AFC East Notes: Anderson, Dolphins, Patriots
With the Dolphins holding the fifth-overall pick, the team may have to make a trade if they want to select quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. General manager Chris Grier acknowledged that a deal is possible, but he cautioned that trade talks have yet to take place.
“No, not yet, because we’re so early,” Grier told reporters (including Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald). “No team has really met many of these guys yet. So I think until everyone goes through the process, as we’ve talked about, that’s when we’ll make determinations on what’s best for our franchise.”
As Salguero observes, Miami is armed with assets. The team owns three first-rounders and a pair of second-rounders in the upcoming draft, and they also have two first-rounders in 2021.
“We feel good,” Grier said. “History shows with the things we’ve done and the picks we’ve acquired and the money that we feel good about our standing and the flexibility to move up and down or stand pat.
“It’s a conversation that sometimes it happens before you talk and sometimes it might happen when you’re on the clock on draft day. Again, it’s weighing. You look at what’s available, how many players are at that position and available as you’re looking at your board. And then in terms of when you’re doing it in free agency it’s just working with the team and seeing what’s best for your organization.
“It’s a lot of conversations. It’s nothing that’s ever done quickly. And in terms of when [it includes] veteran parts you’re looking at salary cap money, how it’s going to affect the years and length left on contracts.”
Let’s check out some more notes from the AFC East…
- If the Patriots end up seeking a replacement for Tom Brady, Jeff Howe of The Athletic doesn’t believe a move will come via the draft. The reporter opines that the organization doesn’t have/isn’t willing to give up the ammo it’d take to acquire any of the top quarterback prospects, and he’s uncertain the team will take a chance on Jordan Love should he fall in the draft. After that, Howe isn’t convinced that any of the available prospects have a higher-ceiling than Jarrett Stidham, who the team selected in the fourth round of last year’s draft.
- The Jets are going to make an effort to re-sign wideout Robby Anderson, reports Tony Pauline of ProFootballNetwork. However, the 26-year-old could end up commanding big money, especially if Amari Cooper is retained via franchise tag and A.J. Green and/or Emmanuel Sanders are retained by their current teams. In that scenario, Anderson would arguably be the top free agent receiver, and there will be plenty of teams lining up for his services.
- In case you missed it, we learned earlier today that the Bills have expressed interest in free agent cornerback Josh Norman.
Dolphins’ Karl Dorrell To Land Colorado HC Job
3:29pm: That was fast. Dorrell has accepted Colorado’s offer to replace Mel Tucker, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. This will be Dorrell’s first HC gig since he coached UCLA from 2003-07. The Dolphins promoted Dorrell to assistant head coach this week.
3:26pm: Karl Dorrell coached at the NFL level for most of the 2010s but has experience as a college head coach, having served in that role at UCLA for five years in the 2000s. The Dolphins’ wide receivers coach is back on the college radar.
The second-year Dolphins assistant emerged as the favorite for the Colorado job on Saturday, according to Yahoo.com’s Pete Thamel (on Twitter). Dorrell, 56, enjoyed multiple stints with the Buffaloes, serving as their offensive coordinator from 1995-98 and wide receivers coach from 1992-93. The third will become the UCLA alum’s most memorable Boulder stay.
Colorado reached out to Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy, but despite multiple overtures, the university could not pry him from Andy Reid‘s staff. Recently hired Giants assistant Bret Bielema was also a candidate, but Thamel notes the university has informed “numerous” coaches they are no longer in the running. That could well include the ex-Wisconsin and Arkansas coach, whom the Giants hired last month.
Brian Flores brought Dorrell to Miami last year. He’d spent the previous four seasons on Todd Bowles‘ Jets staff, coaching wideouts. The 56-year-old assistant is in his second stint as a Dolphins assistant. He served as Miami’s receivers coach from 2008-10 and coached Dolphins quarterbacks in 2011. Dorrell’s most noticeable contribution to the Dolphins came in DeVante Parker‘s long-awaited breakout. The ex-first-round pick enjoyed by far his best NFL season in 2019, and the Dolphins rewarded him with a long-term extension.
Dolphins Sign Michael Roberts
The Dolphins are adding some competition for Mike Gesicki. Miami is signing tight end Michael Roberts, a source told Mike Garafolo of NFL Network (Twitter link).
Roberts was apparently generating a lot of interest, as Garafolo reports he had four workouts this past week with more scheduled for later. Since he didn’t finish the 2019 season on any team’s roster, he was eligible to sign at any time and didn’t have to wait for the start of free agency. Roberts was drafted by the Lions in the fourth-round back in 2017, and he was traded to the Patriots last June. Unfortunately he failed his physical, and the trade was called off. Detroit then waived him, and he was claimed by Green Bay.
