Dolphins To Sign TE Pharaoh Brown
The Dolphins are signing veteran tight end Pharaoh Brown, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
The seven-year veteran will add some depth to a thin tight end room behind 2024 breakout Jonnu Smith. The Dolphins moved on from Durham Smythe last month, leaving Julian Hill as the only other tight end on the roster with any NFL experience.
After playing for five different teams in his career, Brown will bring plenty of experience to Miami. He has appeared in 87 games with 54 starts, though he has primarily served as a blocker with a career average of 8.6 receiving yards per game.
Brown began his career as an undrafted free agent out of Oregon and signed with the Raiders after the 2017 draft. He didn’t make the 53-man roster, but still appeared in two games as a rookie. He didn’t play at all in 2018, partially due to a shoulder injury, then carved out a rotational role as a blocker in 2019 with the Browns.
Brown then joined the Texans in 2020 and started 21 games over the next two years. He was then released three games into the 2022 seasons and returned to Cleveland for the rest of the year.
The 30-year-old signed with the Patriots in 2023, where he caught 13 of 15 targets for a career-high 208 receiving yards and his first touchdown since 2020. He also carved out a role on special teams, which helped him earn a one-year, $3.2MM contract with the Seahawks in 2024. Brown picked up a similar role as a blocking tight end and special teams contributor in Seattle, something he will likely continue in Miami.
Contract Details: Fries, Hargrave, Colts, Patriots, Seahawks, Dolphins, Bengals, Bills
Here are the latest details from contracts agreed to during free agency:
- Will Fries, G (Vikings). Five years, $87.72MM. Unlike other splashy Minnesota deals this week, Fries’ initial numbers were close to the true value. Fries will see $34MM guaranteed at signing. If he is on the Vikings’ roster by Day 3 of the 2027 league year, another $10MM becomes guaranteed, per OverTheCap. Up to $6MM in incentives are also included in this deal.
- Camryn Bynum, S (Colts). Four years, $60MM. The ex-Viking will see $26MM at signing, per OverTheCap, while KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson adds $32MM is guaranteed in total. The remainder of that guarantee impacts Bynum’s 2026 and ’27 base salaries. Of Bynum’s 2026 salary ($10MM), $6MM is fully guaranteed. Of Bynum’s 2027 base ($13.47MM), $4MM is already guaranteed for injury. That $4MM will shift to a full guarantee on Day 5 of the league year, giving Bynum some advanced protection.
- Carlton Davis, CB (Patriots). Three years, $54MM. This checks in $6MM south of the initial report, but Wilson notes Davis will still see $34.5MM at signing. Davis’ 2025 and 2026 base salaries are fully guaranteed, with a $15MM 2027 base nonguaranteed.
- Javon Hargrave, DL (Vikings). Two years, $30MM. Minnesota is guaranteeing Hargrave $19MM at signing, while Wilson adds $4MM of the veteran DT’s $14.2MM 2026 base salary is already locked in. Hargrave’s full guarantee on a two-year deal nearly matches Jonathan Allen‘s ($23.26MM) on a three-year pact.
- Ernest Jones, LB (Seahawks). Three years, $28.5MM. Jones will receive $10MM at signing and $15MM guaranteed in total. Of Jones’ $7.15MM 2026 base salary, Wilson notes $5MM is guaranteed for injury; that $5MM will shift to a full guarantee on Day 5 of the 2026 league year.
- Mike Gesicki, TE (Bengals). Three years, $25.5MM. A $6.5MM signing bonus represents the full guarantee, as per usual for the Bengals’ non-quarterback deals (though, Cincinnati’s receivers may have something to say about this policy soon). A $2MM roster bonus is due on Day 5 of the 2026 league year, Wilson tweets.
- James Daniels, G (Dolphins). Three years, $24MM. $7.26MM is fully guaranteed, per OverTheCap. The Dolphins guaranteed $3.48MM of Daniels’ $6.49MM 2026 base salary for injury at signing, per Wilson; that $3.48MM shifts to a full guarantee on Day 3 of the 2026 league year.
- Jarran Reed, DL (Seahawks). Three years, $22MM. Seattle guaranteed Reed $8MM at signing, per OverTheCap. After a fully guaranteed 2025 base salary, $2MM of Reed’s $5.49MM 2026 base will shift from an injury guarantee to a full guarantee on Day 5 of the 2026 league year, Wilson tweets.
