How Byron Jones’ surgery impacts status. And Dolphins with decision to make at safety
The chances of the Dolphins moving on from cornerback Byron Jones appeared to diminish this week when his salary become guaranteed amid an injury that required surgery.
Jones is now guaranteed $14.4 million salary for 2022 in the wake of surgery in the area of his ankle and Achilles. A source said the timetable for recovery is two to three months.
He’s expected back in time for training camp.
There had been speculation that the Dolphins could move on from Jones and sign another cornerback, with New England impending free agent J.C. Jackson one potential target.
But moving on from Jones this offseason always had a downside from a financial standpoint.
If he’s cut before June 1, there would be $4.2 million in cap savings but $12.3 million in dead money. If he’s traded before June 1, there would be $10.2 million in savings and $6.3 million in dead money.
And with his full salary now guaranteed for 2022, he’s likely to return next season in year three of a five-year deal, barring a team trading for him.
Jones is wearing a walking boot and using crutches. On Wednesday, he posted photos of his surgically repaired left ankle on Instagram.
Jones last season finished with a 97.8 passer rating in his coverage area: 54 completions in 86 targets for 655 yards, three touchdowns permitted and no interceptions.
SAFETY OUTLOOK
Part 8 of a 10-part series with notes and nuggets on every Dolphins position. Today, we focus on safeties:
▪ The Dolphins have found a longterm starter in Jevon Holland and might have found another in Brandon Jones.
But we need to see another year of Jones to be sure.
Among 94 qualifying safeties, Pro Football Focus rated Holland fourth in overall performance last season, Eric Rowe 25th and Jones 84th.
We know that Brandon Jones can blitz. We know that he can tackle. We know that he can run.
The question with Jones always has been coverage skills. For the second consecutive season, he permitted a passer rating well above 100.
This past season, it was 114.2, with 22 completions in 25 targets for 305 yards, or 13.6 per catch. But he did have an interception and allowed only one TD in his coverage area.
Jones said last season that he’s working to improve that skill, and that must happen for Jones to be Holland’s long term running mate.
On the plus side, Jones led all NFL safeties with five sacks and 17 pressures.
▪ Holland, meanwhile, allowed an 88.6 passer rating in his coverage area – with just 12 completions in 22 targets for 208 yards, four touchdowns allowed and two interceptions.
What’s more, he had three sacks (second among all NFL safeties), 16 pressures (also second behind teammate Jones) and two forced fumbles.
▪ In an interesting PFF piece about Holland, Doug Kyed noted that “Holland is PFF’s highest-graded rookie safety since Derwin James’ 2018 season. He was dangerous as Miami’s post safety, registering the fourth-highest forced incompletion rate among safeties with at least 250 snaps [at 27.7 percent]. He also had the fourth-highest coverage grade among safeties with at least 100 combined snaps in Cover-0 or Cover-1.”
What’s more, Holland was third in coverage grade among all safeties.
▪ Per PFF, the Dolphins allocated Holland’s snaps this way:
642 at free safety; 114 in the box; 83 at the line of scrimmage; 36 in the slot; and 17 at cornerback.
▪ Eric Rowe had a 111.5 passer rating in his coverage area, with 48 completions in 61 throws against for 416 yards (just 8.7 per catch), with 3 TDs allowed and no interceptions.
Miami faces an interesting offseason decision with Rowe, who’s entering the final year of his contract.
Rowe is due to make $2.5 million next season, none of it guaranteed. But his $5.1 million cap hit shrinks to $525,000 if he’s cut. Rowe stands at risk, not only because of the contract but also because of Holland’s and Jones’ development. And Brian Flores, a big supporter of Rowe, is no longer around.
▪ Clayton Fejedelem, one of Miami’s better special teams players, is due $2.5 million in 2022 (none of it guaranteed), with a $2.8 million cap hit that totally disappears if he’s cut. He survived last offseason with similar financial numbers. Whether he survives another offseason is questionable.
Among the other veteran free agents, Jason McCourty - who missed the second half of the year - with a foot injury - is not expected back. Elijah Campbell, another special teams player, is an exclusive rights free agent who was tendered by the team on Tuesday. He will make nearly $900,000 if he makes the team.
Holland and Jones will each make $1 million next season – year two of a four-year deal for Holland, year three of a four-year deal for Jones.
Here’s part 1 of the series on Tua Tagovailoa.
Here’s part 2 of the series on the Dolphins’ wide receivers.
Here’s part 3 of the series on Mike Gesicki.
Here’s part 4 of the series on tight end options.
Here’s part 5 of the series on running backs and options to improve the position.
Here’s part 6 of the series on Dolphins cornerbacks.
Here’s part 7 of the series on Dolphins defensive linemen.
This story was originally published March 9, 2022 at 2:28 PM.
