Dolphins, FB Alec Ingold Agree To Terms
Mike McDaniel‘s previous team reset the fullback market. His new one is adding a well-regarded blocking back as well.
The Dolphins and Alec Ingold agreed to a deal Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. It is a two-year pact worth up to $7.5MM. While precise terms are not yet available, this is a nice fullback contract.
Although Ingold’s deal does not threaten Kyle Juszczyk‘s place atop the fullback salary hierarchy, the latter’s usage in Kyle Shanahan‘s offense points to Ingold being valued well by McDaniel’s team. The Raiders did not tender Ingold as a restricted free agent, but this deal points to him earning more than the low-end RFA tender figures would pay.
Ingold, 25, played between 20% and 23% of the Raiders’ offensive plays during his three-year stay with the team. Juszczyk was on the field for 56% of the 49ers’ snaps last season, making it safe to assume Ingold’s usage rate will increase in Miami.
Dolphins To Re-Sign LB Sam Eguavoen
Sam Eguavoen is staying with the Dolphins. The linebacker is inking a new one-year deal with Miami, reports NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo (via Twitter).
The one year pact will pay Eguavoen $2MM, with $800K of the deal fully guaranteed.
The Texas Tech product had to settle for a CFL gig after going undrafted in 2015, and he ended up spending three seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He got a chance with the Dolphins in 2019, and he’s made the most of his opportunity, appearing in all 49 games for Miami over the past three years.
That includes a 2021 campaign where Eguavoen collected 16 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and a fumble-return touchdown in 17 games. While Eguavoen spent some time on defense, he had a particularly large role on special teams.
NFL Announces Compensatory Picks For 2022 Draft
The NFL has awarded compensatory draft picks for teams in the 2022 draft. These picks are awarded to the teams that suffered the most significant free agent losses during the 2021 offseason.
This year, the NFL awarded 39 comp picks. The comp pick formula assigns picks to franchises who suffered the largest net losses, so teams that signed multiple free agents have a lesser chance of receiving picks.
This year’s formula also includes the changes made last year, when teams began receiving third-round comp picks due to the hiring of minority head coaches and general managers. Seven such picks were awarded this year. The 49ers landed two additional third-rounders this year, obtaining the extra selections for the Jets’ 2021 Robert Saleh hire and the Dolphins hiring Mike McDaniel this year. Miami’s McDaniel hire will give San Francisco another third-rounder in 2023.
The Chiefs obtained a third-rounder for the Bears’ Ryan Poles GM hire, while the Browns landed a third because of the Vikings’ Kwesi Adofo-Mensah GM hire. The Ravens collected their second third-round for the Texans’ 2021 David Culley hire; Culley has since been fired. The Saints and Rams obtained one apiece after seeing the Falcons and Lions hire minority execs Terry Fontenot and Brad Holmes as GMs in 2021. New Orleans and Detroit also landed thirds because of players given high-value contacts last year (Trey Hendrickson and Kenny Golladay, respectively).
