Free agency tracker: Dolphins add running back, pursue another Texan, add a new backup QB
UPDATE 6:20 PM: The Dolphins added a veteran running back early Tuesday evening, agreeing to terms with career backup Malcolm Brown. The one-year contract is believed to be in the $2 million range.
Brown joins Myles Gaskin, Salvon Ahmed, Patrick Laird and Jordan Scarlett as running backs under contract.
The fact the Dolphins didn’t sign a starting running back in free agency suggests they might use an early-round draft pick on a running back.
At least one of the draft’s top three backs -- Alabama’s Najee Harris, Clemson’s Travis Etienne and North Carolina’s Javonte Williams - could be available with Miami’s pick at 36.
Brown, 27, has spent his entire six year career with the Rams but has started only two games. He ran 101 times for 419 yards, a 4.1 average, last season, and caught 23 passes for 162 yards.
He has a 4.0 career rushing average and 11 touchdowns on 298 rushing attempts. As a receiver, he has 43 catches for 327 yards and one touchdown.
Brown, who is 5-11 and 222 pounds, went undrafted out of Texas in 2015.
UPDATE 5:55 PM: The Dolphins are pursuing yet another Houston Texan.
According to a league source, Miami is among three teams in the mix for Tyrell Adams, an inside linebacker who had 125 tackles and two sacks in 16 games for Houston last season, including 12 starts.
His 125 tackles tied for 10th most in the NFL.
It was a breakout year for the 28-year-old Adams, who started two games over his first four seasons. He spent his first two years with the Raiders and the past three with the Texans.
If Miami added Adams, he would join Jerome Baker and former Texans Pro Bowler Benardrick McKinney as the Dolphins’ top inside linebackers.
The 6-2, 230-pound linebacker was born in Atlanta and went undrafted out of West Georgia.
The Dolphins also continue to search for reasonably priced outside linebackers and defensive linemen.
UPDATE 5:45 PM: Matt Haack, the Dolphins’ punter for the past four seasons, agreed to terms with the Buffalo Bills, per NFL Network. Miami replaced him last week with Michael Palardy, a former Carolina Panthers punter who missed last season due to injury.
UPDATE 5:30 PM: The Dolphins have found their backup quarterback, agreeing to terms with Jacoby Brissett on a one-year deal. Brissett, who attended Palm Beach Dwyer High, will back up Tua Tagovailoa, barring a trade for Houston’s Deshaun Watson.
Brissett has 31 touchdowns, 13 interceptions and an 84.1 career rating. He’s 12-20 as a starter.
Indianapolis signed Philip Rivers to replace him as their starter last year. Brissett completed 2 of 8 passes for 17 yards last season.
He started 15 games for the Colts in 2019, throwing 18 touchdowns and six interceptions.
He has averaged 6.6 yards per attempt and 11 yards per completion in his career.
Brissett, 28, replaces Ryan Fitzpatrick, who agreed to terms with Washington.
Per The Boston Globe, Brissett will earn $5 million guaranteed with the Dolphins, with the potential to earn an additional $2.5 more in incentives.
UPDATE (5:25 PM): The Dolphins, seeking a new backup quarterback, have strong interest in Colts free agent Jacoby Brissett, a source told The Miami Herald.
Brian Hoyer is among the Dolphins secondary options if they can’t get Brissett, who is their priority.
Also available in free agency as of 5:30 p.m.: AJ McCarron, Colt McCoy, Alex Smith, Matt Barkley, Blaine Gabbert, CJ Beathard, Nick Mullens, Blake Bortles and Mike Glennon. Chicago’s Mitch Trubisky looking to start.
UPDATE (5:20 p.m.): Wow. Talk about news coming in bunches.
In a span of five minutes Tuesday, one of the better free agent wide receivers came off the market and the Texans got a contingency plan in case they ever decide to move Deshaun Watson.
Let’s take them in chronological order:
First, the Jaguars reportedly agreed to terms with wide receiver Marvin Jones. ESPN reports the deal is for $14.5 million over two years.
Jones wasn’t in the top tier of available receivers, but wasn’t far off. His affordable salary suggests the market does indeed remain soft at that position. The Dolphins made preliminary call about Jones and he had interest in Miami, but nothing ever materialized.
Then, the big one:
The Texans are signing Tyrod Taylor to a one-year contract worth up to $12.5 million. Of course, it’s incentive laden, but still it’s a solid deal for a backup.
And technically, he is the backup to Watson, who wants out. Officially, the Texans have no interest in trading him. But sometimes actions speak louder than words.
UPDATE (3:35 p.m.): Cross New York Giants-bound John Ross off the list of available receivers that the Dolphins inquired about.
The Dolphins were among the teams who called to express some interest in Ross this week, according to source. But Ross agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Giants on Tuesday, per NFL Network.
Ross, selected ninth overall by Cincinnati in 2017, has 51 career catches for 773 yards and 10 touchdowns in 27 games. He moves on from the Bengals after four seasons.
