Contract Details: Gore, Osweiler, Waddle
Some details on recent free agent deals:
- Brock Osweiler, QB (Dolphins): One year, $880K ($790K base salary + $90K signing bonus). $630K guaranteed (Twitter link via Mike Klis of 9 News Denver).
- Frank Gore, RB (Dolphins): One year, $1.105MM. $90K signing bonus (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of NFL.com).
- LaAdrian Waddle, OT (Patriots): One year, $1.5MM. Includes $800K base salary, $200K signing bonus, $50K workout bonus and $450K in per-game roster bonuses (Twitter link via Mike Reiss of ESPN).
- Tom Johnson, DT (Seahawks): One year, $2.1MM. Includes $950K base salary, $900K signing bonus, $250K in per-game active roster bonuses (Link Via Brady Henderson of ESPN).
- Shamar Stephen, DT (Seahawks): One year, $2.1MM. Includes $800K base salary, $1MM signing bonus and $300K in per-game active roster bonuses (Link Via Brady Henderson of ESPN).
Jets Sign LB Neville Hewitt
Free agent linebacker Neville Hewitt signed a one-year contract with the Jets, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Hewitt met with the Jets on Wednesday and it did not take long for a deal to come together.
Hewitt, 24, spent most of 2017 on the Dolphins’ practice squad, but was promoted for the last six games of the regular season. He played only eleven snaps, but saw 66.5% playtime on special teams.
The Dolphins non-tendered Hewitt in March, allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent. He projects as a special teams player for the Jets, but their lack of quality options at outside linebacker could net him some time on defense.
As shown on Roster Resource, the Jets currently project to start Josh Martin and Jordan Jenkins at outside linebacker with Avery Williamson and Darron Lee in between. Meanwhile, edge rushers David Bass and Bruce Carter remain in free agency limbo. The Jets are expected to bolster the group in next month’s draft, though not with their No. 3 overall selection.
Dolphins Want QB In First Round
While the Dolphins may hope to select a quarterback in the first round of next month’s draft, many in the organization believe 2018’s Big Four — Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, Josh Rosen, and Josh Allen — will be off the board by the time Miami’s slot comes at No. 11, reports Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. Views on projected starter Ryan Tannehill vary even among the Dolphins’ decision-makers, per Salguero, but he’ll be under center for Miami in Week 1 if the team doesn’t land a signal-caller in the draft, as the only other quarterbacks on the Dolphins’ depth chart are Brock Osweiler, David Fales, and Brandon Doughty. Jay Cutler, who started 14 games for Miami in 2017, won’t be re-signed, leaving Tannehill and his recovering knee as the only viable starting option.
Dolphins Could Explore Trade Market For Several Positions
The Dolphins are searching for help via the trade market at the league meetings in Orlando, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. Although Miami made several free agent additions over the past two weeks, the club is still hoping to add depth at tight end, linebacker, running back, and defensive tackle, per Salguero. While no trade is imminent, the Dolphins could conceivably trade from their stable of defensive ends. Miami currently has Cameron Wake, Robert Quinn, Charles Harris, William Hayes, and Andre Branch on its depth chart, meaning it could potentially absorb the loss of at least one pass rusher. Branch, who is scheduled to earn a fully guaranteed base salary of $7.9MM in 2018, would be a logical candidate to be moved, per Salguero.
- Free agent linebacker Neville Hewitt met with the Jets today, a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Hewitt, 24, spent the majority of the 2018 campaign on the Dolphins’ practice squad, but was promoted in time to play the final six games of the regular season. While he played only 11 snaps on defensive snaps, Hewitt saw 66.5% playtime on special teams. Miami opted not to tender Hewitt as a restricted free agent, allowing him to hit the open market two weeks ago. In New York, Hewitt would likely continue with special teams duty, although the Jets’ lack of talent at outside linebacker could enable him to get snaps on the edge.
Dolphins Work Out K Blair Walsh
The Dolphins are the last remaining team in the NFL without a kicker, but they could be getting closer to finding their man. Miami tried out free agent kicker Blair Walsh, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. 