Here is the full list of 2022 compensatory selections:
By round:
Round 3: Lions (No. 97 overall), Saints (98), Browns (99)*, Ravens (100)*, Saints (101)*, 49ers (102)*, Chiefs (103)*, Rams (104)*, 49ers (105)*
Round 4: Steelers (No. 138), Ravens (139), Packers (140), Ravens (141), Rams (142), Titans (143)
Round 5: Cowboys (No. 176), Lions (177), Cowboys (178), Colts (179)
Round 6: Rams (No. 211), Rams (212), Falcons (213), Chargers (214), Cardinals (215), Colts (216), Lions (217), Rams (218), Titans (219), 49ers (220), 49ers (221)
Round 7: Chargers (No. 254), Chargers (255), Cardinals (256), Cardinals (257), Packers (258), Chiefs (259), Chargers (260), Buccaneers (261), 49ers (262)
By team:
San Francisco 49ers (5)
Los Angeles Rams (5)
Los Angeles Chargers (4)
Arizona Cardinals (3)
Baltimore Ravens (3)
Detroit Lions (3)
Dallas Cowboys (2)
Green Bay Packers (2)
Indianapolis Colts (2)
Kansas City Chiefs (2)
New Orleans Saints (2)
Tennessee Titans (2)
Atlanta Falcons (1)
Cleveland Browns (1)
Pittsburgh Steelers (1)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1)
* = special compensatory selection
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/15/22
We’ll keep tabs on today’s minor moves here:
Carolina Panthers
- Re-signed: S Sean Chandler
Chicago Bears
- Re-signed: LS Patrick Scales
Dallas Cowboys
- Re-signed: TE Jeremy Sprinkle
Houston Texans
- Signed: LB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Extended: WR Terry Godwin
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: CB Darius Phillips
Miami Dolphins
- Re-signed: LB Duke Riley, LB Elandon Roberts
Philadelphia Eagles
- Re-signed: DB Andre Chachere, WR Greg Ward
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: S A.J. Moore
Dolphins To Sign Connor Williams
The Dolphins have agreed to sign Connor Williams (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). The former Cowboys offensive lineman will take his talents to South Beach on a two-year, $14MM deal with $7.5MM fully guaranteed. 
[RELATED: Dolphins To Re-Sign P. Williams]
This year’s guard market was headlined by the likes of Brandon Scherff, Laken Tomlinson, Alex Cappa, and Mark Glowinski. Scherff (Jaguars, $16.5MM/year) and Tomlinson (Jets, $13.3MM/year) found huge paydays earlier this week, clearing the way for the next tier of interior lineman like Williams.
Williams emerged as a key piece of the Cowboys’ front five as a rookie in 2018. All together, he’s started in 51 of his 57 games, improving steadily from 2018 through 2020. Last year, however, he got a little bit sloppy as he drew 15 flags on the year. The Cowboys shuffled him in and out of the lineup at times, an indication that they’d look to upgrade at guard.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins have welcomed back one of their own Williams-es on Tuesday. Wide receiver Preston Williams, who has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career, agreed to a one-year deal that could pay ~$2MM.
Dolphins To Re-Sign Preston Williams
The Dolphins will re-sign Preston Williams to a one-year deal (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). Williams can earn up to $1.99MM on the contract, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald (Twitter link).
[RELATED: Dolphins To Sign Wilson]
Williams joined the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He’s since appeared in 24 games for Miami, notching 56 grabs for 787 yards and seven touchdowns. Williams has impressed at times, including his rookie year when he managed 32 receptions for 428 yards and three TDs in eight games.
Still, injuries and other issues have sidetracked him. That aforementioned rookie year ended with an ACL tear and his 2021 was cut short by a foot injury. Williams has played in exactly eight games in each of his three seasons, losing ground on the depth chart with time. As a result, the Dolphins were hesitant to cuff the restricted free agent with a $2.6MM tender.
Now that he’s back in the fold, he’ll fight for playing time alongside WRs DeVante Parker, Jaylen Waddle, and Cedrick Wilson.
Dolphins TE Mike Gesicki Signs Franchise Tender
Mike Gesicki is officially locked in for next season. The Dolphins tight end has inked his franchise tender, reports ESPN’s Field Yates (via Twitter).
The tag value for tight ends is set at $10.93MM, though that positional label could have been problematic in Gesicki’s case. Rarely used as an in-line blocker, the former second rounder primarily lines up in the slot to maximize his skill set. As a result, the possibility existed for him to file a grievance to be listed as a receiver.
Gesicki may have been willing to tolerate the TE tag because he’s anticipating a long-term deal with the Dolphins. The team sides could still ink an extension over the next few months.
The 26-year-old was considered one of this year’s top candidates for the tag, given the increasing role he has taken on within the Dolphins’ offense over his career. In the past three seasons, he has totaled 177 catches, 2,053 yards and 13 touchdowns. He would have been one of the most sought-after TEs on the open market. Instead, he’ll be sticking around Miami for at least another season.
