The Dolphins have claimed a player from a division rival, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com, who tweets that Miami was awarded defensive tackle Chris Jones off waivers. Jones was cut by the Patriots on Friday.
Jones, 25, missed the entire 2015 campaign, spending it on the PUP list, but was solid in his first two seasons in New England, recording nine total sacks in 28 games. He started 22 regular-season contests during those two years, and also started two of his four playoff games with the team, recording one postseason sack.
Because of his play during the 2013 and 2014 seasons, Jones was in line for an increased salary of $1.671MM in 2016, having been a recipient of a proven performance escalator. While those pay bumps are meant to be rewards for young players who have outperformed their draft slot, the raise may have actually contributed to Jones’ release, since the Pats likely deemed the $1.671MM non-guaranteed salary too rich for a player coming off a lost year.
For the Dolphins, rolling the dice on Jones makes some sense — because his salary is non-guaranteed, the team has nothing to lose if it turns out that he doesn’t earn a spot on Miami’s 53-man roster.
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