- Michael Hoecht, DE (Bills). Three years, $21MM. Buffalo is guaranteeing Hoecht $13.43MM at signing. Both Hoecht’s 2025 and ’26 base salaries are fully guaranteed, Wilson adds. His $5.74MM 2027 paragraph 5 number is nonguaranteed.
NFL Announces 2025 Compensatory Picks
MARCH 14: In an unusual step, the NFL has awarded the Saints a seventh-round compensatory pick and stripped one from the Dolphins. The Saints’ pick appears to check in in front of the Browns and Chargers’ Nos. 254 and 255 slots, as NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero notes Cleveland and Los Angeles’ last 2025 picks will slide down one spot. The Dolphins will retain their other seventh-round comp pick, however.
MARCH 11: The NFL has awarded compensatory draft picks for teams in the 2025 draft. Based on an add/subtract formula that covers the 2024 free agency period, comp picks span from Round 3 to Round 7. The higher picks go to the teams that endured the most significant free agent losses.
This year, the NFL awarded 35 comp picks. The comp pick formula assigns picks to franchises who suffered the largest net losses, so teams that signed multiple free agents have a lesser chance of receiving picks.
Sorted by round and by team, here are the league’s 2025 compensatory selections:
By round:
Round 3: Vikings (No. 97 overall), Dolphins (98), Giants (99), 49ers (100)*, Rams (101)*, Lions (102)*
Round 4: Dolphins (135), Ravens (136), Seahawks (137), 49ers (138)
Round 5: Bills (169), Cowboys (170), Cowboys (171), Seahawks (172), Bills (173), Cowboys (174), Seahawks (175), Ravens (176)
Round 6: Chargers (209), Ravens (210), Cowboys (211), Ravens (212), Raiders (213), Chargers (214), Raiders (215), Browns (216)
Round 7: 49ers (249), Packers (250), Chiefs (251), 49ers (252), Dolphins (253), Browns (254), Chargers (255), Dolphins (256), Chiefs (257)
By team:
- Baltimore Ravens: 4
- Dallas Cowboys: 4
- Miami Dolphins: 4
- San Francisco 49ers: 4
- Los Angeles Chargers: 3
- Seattle Seahawks: 3
- Buffalo Bills: 2
- Cleveland Browns: 2
- Kansas City Chiefs: 2
- Las Vegas Raiders: 2
- Detroit Lions: 1
- Green Bay Packers: 1
- Los Angeles Rams: 1
- Minnesota Vikings: 1
- New York Giants: 1
* = special compensatory selection
Dolphins To Re-Sign OL Liam Eichenberg
Roaming around the Dolphins’ offensive line during his rookie contract, Liam Eichenberg settled into a starting guard role last season. After some guard shuffling on Miami’s roster during free agency’s opening week, Eichenberg will be prioritized.
The former second-round pick is staying in Miami on a one-year deal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. Eichenberg will be a starter option for a Dolphins team that replaced its other 2024 first-string guard — Robert Jones — with James Daniels, who agreed to a three-year, $24MM deal.
Eichenberg, 27, completed an O-line cycle during his rookie contract, playing at least 100 snaps at all five positions. The Notre Dame alum worked as Miami’s primary left tackle in 2021, while also seeing time at RT. He slid to left guard in 2022 and was the team’s center fill-in — after Connor Williams‘ ACL tear — in 2023. Eichenberg won the Dolphins’ RG job last year, however, and only played that position for Mike McDaniel’s team from that point on. After 1,036 snaps at RG last season, Eichenberg will be an option for Miami once again in 2025.
The Dolphins needed a right guard replacement for Robert Hunt, who landed a monster Panthers contract last March, and it will be interesting if Eichenberg has the chance to play the same position two years in a row for a change. Eichenberg entered the NFL after a three-year run as Notre Dame’s left tackle. A move to the blind side is highly unlikely, as another second-round pick — Patrick Paul — is in line to succeed Terron Armstead, who is expected to retire.
Miami has Daniels, Austin Jackson and Aaron Brewer‘s midlevel contracts in place up front. Eichenberg may not be the most exciting choice to start opposite Daniels — Pro Football Focus has graded him as a bottom-10 option everywhere he has been — but the 6-foot-6 blocker has made 52 career starts and will be a low-cost option on an offense housing high-end deals for Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Dolphins, Alexander Mattison Agree To Deal
The Raiders added a former Dolphins running back in the form of Raheem Mostert on Thursday. Miami is set to pull off the reverse. 