He never was really a Packer though, as they waived him nearly immediately with a failed physical as well. It was never clear exactly what the injury was, although Garafolo confirmed it was a shoulder issue that also cost him part of the 2018 season. He sat out all of last year, and is now reportedly healthy.
A Toledo product, he had a real role on offense with the Lions in 2018, catching three touchdowns in only eight games. As a rookie he was primarily used as a blocker, but he still played a lot. It’s a low-risk flyer for the Dolphins, who don’t have a ton at the position beyond Gesicki, who did show some promise down the stretch last year. Roberts is still only 25.
Dolphins To Keep Josh Rosen?
The Dolphins seem intent on heading into 2020 with Ryan Fitzpatrick as their bridge to a rookie quarterback. That leaves Josh Rosen without much of a role, but that won’t necessarily result in the former first-round pick being pushed out of Miami. Rosen is likely to stay on the roster, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald hears. 
[RELATED: Dolphins Cooling On Tua, Warming Up To Herbert?]
From a fiscal standpoint, the Dolphins would have little reason to release Rosen. Still on his rookie deal, Rosen is slated to count for just $2.079MM against the 2020 cap. Releasing him would only leave them with a larger dead money hit and zero savings. Cutting Rosen would also be bad optics – they shipped a second-round pick, plus a fifth-round choice, to the Cardinals for him just one year ago.
Rosen hasn’t shown much at the pro level, but he’s still only 23 and not far removed from his impressive game film at UCLA. There’s always the possibility that injuries elsewhere lead to trade interest in Chosen Rosen between now and September. Granted, the Dolphins won’t have a ton of leverage if they’re rostering Tua Tagovailoa, Justin Herbert, or another top rookie QB alongside Fitz.
For his part, Rosen has indicated that he wants to stay in Miami, even though that means playing second fiddle to a 37-year-old.
“I’m very encouraged just in general day to day, in how I’ve developed and watching Fitz do his thing,” Rosen said in December, some time after losing his starting job. “It’s not really the window is opened and closed like that. But there’s a sense of understanding time and opportunity. I’m aware of it, but it’s all for you guys to write about more than for me to worry about. Opportunities will come and I’ll try to seize them.”
Dolphins Cooling On Tua, Warming Up To Justin Herbert?
The Dolphins have been heavily connected to Tua Tagovailoa for months, but they’re far from locked in on him. The Dolphins have concerns about Tagovailoa’s ability to recover from his serious hip injury and, beyond that, they’re worried about his long-term durability, sources tell Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. At the same time, they’ve been drawn more and more to Oregon star Justin Herbert, sources say.
[RELATED: Charges Against Dolphins’ Xavien Howard Dropped]
Even owner Stephen Ross has spoken on the record about Tagovailoa’s question marks. It’s a debate that will take place in the front office of any team considering the quarterback – had he stayed healthy, Tagovailoa likely would have been the consensus No. 1 overall pick. Now, teams need to take a close inspection of his hip and also weigh the effects of his previous ankle injuries.
With the No. 5 pick, the Dolphins could have every QB available to choose from, with the exception of LSU’s Joe Burrow. Their concerns about Tagovailoa could lead them to Herbert, who boasts arm strength, size (he stands at 6’6″; one inch taller than Ben Roethlisberger), and the ability to escape pressure in a collapsing pocket.
By the same token, Tagovailoa has been the much more accurate passer of the two and has demonstrated superior field vision. The latest news doesn’t mean that the Dolphins will select Herbert at No. 5 overall, but it’s a strong reminder that draft plans are far from settled in February.
Charges Against Dolphins’ Xavien Howard Dropped
The domestic battery charge against Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard has been dropped, as ESPN.com’s Cameron Wolfe writes. Howard will not face jail time for the late December incident, but NFL discipline remains possible. 
[RELATED: Dolphins Sign WR Ricardo Louis To Extension]
According to the police report, a verbal argument between Howard and his fiancee allegedly turned physical when he grabbed her arm and shoved her against a mirrored wall. Then, cops say, she fell on her right arm when Howard let her go.
On the heels of a Pro Bowl campaign, Howard inked a five-year, $76.5MM deal with the Dolphins last spring. After nabbing an NFL-high seven interceptions in just 12 games, Howard saw his 2019 season cut short by a knee injury.
Howard, at the very least, will not be facing legal consequences for the alleged event. Still, the NFL is expected to conduct a full investigation on the incident, which could lead to a suspension at the start of the 2020 season.
This year, Howard is slated to count for a $13.325MM charge against the Dolphins’ cap. His position-leading deal is set to run through 2024, his age-31 season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/4/20
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Re-signed: RB Reggie Bonnafon
Miami Dolphins
- Re-signed: WR Ricardo Louis
Dolphins Sign WR Ricardo Louis To Extension
The Dolphins re-signed wide receiver Ricardo Louis to a one-year extension to take him through the 2020 season, a source tells Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). Louis missed the last two seasons due to neck and knee injuries, but he won’t turn 26 until March and the Dolphins believe in his talent. 
