Dolphins, Ja’Wuan James Discussing Deal
The Dolphins are discussing a new deal with offensive tackle Ja’Wuan James, who is currently scheduled to play the 2018 campaign under his fifth-year option at a cost of $9.341MM, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.
Miami clearly isn’t interested in retaining James at his current price, as the former first-round pick has been mentioned as both a a trade and release candidate this offseason. Instead, the Dolphins are offering a James a new deal — whether it’s an extension or just a pay cut is unclear — that would reduce his cap charge in 2018. If James doesn’t accept the proposal, he’s expected to be released, per Salguero.
Hitting the open market wouldn’t necessarily be the worst outcome for James, who was selected in the first round of the 2014 draft. The 2018 free agent tackle class is extremely weak, with Nate Solder and Justin Pugh appearing to be the only clear-cut starters. Thus, James must weigh the Dolphins’ offer against any prospective contracts he thinks he could land as an unrestricted free agent.
James, 25, graded as the league’s No. 17 offensive tackle last season, per Pro Football Focus, which assigned James the highest marks of his career. However, James only appeared in eight games in 2017 thanks to a groin injury, the second campaign of his career in which he played in eight contests or fewer.
Dolphins Release Lawrence Timmons
The Dolphins have released Lawrence Timmons, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It was first reported back in February that Miami would be moving on from the veteran linebacker.
By cutting Timmons, the Dolphins will save $5.5MM against the cap. Thomas joined the team on a two-year, $12MM deal last offseason, but leaves after appearing in 14 games (13 starts) and recording 58 tackles. His 58 tackles were his lowest total in any season since 2009.
This move became much easier to make after the Dolphins suspended Timmons in September of last year. That voided some of the linebacker’s future guarantees. Had that not occurred, Timmons probably wouldn’t be an easy cap casualty.
The longtime Steelers starter defected to the Dolphins last March on a two-year, $12MM deal with $11MM guaranteed. He finished 2017 with a middling Pro Football Focus grade, mostly due to porous run defense, and will head back to the market.
The Steelers have announced Ryan Shazier will not play in 2018, so they now have a vacancy at inside linebacker and could possibly be amendable to a Timmons deal at a cheaper rate. But with Timmons going into his age-32 season, it’s also possible (if not likely) the AFC North champions go after a younger player to fill in for Shazier.
Dolphins Intersted In Avery Williamson
Linebacker Avery Williamson is drawing interest from the Jets and Dolphins after turning down a four-year, $12MM deal to return to the Titans, according to ESPN’s Dianna Russini (on Twitter). It was reported Sunday by ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe that there was mutual interest in Williamson returning to the Titans.
The Jets currently hold the most cap space of any team in the NFL at over $92MM, topping the Browns after their flurry of weekend moves. Jets inside linebackers Demario Davis, Bruce Carter and Julian Stanford are set to become unrestricted free agents. The Dolphins alleviated some cap issues Monday morning with the reported new that they’ll be cutting Ndamukong Suh. The team is also expected to part ways with linebacker Lawrence Timmons and Koa Misi is due to become a free agent this offseason.
Dolphins Shopping Ja'Wuan James?
The Dolphins may be trying to see if they can unload Ja’Wuan James prior to his fifth-year option becoming guaranteed. A cut candidate, James is set to make $9.34MM on an as-of-now guaranteed-against-injury fifth-year option — which becomes fully guaranteed at 3pm CT Wednesday. Omar Kelly of the Orlando Sentinel reports the Dolphins are shopping the fifth-year right tackle, with the goal appearing to be moving him before free agency and the option vesting. While that is a high salary for a player who hasn’t been especially consistent, and has been injury-prone, plenty of teams are in need of tackle help. Additionally, the Dolphins are planning to re-sign swing tackle Sam Young, Kelly reports. Young, who will turn 31 in June, started six games for Miami last season. He’s a much cheaper option than James, albeit one with a lower ceiling.
