Dolphins Work Out RB Bobby Rainey
- The Dolphins signed Isaiah Pead today, but they continue to seek running back help, and worked out former Buccaneers back Bobby Rainey, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Rainey ran for nearly 1,000 total yards in 2013 and 2014, but had just five carries last season.
Dolphins, Chiefs Have Discussed RB Trade
The Chiefs announced contract extensions for running backs Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware earlier today, signaling that those players remain in the team’s backfield plans beyond 2016. The signings left Knile Davis buried on Kansas City’s depth chart, so it came as no surprise when Jason Cole of Bleacher Report tweeted the team was exploring a potential Davis trade. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com added (via Twitter) that Davis requested a trade “weeks ago.”
Since we heard last week that the Dolphins were exploring the trade market for a running back, I speculated that Miami might be talking to the Chiefs about Davis, and Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald confirms that is indeed the case. According to Salguero, Kansas City is just one team the Dolphins have spoken to, and Miami has shown interest in all four of the Chiefs’ top backs.
Of course, with West and Ware now locked up, that leaves Davis and Jamaal Charles, and a Charles deal appears unlikely. Davis, who has averaged just 3.3 yards per carry on 232 career rushing attempts, is hardly the most accomplished player of the group, but he’s the most available, so if the Dolphins and Chiefs do work out a deal, he would be the most logical candidate to be on the move. Given his trade request and his lack of a clear role in Kansas City, the 24-year-old likely wouldn’t cost much in terms of trade compensation.
The Dolphins saw Lamar Miller depart in free agency, then had their offer sheet for restricted free agent C.J. Anderson matched by the Broncos. Miami was also in the running for Chris Johnson before he opted to re-sign with the Cardinals, so the team remains in the market for a back.
As Salguero detailed in a piece earlier today, there’s a good chance the Dolphins end up drafting a running back. However, while Salguero makes the case for selecting Derrick Henry in round two, Miami may not address the position until later on, so adding a veteran to complement that rookie and 2015 draftee Jay Ajayi would make sense.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Dolphins Draft Rumors: Cravens, Ragland
USC safety/linebacker Su’a Cravens says he has six visits lined up and another eight potentially on the horizon as well, Mike Florio of PFT writes. In addition to the previously reported teams with interest, Cravens says he will visit the the Lions, Raiders, and Dolphins.
- Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland told SiriusXM NFL Radio (on Twitter) that he has probably heard the most from the Bears, Falcons, Saints, and Dolphins. He also confirmed personal workouts with the Bears, Colts, Ravens, Jaguars, Vikings, Rams, and the Bills.
Dolphins Prioritizing CB, RB As Draft Nears
- As they prepare for the 2016 draft, the Dolphins‘ top priority in the first two days of that draft will be landing a starting cornerback, writes Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. According to Salguero, cornerback is one of two positions – along with running back – that is a “must-have” for the team.
Arian Foster Visits Dolphins
TUESDAY, 3:56pm: As expected, the Dolphins have confirmed their visit with Foster has ended without a deal in place (Twitter link). The running back will remain on Miami’s radar, but it doesn’t seem as if he’s in a hurry to sign anywhere right away.
MONDAY, 10:15am: The Dolphins continue to seek out veteran depth at the running back position, and their search has led them to a noteworthy name. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter), Arian Foster is set to pay a visit to Miami on Tuesday.
Having lost Lamar Miller to the Texans at the start of the free agent period, the Dolphins have been on the lookout for a replacement since then. The team signed C.J. Anderson to an offer sheet, but the Broncos exercised their right of first refusal to keep Anderson. The Fins were also in the running for Chris Johnson before he opted to re-sign with the Cardinals, and have reportedly explored the trade market for possible RB targets.
Foster, 29, accumulated 6,472 rushing yards during his seven years as a Texan, and that figure would have been even higher if injuries had not slowed him down over the course of the last three seasons. After earning three consecutive Pro Bowl nods from 2010 to 2012, averaging about 1,900 all purpose yards and 16 touchdowns in those seasons, Foster was limited to 25 regular-season games from 2013 to 2015. Those injuries, along with his age and his increasing cap number, resulted in the Texans releasing him earlier this month.
In 2015, Foster was slowed by a groin injury in training camp and the preseason, and later suffered a torn Achilles, landing him on injured reserve for the remainder of the season. When he played, he was at his least productive, averaging only 2.6 yards per carry on 63 attempts. Still, if he recovers well from the Achilles injury, the Tennessee alum could have something left in the tank — he was a Pro Bowler in 2014, piling up 1,246 rushing yards in just 13 contests.