Alexander Mattison has a deal in place to join the Dolphins, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports. After a single season with the Raiders, the former Viking will look to carve out a role in Miami’s backfield. He played on a one-year, $2MM deal in 2024, and this will likely be a similar pact.
Vegas saw Josh Jacobs depart in free agency last offseason, and signing Mattison was part of the team’s effort to replace him. The latter split time with Zamir White and Ameer Abdullah, seeing a total of eight starts during his 14 appearances. Mattson, 26, has only operated as a full-time starter once during his career (2022, the first year after Dalvin Cook‘s Vikings release). He will only be counted on to serve as a rotational back in Miami, though.
The Dolphins cut Mostert shortly after the end of the regular season, a move which confirmed De’Von Achane is set to remain the focal point of the team’s rushing attack. Achane is attached to his rookie contract, as is Jaylen Wright. The latter saw sparse usage on offense last season, but he could work his way into a larger role in Year 2. Even if that does not take place, Mattison will offer Miami a veteran backup option.
The Boise State product flashed potential during his time as Cook’s backup in Minnesota. His one year atop the depth chart produced career highs in rushing (700) and scrimmage (892) yards, but it included a yards per carry average of only 3.9. Mattison saw his efficiency drop to 3.2 yards per attempt in 2024 – a year in which, to be fair, the Raiders’ overall ground game struggled mightily – but his 294 receiving yards were the most of his career.
The Dolphins are positioned to have Achane and Wright in place as part of a cost-effective backfield for 2025 and beyond. Mattison could find success as a short-yardage option with Miami, though, and doing so could help his free agent prospects for next year.
Dolphins Sign T Larry Borom
After playing out his rookie contract with the Bears, Larry Borom is headed to Miami. The former fifth-round offensive lineman has signed with the Dolphins, per a team announcement. 
This is a one-year deal worth $2.5MM, according to Over the Cap. That figure is guaranteed in full. Borom has seen sparse usage at guard during his career, but for the most part he has operated as a tackle.
The soon-to-be 26-year-old made at least four starts every year during his time in Chicago. Borom primarily operated at right tackle during his first two years, and his 67.4 PFF grade from 2022 was the highest of his Bears tenure. He played exclusively on the blindside the following season and again saw most of his time at left tackle in 2024.
Despite only playing eight games after returning from a preseason ankle injury, Borom was charged by PFF with seven sacks and 22 pressures allowed. That yielded an overall grade of just 53.8, a figure the Dolphins will hope he is able to improve upon. Chicago has traded for a pair of new guards (Jonah Jackson, Joe Thuney) while signing a new center (Drew Dalman), but it remains to be seen if a left tackle will be sought out this offseason. Braxton Jones and Kiran Amegadjie remain on the books.
The Dolphins are operating under the impression Terron Armstead will not be available in 2025, making the left tackle spot one to watch closely. Borom could compete for the starting gig at that position with 2024 second-rounder Patrick Paul or offer Miami a swing tackle option behind Paul and right tackle starter Austin Jackson. As the Dolphins look to put together a more effective O-line in 2025 than they had last year, Borom will likely have a role to play.
Dolphins To Sign LB K.J. Britt
The Dolphins are set to make their first outside addition at the linebacker spot this offseason. K.J. Britt has agreed to a one-year deal with Miami, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. 
Britt played out his rookie contract with the Buccaneers, so this pact will allow him to remain in Florida for at least one more season. The former fifth-rounder primarily played on special teams during his first three seasons with the team, but late in the 2023 campaign he emerged as the Bucs’ preferred defensive option compared to Devin White. The latter’s expected free agent departure last offseason paved the way for a starting gig in Britt’s case.
Logging a 65% snap share – by far the largest of his career – the 25-year-old posted 72 tackles in 2024. He helped form an effective tandem with Lavonte David as a result of that production, but while the longtime Buccaneer has worked out another Tampa deal Britt will be on the move this spring. He will look to carve out a first-team gig in Miami.
The Dolphins added Jordyn Brooks in free agency last offseason, and he remains on the books through 2026. Miami also re-signed Tyrel Dodson on a two-year deal yesterday, and after staring three games last season he will be in the mix for a first-team role moving forward. Britt will aim to compete for playing time in that regard, but at a minimum he will provide the Dolphins with a veteran special teams presence.