The Giants had been mentioned as a suitor for Kenny Golladay, a Dolphins target who remained unsigned as of mid-afternoon Tuesday.
Among other prominent receivers still unsigned as of 3:30 p.m.: Curtis Samuel, Will Fuller, Marvin Jones, TY Hilton and JuJu Smith-Schuster.
UPDATE (3:30 p.m.): At this point, we’ll share any news that’s remotely interesting. That’s how slow free agency has been for the Dolphins through the first two days.
So here’s some news, and a suggestion: The Raiders cut center Rodney Hudson — which was shocking considering: A. He’s good (Hudson had a Pro Football Focus grade of 73.6 and allowed just one sack last year); and B. He costs the Raiders more in cap off the team than on it.
When someone like that is cut, it raises antennae around the league. What else is in play?
If nothing negative, the Dolphins should absolutely pounce — or at least drive up the price for whoever ultimately signs him. With another center on the market, the Dolphins should be able to sign a good one at a reasonable price.
UPDATE (1:58 p.m.): Linebacker Vince Biegel has officially signed his new one-year deal with the Dolphins.
UPDATE (12:05 p.m.): The Dolphins and the Patriots seem to be vying for the same starting center options.
The Dolphins have engaged with Patriots free agent center David Andrews even while the Patriots have stayed in touch with the player and not ruled out re-signing him. The trouble here for Miami is the Patriots have much more salary cap space -- even after their spending spree -- than Miami.
Andrews, 28, has started 69-of-72 games played in New England and is a locker room leader.
Interestingly, if the Dolphins land Andrews, the Patriots could turn to Dolphins free agent Ted Karras, who was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round in 2016 and started for New England at center in 2019 when Andrews was out for the season with blood clots in his lungs.
If that suggests Karras and Andrews are virtually interchangeable, that might be the case. According to Pro Football Focus, Andrews was ranked as the 14th best center in the NFL and Karras was No. 17 in 2020.
Baltimore’s Max Skura is also an option for the Dolphins.
The Dolphins have told Karras they want him back, but that hasn’t translated to a firm offer.
UPDATE (10:45 a.m.): Suddenly, the Dolphins have to worry about not just one, but two really good tight ends in New England. The day after locking up Jonnu Smith, who might be the best tight end on the market, they got Hunter Henry, who is Smith’s only competition for that title.
Henry is leaving the Chargers for New England after agreeing to a three-year, $37.5 million deal to close in on the Dolphins’ single-season record for guaranteed money paid to free agents ($147.2 million).
Smith and Henry combined to catch 101 passes for 1,061 yards and 12 touchdowns last year.
Good luck, Eric Rowe and Bobby McCain.
One more note: Bill Belichick has set up the offseason to do something he’s never done as a head coach: Take a quarterback in Round 1. With nine draft picks (including two in the top 50), he has the assets he needs to move up into the top 10 and get one.
UPDATE (10:30 a.m.): The Dolphins have indicated to backup offensive lineman Adam Pankey that he’s going to be tendered, according to an associate, but the team has not publicly confirmed that. The lowest tender for Pankey - under NFL rules - would be $2.183 million.
The veteran tackle, who has spent four years in the league, logged just 28 offensive snaps for Miami in 2020 and often was used as a sixth lineman in short yardage situations.
With Pankey on the books by the end of the week - combined with the three year, $8.2 million deal with fullback/tight end Cethan Carter - Miami’s 2021 cap space will fall below $30 million. The Dolphins need $11.9 million to sign their draft class and another $2 million for a practice squad. But more cap space can easily be created.
# # #
We’re back for Day 2, and simple math suggest it’ll be just as busy as Day 1 — and probably busier.
The Dolphins didn’t really address any of their major needs Monday, aside from bringing back edge defender Vince Biegel, who was hurt last year, and signing special teamer Cethan Carter.
Meanwhile., they lost three significant pieces to other teams: Their 2019 MVP Ryan Fitzpatrick (who agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract with the Washington Football Team), rotational defensive lineman Davon Godchaux (who will soon be a New England Patriot) and key specialist Kamu Grugier-Hill (who’s rejoining Nick Caserio in Houston).
But the Dolphins, who opted for value over splash this offseason with just over $30 million in cap space, can still achieve their objective. Seven of NFL.com’s top 20 free agents remain without a deal, including four wide receivers: Detroit’s Kenny Golladay, Houston’s Will Fuller, Carolina’s Curtis Samuel, Pittsburgh’s JuJu Smith-Schuster.
The Dolphins also need an edge rusher, and while there was a run on those late Monday, the cupboard isn’t exactly bare. Remaining available options include Jadeveon Clowney, Haason Reddick, Carlos Dunlap and Justin Houston.
This story was originally published March 16, 2021 at 7:34 AM with the headline "Free agency tracker: Dolphins add running back, pursue another Texan, add a new backup QB."