[RELATED: Dolphins Sign QB Brock Osweiler]
Walsh spent 2017 as the Seahawks’ kicker, but connected on just 72.4% of his tries. The Dolphins, meanwhile, employed Cody Parkey, who sank 91.3% of his attempts. Now that Parkey has signed with the Bears, the Dolphins are rummaging through the remaining options.
Walsh excelled right out of the gate with the Vikings in 2012, earning Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro honors with a league-leading 35 made field goals on 38 attempts. He had a similarly strong showing for Minnesota again in 2015, but he was axed by the Vikes in November of 2016 after some costly misses.
The Dolphins could also find their next kicker in the draft. Reportedly, Miami is considering New Mexico’s Jason Sanders, Miami’s Michael Badgley Auburn’s Daniel Carlson, and Florida’s Eddy Pineiro.
Dolphins Host LB Terence Garvin
The Dolphins have met with free agent linebacker Terence Garvin, according to veteran reporter Howard Balzer (Twitter link).
Garvin, 28, originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of West Virginia in 2013. After spending three years with the Steelers, Garvin has played for the Redskins and Seahawks over the past two seasons. Primarily a special teams maven, Garvin saw the most defensive playtime (18%) of his career in 2017, as injuries forced him into starting duty with Seattle. Garvin managed nine tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble in 15 games (three starts) for the Seahawks.
Miami, for its part, is currently projected to start Kiko Alonso and 2017 second-round pick Raekwon McMillan in nickel packages, with Stephone Anthony, Mike Hull, and Chase Allen in reserve. Garvin would likely spend most of his time with the Dolphins on special teams, where Miami last season ranked 12th in DVOA, per Football Outsiders.
Dolphins Will Look To Address Kicker Need Through Draft
- The Dolphins have been doing their due diligence on kickers available in the upcoming draft, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, in the hopes of replacing Cody Parkey, who was picked up by the Bears. The Dolphins worked out New Mexico kicker Jason Sanders last week and will get an extended look at Miami kicker Michael Badgley during Miami’s pro day on March 28. Jackson also reported that the Dolphins are high on Auburn’s Daniel Carlson and Florida’s Eddy Pineiro.
Dolphins Still On The Hunt For QB Help
- The Dolphins’ search for quarterback help this offseason did not end with the signing of Brock Osweiler to a one-year deal, sources told Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. Osweiler will have to earn his role as the backup behind Ryan Tannehill as the team may still look to add a quarterback in the draft and have shown interest in several players expected to go in the first round.
Dolphins Expect To Use William Hayes At DT
- To help fill the shoes of Ndamukong Suh, who played 877 snaps last season — sixth-most of defensive tackles in the NFL — the Dolphins plan on using William Hayes at both defensive end and defensive tackle, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Jackson also expects defensive linemen Jordan Phillips, Davon Godchaux and Vincent Taylor to pick up extended playing time with the loss of Suh.
Dolphins To Sign QB Brock Osweiler
The Dolphins have reached an agreement with quarterback Brock Osweiler, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). It’s a one-year deal, tweets Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.
Osweiler’s new deal will reunite him with Adam Gase, who worked with Osweiler as Denver’s quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator from 2012-14. In Miami, Osweiler will take the place on longtime backup Matt Moore, who was never expected to re-sign with the Dolphins. Other quarterbacks on the Dolphins’ roster include starter Ryan Tannehill, David Fales, and Brandon Doughty.
The 27-year-old Osweiler didn’t get a chance to start for the Broncos until after Gase had left the building, and the former second-round pick’s greatest NFL success came in a 2015 campaign where he started seven games for the eventual Super Bowl champions. It’s been a whirlwind for Osweiler since that time: he inked an ill-fated deal with the Texans, was dealt to the Browns, and spent the 2017 season back in Denver.
While the top tier of free agent quarterbacks came off the board fairly quickly, there are still a number of backup types available. Aside from Stanton, the list of No. 2 passers on the market includes Moore, Blaine Gabbert, Derek Anderson, Drew Stanton, and Geno Smith.