Dolphins Still Interested In Logan Ryan?

The team with two cornerbacks signed for more than $15MM per year may still have interest in adding another veteran. The Dolphins are still in the mix for Logan Ryan, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com notes (video link).

Ryan and the Dolphins have engaged in recent discussions, per Garafolo, even if the Jets may now be a better bet to land the ex-Patriots and Titans defender. Ryan has said he will not return to the Titans. The Dolphins were high on Ryan in March, but no deal commenced. The 29-year-old cornerback has remained in free agency for nearly two months.

A report earlier Tuesday indicated the Jets are expected to land Ryan, who still wants $10MM per year. That may be unrealistic at this point in the offseason, but the Jets have a far bigger need at corner than the Dolphins.

Miami extended Xavien Howard on a $15.1MM-AAV deal last year and in March made Byron Jones the NFL’s first $16MM-per-year cornerback. In terms of per-year salary, Jones and Howard are the NFL’s second- and third-highest-paid corners. If that wasn’t enough, the Dolphins drafted Noah Igbinoghene in the first round.

Brian Flores, however, was on New England’s staff throughout Ryan’s Patriots tenure. The Dolphins have already added ex-Pats Eric Rowe, Kyle Van Noy, Elandon Roberts and Ted Karras since Flores’ arrival. Ryan could be seen as a slot stopgap while Igbinoghene develops. The Dolphins are still among the leaders in cap space, holding $23.4MM.

New York released the ineffective Trumaine Johnson but signed Pierre Desir shortly after his Colts release. The Jets also brought back slot corner Brian Poole but drafted just one corner — Virginia’s Bryce Hall, in Round 5 — this year. Ryan would fit in as a veteran to play alongside Desir and Poole potentially.

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