Dolphins Still “Strongly” Considering Moving On From Ndamukong Suh
Ndamukong Suh‘s future in Miami is still up in the air. CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora tweets that the Dolphins “continue to strongly consider moving on” from the defensive tackle. Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com notes (via Twitter) that the Dolphins would presumably either keep or trade Suh, as there’s little incentive to cutting him.
With Suh set to count towards $26.1MM of the Dolphins’ cap in 2018, there were already reports that the organization could cut the defensive lineman. Releasing the former second-overall pick as a post-June 1st cut could save the team $17MM, but our own Sam Robinson noted that the organization would be unable use this money until that date. Cutting Suh would also leave Miami with $13.MM worth of dead cap.
Suh joined the Dolphins back in 2015 on a then-record six-year, $114MM deal. The 31-year-old earned a Pro Bowl birth in 2016, but he appeared to take a step back in 2017. In 16 games, the defensive tackle finished with 48 tackles (his lowest total since 2012) and 4.5 sacks (his lowest total since 2011). Despite the declining numbers, Pro Football Focus still ranked Suh fifth among 122 interior defenders.
If the Dolphins were to move on from Suh, they could be eyeing some reinforcement at defensive tackle. Besides the veteran, Miami is currently rostering Davon Godchaux, Jordan Phillips, Vincent Taylor, and Gabe Martin.
Dolphins Trade WR Jarvis Landry To Browns
The Browns have acquired wide receiver Jarvis Landry from the Dolphins, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Miami will receive a fourth-round pick in 2018 (No. 123) and a seventh-round pick in 2019, the MMQB’s Albert Breer tweets.
The Dolphins used the franchise tag on Landry in February with the sole intent of trading him instead of losing him for nothing. The Dolphins did not want to give Landry a contract that would put him near the top of the wide receiver market, but the Browns apparently do not have reservations about giving him a monster deal.
For the time being, the Browns will assume Landry at the cost of his one-year placeholder, worth nearly $16MM. Presumably, terms of a long-term pact have already been hammered out between the two sides, and that deal should come with an average annual value of no less than $13MM per season. Landry, 25, was rumored to be seeking a $14MM annual salary and $30MM in guarantees during his talks with the ‘Fins.
The Bears and Ravens were also linked to Landry, but the Browns – who count wide receiver amongst their many positional needs this offseason – have stepped up to acquire the dangerous slot target. As of this writing, Landry is the highest-paid player on the roster for 2018.
Over the last four years, Landry has hauled in 400 passes for 4,038 yards and 22 touchdowns for Miami. Landry finished the 2017 season with 987 receiving yards, though his yards per catch average dipped to a career low 8.8 per catch. The Browns still have to figure out their quarterback situation, but they have a lethal 1-2 at wide receiver in Landry and Josh Gordon. Former first round pick Corey Coleman is also in the mix and the Browns are hoping that he can take a step forward with a more talented QB throwing to him.
[RELATED: Browns Depth Chart]
Dolphins Considering Ndamukong Suh Cut
Entering the fourth year of his mega-contract, Ndamukong Suh is slated to take up $26.1MM of the Dolphins’ cap. And the franchise is considering shedding that massive number.
The Dolphins have not made a final decision but are discussing a release of Suh, Diana Russini of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
Miami has reportedly been exploring this possibility for a while, although the team denied a November report it was doing so. It now seems to be escalating to the point that there will be a real chance the one-time superstar free agent winds up back on the market three years after he signed a then-record six-year, $114MM deal.
After a disappointing 2015 season, Suh has resurfaced as high-end contributor. Despite not being named to the Pro Bowl like he was in 2016, Suh graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 5 interior defender last season. Although he turned 31 in January, the former Lions dynamo would have a big market if he again becomes a free agent.
By designating Suh as a post-June 1 cut, the Dolphins could save $17MM. But they’d be unable to use the created funds until that date. Doing this would place a $13.1MM dead cap number on the Dolphins’ 2019 payroll.
Dolphins WR Jarvis Landry Signs Franchise Tender
Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry signed his franchise tender on Thursday morning, a source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Landry is now under contract with the team for the 2018 season, but he’s unlikely to stay put for long. 