A physical exam figures to be a major factor in Foster’s visit with the Dolphins. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (via Twitter), Foster could pass a physical now, though Tom Pelissero of USA Today tweets that the veteran back may not be able to pass a physical until early in the summer. Rapoport does concede (via Twitter) that Foster isn’t fully healthy yet, so Miami will likely just get to know him during this visit, rather than immediately signing him.
If Foster eventually gets healthy and signs with the Dolphins, he would likely split carries with second-year back Jay Ajayi.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Dolphins Re-Sign Spencer Paysinger
Free agent linebacker Spencer Paysinger will be returning to Miami for the 2016 season. Paysinger himself broke word of his new deal with the Dolphins, announcing the news on his Twitter account.
Paysinger, 27, joined the Dolphins for the 2015 season after spending the first four years of his NFL career with the Giants. Although he earned 10 starts in 2013, logging a career-high 74 tackles, Paysinger has served primarily as a backup linebacker and a special-teamer since entering the league. In 2015, he appeared in 14 games for Miami, playing just 72 defensive snaps.
Paysinger paid a visit to the Steelers earlier in free agency, after Pittsburgh saw backup linebacker Sean Spence sign with Tennessee. The Steelers ultimately re-sign Steven Johnson as Spence’s probable replacement, opening the door for Paysinger to return to Miami.
Terms of the agreement aren’t yet known, but Paysinger was on a minimum salary benefit contract in 2015 and probably won’t be in line for much of a raise.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
William Jackson III Visiting Dophins
- Houston cornerback William Jackson III is visiting the Dolphins today, a source tells Wilson (Twitter link). Jackson projects as a probable first-round pick.
Dolphins Impressed By Robert Nkemdiche
- Defensive line coaches from the Dolphins and Bengals ran the defensive line workout at Ole Miss’ pro day and tried to break Robert Nkemdiche but they could not, Tony Pauline writes for WalterFootball.com. Everyone in attendance was impressed with his position drills with some calling it a “special workout,” Pauline writes.
[SOURCE LINK]
Dolphins Eyeing Laquon Treadwell, Jordan Jenkins
The pro day for Ole Miss players took place on Monday, meaning all eyes were on prospects like wide receiver Laquon Treadwell and defensive end Robert Nkemdiche. Treadwell said today that he has private workouts lined up with the Bengals and Dolphins, according to Jim Wyatt of TitansOnline.com (Twitter link). The young wideout met with the 49ers last night, per Tony Pauline at WalterFootball.com.
- Rand Getlin of the NFL Network (via Twitter) adds the Dolphins to the list of teams looking at Georgia outside linebacker Jordan Jenkins, who has been linked to at least five other teams.
Dolphins Notes: Morris, Shelby, Moore, Jordan
The Dolphins expressed interest in free agent running back Alfred Morris before he signed with the Cowboys, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Miami, of course, signed Broncos restricted free agent C.J. Anderson to a four-year, $18MM offer sheet, only to see Denver eventually match the deal. The club has also eyed free agent options such as James Starks and Chris Johnson, and is now said to be exploring the trade market as its search for a back continues.
Let’s take a look at a few more items out of South Beach…
- Morris wasn’t the only free agent whom the Dolphins initially targeted, per Jackson, who reports that Miami also showed interest in cornerback Patrick Robinson before he joined the Colts. Additionally, the Dolphins might have more strongly gone after fellow corner Josh Robinson had they known they’d have cap space available once Denver matched the offer to Anderson.
- Among their own free agents, Miami reportedly did not contact defensive end Derrick Shelby “for months,” according to Jackson, before calling him at the last minute to ask if he’d accept $3MM. Shelby ultimately signed a $21MM deal with the Falcons.
- Like Shelby, quarterback Matt Moore received the cold shoulder from the Dolphins as the club met with Brandon Weeden and, per Jackson, showed interest in Luke McCown before he re-signed with the Saints. Moore eventually re-signed with Miami after being endorsed by head coach Adam Gase, reports Jackson.
- The Dolphins weren’t fans of this year’s class of free agent corners, which explains why they didn’t target any of the top-rated players on the board at that position.
- Miami does still need secondary help, however, and as Jackson explains in a separate article, the Dolphins are studying the top cornerbacks available in the draft.
- Jackson believes that former third overall pick Dion Jordan would make the Dolphins’ roster if he’s reinstated from his yearlong suspension.