Right guard Robert Hunt leaving Dolphins for reported $100 million deal
The free agency raid that claimed a trio of the Dolphins’ defenders on the first day of the NFL’s legal tampering period has now seeped into the offense.
Right guard Robert Hunt has agreed to terms on a five-year, $100 million contract with the Carolina Panthers, according to multiple reports, leaving Miami after spending the first four seasons of his career with the team.
According to ESPN, the deal includes $63 million guaranteed.
The Dolphins selected Hunt, 27, with the No. 39 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Hunt started 55 games over four seasons, primarily at right guard and has developed into one of the better interior offensive linemen.
Miami had contract talks with Hunt during the 2023 season but general manager Chris Grier said at the NFL Scouting Combine that Hunt wanted to test free agency.
Like defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, who is reportedly signing a four-year, $110 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders, the Dolphins were going to be unable to compete with offers on the open market, given their precarious cap situation. Miami is $25 million over the cap, as of Monday afternoon, and must become compliant by the start of the new league year on Wednesday.
Recent deals for the Los Angeles Rams’ Kevin Dotson (three years, $48 million) and Jacksonville Jaguars’ Ezra Cleveland (three years, $24 million) only boosted Hunt’s market, leaving him as the top interior lineman available when the legal tampering period opened at noon. Deals cannot be finalized until 4 p.m. Wednesday.
The Dolphins will now have to find a replacement for a homegrown talent that has gone elsewhere and they could have in-house options. Liam Eichenberg, Lester Cotton and Robert Jones filled in for Hunt when he was injured last season and are under contract for the 2024 season.
Grier, though, said the team would have to add some offensive linemen this offseason with starters Isaiah Wynn and Connor Williams also free agents.
The Dolphins are also losing safety Brandon Jones (Denver Broncos), outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (Minnesota Vikings) and right guard Robert Hunt (Carolina Panthers), who have reportedly agreed to new deals elsewhere.
This story was originally published March 11, 2024 at 3:38 PM.