Louis entered the league as a fourth-round pick of the Browns back in 2016. As a rookie, he hauled in 18 grabs for 205 yards. In 2017, he took another step forward with 27 catches for 357 yards.
The Dolphins signed Louis as a free agent last April, but he never got the opportunity to suit up for his new team. He’ll get a shot to stick this year, though the competition will be fierce. Already, the Dolphins’ WR room has DeVante Parker, Preston Williams, Allen Hurns, Jakeem Grant, Isaiah Ford, Albert Wilson, Gary Jennings, and Mack Hollins. On the plus side, the Dolphins recognize that they’re deeper at wide receiver than most other positions and they’re not planning on using a high pick to add another.
The Dolphins will, however, scope out a quarterback with their No. 5 overall pick. They’ve been linked to Tom Brady quite a bit in recent days, but it doesn’t sound like Tom Terrific will be taking his talents to South Beach.
Dolphins Rumors: Draft, Howard, WR
The Dolphins have lots and lots of holes to fill this offseason, but they’re more or less set at wide receiver, a league source tells Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
Currently, the Dolphins have DeVante Parker, Preston Williams, Allen Hurns, Jakeem Grant, Isaiah Ford, and Albert Wilson on the WR depth chart, though they’ll likely ask Wilson to restructure his deal, Jackson writes. There’s others in the mix, too, including Gary Jennings – who didn’t really get a chance to show his stuff in Miami thanks to a season-ending injury – and former Eagle Mack Hollins. Given their depth at the position, Jackson doesn’t see the Dolphins using a Day 1 or 2 pick on a receiver.
Some have wondered about the team’s need at WR after Williams suffered an ACL tear in November. However, Williams says he’ll be good to go for the 2020 season, giving him an opportunity to build off of his strong eight-game showing. Before his early exit, Williams caught 32 passes for 428 yards and three touchdowns. Grant will also be ready to roll for OTAs, so they have plenty of options from which to choose.
Here’s more from Miami:
- Cornerback, meanwhile, is a higher priority. Jackson hears that the Dolphins are intent on addressing the position in free agency and/or the first two days of the draft. The Dolphins still plan to move forward with Xavien Howard, but they are looking to find him a suitable partner that can step up if Howard is suspended for his late December arrest. Rising NFL sophomore Nik Needham could be part of the solution, but he’s still green. The Dolphins believe that they can use their ample cap room and draft stockpile to fortify, and improve, at corner.
- Frank Gore will turn 37 in May, but he’s not ready to give up football. After wrapping up his one-year deal with the Bills, the veteran recently said that he wouldn’t mind returning to the Dolphins as a free agent this offseason. Since entering the league in 2005, Gore has amassed more than 15,000 rushing yards with 79 touchdowns on the ground and 18 more scores through the air. Last year, he averaged just 3.6 yards per carry in Buffalo, but continued to show his durability as he appeared in all 16 games.
- Speaking of 37-year-olds, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has confirmed that he’ll return in 2020. The Dolphins are happy to have him back and plan to pair him with a young QB to be groomed for the future.
Dolphins Unlikely To Make Strong Push For Tom Brady
Will Tom Brady join up with the Dolphins this offseason? Owner Stephen Ross says that’s not likely to happen. 
“We’re a team that’s building, and I don’t know why he’d really want to come to the Dolphins,” Ross said recently (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald). “He’s been one of the fiercest competitors there is and we’re at the stage with the Dolphins trying to really build a team for the future,” Ross said.
That’s more or less what you’d expect to hear from an owner who doesn’t want to deal with tampering accusations, but Jackson hears that Ross was telling the truth – he’s not expecting Brady to walk through that door and the Dolphins are unlikely to make a strong push for him.
For the last couple of weeks, there has been increasing buzz about the future Hall of Famer taking his talents to South Beach. The theory goes something like this: Brady is close to Bruce Beal, a business partner of Stephen Ross. Beal holds an option to buy the Dolphins from Ross and could, in turn, sell a minority stake in the team to Brady. Brady, potentially, could boost the value of the club in his twilight years by playing in Miami, but Ross, 79, says he plans on being the Dolphins’ owner for the rest of his life.
The Dolphins might not build their offseason around a Brady pursuit, but the Raiders are expected to make a strong push for him and there’s also buzz around the possibility of the Chargers making a play for him as Philip Rivers nears free agency. Meanwhile, the incumbent Patriots are prepared to pay Brady upwards of $30MM/year on his next contract, if he’s willing to stay.
Brady, 43 in August, completed just 60.8% of his throws last year – his lowest success rate since 2013. His 88.0 QB rating wasn’t anything to write home about, either, though he still managed to throw for 4,057 yards with 24 touchdowns against eight interceptions.