worth the price he could command on the open market and instead use the draft to find its next big pass-rusher. It wouldn't be the most prudent long-term move, as Cameron Wake's successor will have to be in place soon, and it would help to have Vernon in tow already, especially since he will be only 25 in 2016.

It's surprising that in an offseason that has seen the Dolphins not only sign new players to long-term deals while locking up young stars like Mike Pouncey and Ryan Tannehill, Vernon hasn't gotten his shot. In a contract year alongside Wake and Ndamukong Suh, it shouldn't be a surprise if Vernon turns in his best season to date.

The potential for a future headache is huge and will hang over the Dolphins not just throughout training camp but throughout the season.