There was some dispute over whether Landry’s signature on the tender actually mattered. Popular thought was that Landry could not be dealt until he actually inked his one-year, $16MM+ tender. Meanwhile, Mike Florio of PFT reported that Landry has been trade eligible ever since “accepting” the tender, even without adding his signature.
In any case, we now know for certain that Landry can be moved and his signing of the tender could be a sign that a trade has been agreed upon. Where might he land? Several teams have interest in the slot receiver, but only a few of those clubs have the cap room to take him on and give him the long-term pact that he seeks. So far the Bears and Ravens have been linked to Landry. The Panthers, who could use some help at WR, reportedly are not among the clubs in the Landry chase.
Landry, 25, is thought to be seeking a $14MM annual salary and $30MM in guarantees on his next contract. Any team acquiring Landry will likely hammer out an extension with him before pulling the trigger on a trade.
Dolphins Notes: Landry, Dickson
Although Dolphins wide receiver Jarvis Landry hasn’t formally signed his franchise tag, he has “accepted” the tender, which is an equal action in the eyes of the NFL, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Not only does that mean Miami cannot now rescind the tag, but Landry can be traded if the Dolphins find an acceptable deal. Landry, meanwhile, is sticking to his asking price of $14MM annually, but at least one of the clubs with interest in Landry believe he’s a $10MM/year player, per Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald. Thus far, both the Bears and Ravens, two of the more receiver-needy teams in the league, have reportedly been linked to a Landry trade.
- The Dolphins are interested in Panthers free agent tight end Ed Dickson, reports Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Dickson, 30, didn’t play a large receiving role during his first three years with Carolina, but an injury to starting tight end Greg Olsen allowed Dickson to play on 80% of Carolina’s offensive plays last season. While he wasn’t a world-beater, Dickson did manage 437 yards and a touchdown, solid numbers considering he’d managed just 370 receiving yards from 2014-16. Miami, who is expected to release tight end Julius Thomas, is the second team to be linked to Dickson, joining the Falcons.
Extra Points: Bears, Fuller, Seahawks
No surprise here, but Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune hears that the Bears are unlikely to use the franchise tag on Kyle Fuller. Multiple sources tell Biggs that they do not expect the franchise tag to be employed, though he is less certain about whether the transition tag could be in play. It also seems unlikely that Fuller would sign a multi-year contract with the Bears before free agency opens, but there is interest on both sides in moving forward together.
Here’s more from around the NFL on a very busy Monday:
- The Seahawks had open ears at the draft combine last week, sources tell Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports (on Twitter). Among those drawing interest include defensive tackle Michael Bennett and safety Earl Thomas, two players that have been the subject of trade speculation in recent weeks. Over the weekend, it was reported that the Falcons have discussed a Bennett deal with Seattle. Cornerback Richard Sherman, who has a $13.2MM cap charge in 2018, is also a trade candidate.
- The Panthers, Jaguars, and Dolphins are heavily interested in free agent quarterback market, Ben Volin of The Boston Globe (on Twitter) hears. The Panthers obviously have a starter in Cam Newton, but they are seeking a quality backup because Newton tends to take a lot of hits. The Jaguars and Dolphins have starters in Blake Bortles and Ryan Tannehill, respectively, but both clubs want veteran backups that can push them. The Dolphins are also exploring the idea of drafting a QB at No. 11 overall.
- Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson has been the subject of tremendous debate in football circles, particularly due to questions about his ability to play QB at the next level. He may have another problem. Jackson did not do well in interviews and white-board work at the combine, Volin hears (Twitter link) and his decision to go without an agent may be the culprit.
- The Bills‘ one-year contract with cornerback Vontae Davis includes an unusual wrinkle, as noted by Volin (on Twitter). Davis is slated to receive a roster bonus of nearly $47K for each game he spends on the 46-man active roster. Meanwhile, he’ll receive a lesser bonus of almost $16K per game that he spends on the 53-man roster. It’s unique for a contract to have separate bonuses for appearing on the 53 and the 46 each week, but it’s a creative structure for Buffalo given Davis’ injury history. One has to wonder if other teams could follow a similar blueprint this offseason when signing veterans with health concerns.