Dolphins Notes: McDowell, Jones, Evans
- Dolphins defensive line coach Terrell Williams took a sojourn to East Lansing to work out Michigan State defensive tackle Malik McDowell, reports Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald. Recently linked to free agent Johnathan Hankins, the Dolphins are in the market for a tackle to play alongside Ndamukong Suh and Jordan Phillips. McDowell could be on the board when Miami picks at No. 22, although the Fins are expected to target edge help in the first round. The Dolphins are the first known team to meet with McDowell.
- Dolphins defensive line coach Terrell Williams took a sojourn to East Lansing to work out Michigan State defensive tackle Malik McDowell, reports Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald. Recently linked to free agent Johnathan Hankins, the Dolphins are in the market for a tackle to play alongside Ndamukong Suh and Jordan Phillips. McDowell could be on the board when Miami picks at No. 22, although the Fins are expected to target edge help in the first round. The Dolphins are the first known team to meet with McDowell.
- Safety prospects Josh Jones (North Carolina State) and Justin Evans (Texas A&M) will meet with the Dolphins soon, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Although Miami recently extended defensive back Reshad Jones, the club is still looking for another safety after Isa Abdul-Quddus was released following a neck injury. Jones has also drawn interest from the Ravens, while Evans has met with the Cowboys.
Dolphins Release Dion Jordan
The Dion Jordan saga, finally, is over in Miami. The Dolphins are releasing the former No. 3 overall pick, according to Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post. The move has been expected for some time. The Dolphins have since officially announced the transaction, adding that Jordan has been bounced with a failed physical designation.
[RELATED: Dolphins Sign S T.J. McDonald]
Jordan, 27, has missed the past two seasons due to suspension and injury. Despite the lofty expectations for him when entering the league, he has started only one game in his career. At various times, Jordan’s commitment to football, sobriety, conditioning, and health have all hampered his development. He may try to reboot things in 2017, but it won’t be in Miami.
“Obviously from where he was selected to today it’s not a move that’s worked out,” Dolphins executive vice president Mike Tannenbaum said earlier this week.
Jordan has not played in a game since December 28, 2014 and has just three career sacks. Waiving Jordan saves the Dolphins $3.225MM. The Dolphins are now left with four defensive ends on the depth chart: Andre Branch, Cameron Wake, William Hayes, and Terrence Fede.
Dolphins Sign S T.J. McDonald
Safety T.J. McDonald has found a new home. Luckily for him, his new destination will also feature palm trees. The Dolphins have agreed to terms with McDonald, James Walker of ESPN.com tweets. It’s a one-year deal for the minimum salary, Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald tweets. The team has confirmed the move via press release.
As we learned this week, McDonald will have to serve an eight-game suspension stemming from last year’s DUI arrest. It’s not an ideal situation, but Miami probably feels that the former Rams safety can be an impact player in the second half of the season. There’s something to be said for a player having fresh legs late in the season and the deal is an undeniable bargain. Heading into free agency, I had McDonald ranked as a top 50 player based on projected earnings. Now, the Dolphins have added the four-year starter for next to nothing.
The Fins really view the pact as a “one-day contract,” because if he steps out of line one day, he’s gone (Twitter link via Salguero). Salguero adds that McDonald picked the Dolphins because they provided him with an opportunity to start fresh away from the west coast (Twitter link).
The Dolphins project to start Reshad Jones at strong safety with free agent pickup Nate Allen at free safety. In November, McDonald will work try to work his way into the rotation.
McDonald was ranked as our No. 1 safety remaining in free agency. Last year, McDonald had 62 total tackles, two interceptions, one sack, and six passes defensed. He graded out as as Pro Football Focus’ No. 58 safety.
Dolphins Want Core Offensive Players Signed Through 2020
The Dolphins intend to keep core offensive players together through 2020, as Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald writes. That group includes quarterback Ryan Tannehill and starting receivers Kenny Stills, Jarvis Landry, and DeVante Parker. The Dolphins already have Tannehill and Stills locked down and they can effectively say the same for Parker thanks to his fifth-year option and the franchise tag. That just leaves Landry, who is scheduled to reach free agency after the 2017 season.
T.J. McDonald Suspended For Eight Games
Free agent safety T.J. McDonald has been suspended for the first eight games of the 2017 season, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter links). McDonald, he adds, just had his first free agent visit with the Dolphins. The suspension stems his May 2016 DUI arrest, which included drug charges (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com). 
McDonald is ranked as our No. 1 available safety in free agency and is one of the highest-ranked players remaining on my Top 50 Free Agents list, which ranked players based on projected earning power. Apparently, McDonald won’t be making anywhere near what we expected, thanks in part to the pending ban.
McDonald, a hard hitting defensive back, has been a starter for the Rams in each of the last four seasons. This year, he hit free agency and the Rams did not show any interest in re-signing him.
In 2016, McDonald had 62 total tackles, two interceptions, one sack, and six passes defensed. He graded out as as Pro Football Focus’ 58th best safety in the NFL last season.