Dolphins To Sign Keion Crossen
Keion Crossen is heading back to the AFC East. After starting his professional career with the Patriots, the special teams ace is signing with the Dolphins, reports Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (via Twitter).
Crossen got a three-year deal worth $10.5MM. The player negotiated the contract himself, per Wilson. The deal contains more than $3MM in guaranteed money, with only the first season of the deal fully guaranteed (Twitter link).
Following his rookie season in New England, Crossen spent two seasons with the Texans, including a 2020 campaign where he compiled a career-high 46 tackles while appearing in a career-high 28 percent of his team’s defensive snaps.
Crossen was traded to the Giants last August for a sixth-round pick. He ended up getting into 16 games for his new team, compiling 13 tackles while primarily appearing on special teams.
Dolphins To Sign QB Teddy Bridgewater
Tua Tagovailoa will have a new backup in 2022. Teddy Bridgewater is signing with the Dolphins, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. It’s a one-year deal worth $6.5MM fully guaranteed, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter). The deal could be worth up to $10MM with incentives.
This will be the former first-round pick’s sixth team, and it will mark a return to QB2 duty for the recent Broncos and Panthers starter. Bridgewater rebuilt his value as Drew Brees‘ backup in New Orleans and landed a big deal from the Panthers in 2020, but after Carolina and Denver moved on from him after one season apiece, the Louisville product will provide Miami with one of the NFL’s best backup options.
Formerly with the Vikings and Jets (offseason only) as well, Bridgewater is entering his age-30 season. The eight-year veteran held off Drew Lock to be Denver’s starter last season and had the team at 7-6 before suffering his second concussion of the year. The Broncos shut him down after that Week 15 setback, and the team lost to the Bengals after Bridgewater went down and proceeded to drop its final three games with Lock at the controls.
Tagovailoa backup duty carries significant responsibility, with Tua having entered the NFL after a major hip injury. He then suffered another injury early in the 2021 season, moving Jacoby Brissett into Miami’s lineup. Brissett will now seek work elsewhere.
Bridgewater finished with an 18-7 TD-INT ratio with the Broncos, doing so despite missing three full games and another half after suffering his initial 2021 concussion against the Ravens. While known as one of the league’s more conservative passers, Bridgewater checks off a key box for the Dolphins. He has made 63 starts in his career, having battled back from a brutal knee injury that ended his first run as a starter back in 2016.
Dolphins To Add WR Cedrick Wilson
Two former Cowboys are now bound for AFC rosters. Two days after Dallas traded Amari Cooper to Cleveland, Cedrick Wilson has committed to Miami, Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram tweets.
The Dolphins are giving Wilson a three-year deal worth $22.8MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. They are giving the former Cowboys supporting-caster $12.8MM guaranteed. His $4MM 2022 base salary is fully guaranteed, as is $5MM of his $7MM 2023 salary, according to PFF’s Doug Kyed (on Twitter).
Michael Gallup‘s injuries opened the door for extensive Wilson playing time last season, and it came at an ideal time for Wilson, who parlayed his contract year into a big raise. The former sixth-round pick had a breakout campaign in 2021, finishing with 45 receptions for 602 yards and six scores. The 26-year-old also returned a career-high 11 punts.
The Dolphins are likely moving on from Will Fuller, who only played three games for them after signing a one-year deal worth $10MM in 2021. The team still has longtime staple DeVante Parker and saw Jaylen Waddle emerge quickly as a go-to weapon. Wilson will join Miami’s mix, as the team transitions to a Mike McDaniel-run offense.
It remains to be seen if the organization is still targeting top-of-the-depth-chart receivers, although Wilson would be a logical number-three wideout behind Parker and Waddle. The Dolphins were connected to Cooper, who was born in Miami, before he landed with the Browns, and Miami was also mentioned as a suitor for DJ Chark.