The Miami Dolphins (probably) have their starting right tackle
The Dolphins have a right tackle — right on schedule.
The team has agreed to terms with ex-Bills lineman Jordan Mills, marking Miami’s first foray into the post-May 7 free agency period.
The timing of the deal does not impact Miami’s 2020 compensatory picks, expected to be a third- and a fifth-round pick.
And it is lockstep with Chris Grier’s go-young, go-cheap philosophy. Mills’ contract terms? One year, $3 million.
Mills joins the Dolphins after starting every game for Buffalo the last three seasons.
While offensive line coach Pat Flaherty said Thursday that the Dolphins will hold an “open” competition at right tackle between Mills, Zach Sterup and Isaiah Prince during training camp, it would be stunning if Mills does not start Week 1 on Josh Rosen’s strong side.
The Bills gave up 41 sacks in 2018, 14th most in football. Granted, the Dolphins allowed 52 sacks last year, so that would be an improvement.
Mills was the 70th-rated tackle in football last year, according to Pro Football Focus, with an average grade. He has played 1,000 snaps in each of the past three seasons. He’s one of just seven NFL tackles to do so.
Since 2016, Mills allowed the most pressures allowed by any Bills lineman and posted the lowest pass-blocking grade of any of the team’s qualifying offensive linemen.
“He’s a veteran,” Flaherty said. “He’s played a lot of football. He was in Buffalo this past season. Being and watching tape from week to week, you have a lot of crossover tapes, so I had an opportunity to see him there. I think he’s a good football player. Still, even though he’s been in the league a little bit, he’s got a high ceiling and he can even get better at a lot of things he’s doing. We’re excited about having him.”
Flaherty added: “We’ll see how it goes. It’s hard to evaluate where you are on the offensive line until you put pads on.”
▪ The Dolphins on Thursday got their first-round pick, Christian Wilkins, under contract. Wilkins was one of five draft picks to have signed their rookie contracts. The others: linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, tackle Isaiah Prince and running backs Chandler Cox and Myles Gaskin.
Wilkins’ four-year contract is expected to pay him in the neighborhood of $15.5 million with a signing bonus of just over $9 million.
The Dolphins also announced they have signed 18 undrafted rookies: center Ryan Anderson, guard Shaq Calhoun, long snapper Wesley Farnsworth, linebacker Terrill Hanks, defensive back Montre Hartage, defensive end Dewayne Hendrix, cornerback Tyler Horton, wide receiver Trenton Irwin, running back Patrick Laird, defensive end Jonathan Ledbetter, tackle Aaron Monteiro, tight end Chris Myarick, cornerback Nik Needham, safety Rob Rolle, defensive tackle Cory Thomas, linebacker Tre’ Watson, wide receiver Preston Williams and punter Stone Wilson.
This story was originally published May 9, 2019 at 1:19 PM.