Dolphins Focusing On Draft, Not Zach Brown
- Free agent linebacker Zach Brown is reportedly choosing between the Dolphins and Raiders, but Miami’s Mike Tannenbaum-led front office doesn’t seem to be going all-out to sign him, observes Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. “The lion’s share of our focus right now is on the draft,” said Tannenbaum, the team’s executive vice president of football operations. “If an opportunity came along, we’d evaluate it appropriately. But our focus is really on the draft and something comes along, we’ll certainly look at it.”
Dolphins Owner On Vegas Vote
On Monday, NFL owners voted in overwhelming favor of relocating the Raiders to Las Vegas. The Bears were said to be among the few teams with concerns about the proposal, but Dolphins owner Stephen Ross turned out to be the only nay vote in the room. 
Dolphins Not Interested In Joe Mixon
In recent weeks, teams have been meeting with Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon and weighing his potential against the public relations nightmare that would come with drafting him. At least one team, it seems, won’t even put it on the scale. There is a “zero percent chance” that the Dolphins will draft Mixon, a source with knowledge of the team’s thinking told Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald. 
[RELATED: Pauline’s Latest: Packers, Vikings, Seahawks]
Mixon was not invited to the draft combine in late February after video surfaced of him striking a woman in a late-night altercation. There’s also an alleged incident from 2016 in which the running back got in the face of a female meter maid. Teams are uneasy about Mixon’s history, but at the same time, he is one of the top running backs in this year’s class in terms of pure ability. Absent the red flags, Mixon would have safely been projected as a first-round choice. There’s serious downside with Mixon, but Tyreek Hill’s breakout season in Kansas City is a reminder how a risky pick can pay off.
Mixon amassed 1,812 yards from scrimmage and scored 15 touchdowns last season, averaging 6.8 yards per carry. It’s looking more and more likely that one team will roll the dice on him, but it will not be the Dolphins.
Dolphins Notes: Jones, Willis
- Scouts view North Carolina State safety Josh Jones as a top-50 pick, according to Pauline, and a number of clubs have already expressed interest. Jones has worked out for the Jaguars and will meet with the Cardinals, Steelers, Ravens, Dolphins, and Jets. While Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN.com ranks Jones as just the seventh-best safety on the board, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com places Jones within his top-50 players (No. 48).
- The Jaguars have visited with Kansas State defensive end Jordan Willis, reports Pauline, and the Eagles, Buccaneers, Dolphins, and Cowboys all plan to meet with the edge rusher, as well. Even with that level of interest, Willis will still likely end up being selected at the beginning of the second round rather than at the end of the first, writes Pauline. The Saints have already put Willis through a workout.
[SOURCE LINK]
Zach Brown Deciding Between Raiders, Dolphins?
Several teams have pursued Zach Brown this offseason, but the UFA linebacker may be down to his final two choices. Brown is believed to be deciding between the Dolphins and Raiders, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports.
Brown has visited the Dolphins, Raiders and Bills, while the Colts have expressed interest as well. While Oakland and Miami believe they’re in the running for the non-rush linebacker, neither looks set to meet Brown’s asking price of $6MM per year, Salguero notes. The south Florida-based writer reported earlier this week the Dolphins would be more comfortable paying Brown a deal in the $3MM- or $4MM-per-year range.
The Dolphins have been active this month in reshaping their linebacking corps, signing Lawrence Timmons as a UFA, restructuring Koa Misi‘s deal and extending Kiko Alonso. Brown would seemingly take Misi’s place in the lineup, with the 30-year-old middle ‘backer taking a pay cut to stay in south Florida, if he were to sign with the Dolphins.
Either way, Brown would be moving from a 3-4 defense to a base 4-3 look. The Raiders signed former Dolphins outside linebacker Jelani Jenkins to likely play the weakside spot but have a need inside. Bruce Irvin plays as an outside linebacker in the Raiders’ 4-3 base but slides to defensive end in pass-rush situations, leaving an opening in nickel sets. Raiders 2016 middle linebacker Perry Riley remains a free agent. He of 149 tackles in a standout season in Buffalo, Brown ranks as PFR’s No. 1 linebacker remaining in free agency. Riley sits No. 2 on this list but hasn’t generated nearly as much interest.
If Oakland sought to outmuscle Miami for Brown, the team has $32MM-plus in cap space compared to the Fins’ $15MM. But the Raiders have a possible Derek Carr extension coming this year, almost certainly contributing to their free agency plan.
Previously viewed as a plus-coverage ‘backer with the Titans, Brown experienced a tepid market for his services as a first-time UFA last year. A deal in the $3-$4MM-AAV range would put him below lesser names like A.J. Klein ($5MM AAV), or $4MM-per-year players Tahir Whitehead or Damario Davis on the inside linebacker salary spectrum. Fellow UFA Kevin Minter signed a one-year, $4.25MM deal with the Bengals last week.