NFL free agency tracker: Dolphins land a top receiver and address center
UPDATED (3:55 PM): The Dolphins have landed a starting caliber receiver: Will Fuller.
The former Houston Texan agreed to a one-year deal with Miami on Thursday afternoon, a source confirmed.
Fuller caught 53 passes for 879 yards (16.6 average) and eight touchdowns last season.
Check back for a lot more on Fuller shortly.
UPDATED (3:30 PM): Of the handful of new Dolphins who spoke to the media on Thursday, running back Malcolm Brown might have been most effusive about the roster he’s joining.
Though the Dolphins haven’t made any major upgrades to a team that missed the playoffs, Brown said he believes he’s joining what “seems like a championship caliber team.”
And he’s bullish on Tua Tagovailoa.
“He seems like a kid that’s going to be a great quarterback in this league,” Brown said. “I’m excited to work with him. Seems like a great talent, mobile. A lot of QBs are starting to be a whole lot more mobile. I think he’s a great player and going to be getting even better. Excited to be able to work with him.”
Brown has made only two starts in six seasons. Asked if he was told if he will be given a chance to compete to start, Brown didn’t answer directly, offering the often-cited message that he’s happy to contribute any way he can.
He described himself as “a hard nose runner, someone who can do everything. I got a chance to be more of a third down type of guy [with the Rams last season], catch passes out of the backfield a little more. I was able to do everything. I’m somebody who is tough, disciplined and just a team guy.”
Here’s my in-depth assessment of what the Dolphins are getting with Brown and their three other offensive additions.
UPDATED (12:55 P.M.): The Miami Dolphins have a starting center:
Matt Skura.
The former Baltimore Raven agreed to a one-year deal with the Dolphins, according to his agent David Canter, providing a replacement for Ted Karras the day after Karras rejoined the Patriots.
Skura, 28, looks to regain his excellent form that preceded a multi-ligament knee injury in 2019. With the Dolphins, he’ll have that chance.
The agreement takes them out of the running for David Andrews.
Skura played in 15 games and started 12 of those. Skura was benched by coach John Harbaugh in November of last season after two consecutive games in which he struggled with his shotgun snaps.
One of those games was against the New England Patriots in the rain in which Skura botched two snaps, including one that ended a potential game-winning drive.
According to ProFootballFocus.com, Skura graded out with a 49.1 overall rating. That was 34th out of 36 qualifying centers. Ted Karras, Miami’s 2020 starting center who is now in New England, was 17th among center.
Skura’s best season, per PFF was 2019 when he had a 68.7 overall grade.
Regardless, the Dolphins see Skura as a value and he now slides into the depth chart ahead of third-year lineman Michael Deiter.
UPDATED (10:57 a.m.) Two wide receiver names that have caught the fancy of Miami Dolphins fans are Kenny Golladay and JuJu Smith-Schuster.
And while neither of them is a WR1, both are very good at what they do and have great potential. Both would be a veteran upgrade for the Dolphins.
Except that doesn’t seem likely now.
The Cincinnati Bengals have shown interest in both receivers after losing A.J. Green, who signed with the Arizona Cardinals. And the two metro New York city teams are also in the mix.
The Jets have been in negotiations with Smith-Schuster’s camp in an attempt to lure him to the AFC East team. This despite the fact the Jets already added Tennessee free agent wide out Corey Davis.
The Giants are working on scheduling a free agent visit by Golladay that would take place possibly starting Thursday night or Friday. This despite the fact the Giants have only an estimated $6 million in salary cap space.
The point?
While the Dolphins have been disciplined (some might say snoozing) on chasing name wide receivers, even as prices have apparently come down, other teams are trying to seize opportunities.
UPDATED (10:20 a.m.): The Miami Dolphins have a budget for running back and they might have already hit it by signing Malcolm Brown to a one-year, $1.75 million contract.
But perhaps they could be convinced to reconsider, now that Phillip Lindsay is unexpectedly available.
“After several positive talks with Phillip Lindsay & his representation, we have mutually decided to part ways,” the Broncos announced Thursday. “From a college FA to the first undrafted offensive rookie to make the Pro Bowl, you made an incredible impact in the orange & blue.”
Added Lindsay’s agent, Mike McCartney: “After great conversations with the @Broncos, it’s been mutually decided that rescinding the RFA Tender is best for both Phillip Lindsay and the team. It’s been a great 3 years in Denver for @I_CU_boy. Nothing beats seeing @EmpowerField rocking as it did when #30 broke a long run.”
Lindsay has rushed for 2,550 yards, 17 touchdowns and has averaged 4.8 yards per carry in his career.
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A Dolphins free agency that nets Miami David Andrews, Jadeveon Clowney, Will Fuller, Adam Butler and Justin Coleman without overpaying would be, by any measure, a success.
And that conceivably could happen.
But it would take Chris Grier hitting an inside straight over the next couple of days.
He and Brian Flores have made the conscious decision not to pay full price for free agents.
And given the franchise’s relatively poor return on investment historically, that’s not the worst idea.
But their roster needs significant work, and not all of that work can be done in the draft.
The Dolphins enter Day 4 of free agency with somewhere in the ballpark of $20 million of cap space.
Is today the day they use it?
Here are the top names still available at Miami’s three biggest places of need:
Wide receiver: Fuller, Kenny Golladay, JuJu Smith-Schuster, T.Y. Hilton, Sammy Watkins, Antonio Brown.
Edge defender: Clowney, Justin Houston, Carlos Dunlap, Melvin Ingram, Aldon Smith.
Center: Andrews, Austin Reiter.
This story was originally published March 18, 2021 at 7:59 AM.