Miami ranked ninth against the run in 2024, and with Brooks and Dodson still in place expectations will be high for a repeat of that strong play at the second level this coming season. If Britt manages to play a notable role in that effort, he will set himself up for a more lucrative deal on the open market next spring.
Dolphins, LB Tyrel Dodson Agree To Terms
The Dolphins are re-signing Tyrel Dodson, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz tweets. Dodson is staying in Miami on a two-year deal worth $8.25MM.
The former Bills contributor made 12 starts between his stops in Seattle and Miami last year. As they shook up their linebacking corps midway through last season, the Seahawks cut Dodson, leading him to the Dolphins. Miami will keep working with the waiver claim.
Checking in as a player the Dolphins negotiated with before the legal tampering period, Dodson saw the team up its price just a bit to seal the deal, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson adds. With Anthony Walker and Duke Riley unsigned, Dodson joins Jordyn Brooks as the top linebackers on the Dolphins’ roster.
Not long after trading Jerome Baker to the Titans in a package that brought back Ernest Jones, the Seahawks waived Dodson, who had started all nine Seattle games to that point. Dodson started three with the Dolphins, making his presence felt with turnovers. In just eight Miami games, Dodson nabbed three interceptions. He also broke up four passes during an intriguing start, even as the Dolphins were moving out of the playoff race at that point. Overall, Dodson made 107 tackles in 2024 (eight for loss).
Pro Football Focus graded Dodson as one of the league’s best coverage linebackers last season and slotted the five-year veteran 34th overall at the position. That came after the advanced metrics site ranked him first in 2023, albeit on just 549 snaps. Neither of these placements, however, created robust markets for the former UDFA. Still, Dodson has started 22 games over the past two seasons. He will attempt to secure a starting role with the 2025 Dolphins edition.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/11/25
Here are today’s minor moves from around the NFL:
Buffalo Bills
- Re-signed: FB Reggie Gilliam
- Signed: RB Darrynton Evans
Chicago Bears
- Re-signed: LS Scott Daly
Dallas Cowboys
- Re-signed: P Bryan Anger
Detroit Lions
- Re-signed: DT Myles Adams
Houston Texans
- Re-signed: S M.J. Stewart
- Signed: LB Nick Niemann
Indianapolis Colts
- Re-signed: C Wesley French
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: TE Robert Tonyan, LB Cole Christiansen
Los Angeles Rams
- Suspended: WR Drake Stoops
Miami Dolphins
- Re-signed: LB Quinton Bell
New Orleans Saints
- Re-signed: WR/KR Dante Pettis
Tennessee Titans
- Re-signed: S Mike Brown
Washington Commanders
- Re-signed: RB Jeremy McNichols
Anger is a 13-year veteran who has spent the last four years in Dallas, which included Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro honors in 2021 and 2023. He will stay with the Cowboys on a two-year deal, per ESPN’s Todd Archer.
Tonyan had a few strong seasons in Green Bay earlier in his career, but he has struggled to produce over the last two years. He spent 2024 in Minnesota, but only played 15 snaps on offense with zero targets. He will add tight end depth in Kansas City.
Stoops received a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s Performance-Enhancing Substances Policy, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. He will be eligible to participate in training camp and preseason games, but will be sidelined for the first two games of the regular season.
McNichols is staying in Washington on a one-year deal, according to Pelissero. The seven-year veteran appeared in 17 games for the Commanders in 2024 and rushed for 261 yards and four touchdowns on 55 attempts. McNichols will likely continue as Washington’s RB3 behind Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler.
Dolphins To Sign S Ashtyn Davis
Following Jevon Holland‘s Giants defection, the Dolphins have made two lower-cost additions to their safety corps. After adding Ifeatu Melifonwu, the Dolphins are signing Ashtyn Davis, NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe reports.
Holland joined the Giants on a three-year, $45MM deal. With Jordan Poyer also not expected back, the Dolphins are needing to regroup at safety. The Davis and Melifonwu additions may not be all Miami does here, but the team does have two players with starting experience en route.
Like Melifonwu, Davis is coming off a tenure as a part-time starter. The Jets used the former third-round pick as a 22-game starter in five seasons. Davis played out a one-year deal in 2024, when he started one game. Even after Chuck Clark‘s offseason ACL tear in 2023, Davis started only five games. The Cal alum does have eight career interceptions, however. Despite starting just six games over the past two seasons, Davis nabbed five INTs.
Davis, 28, became more of a presence on special teams after his 10-start 2021. He logged at least 75% usage on the Jets’ ST plays in each of the past three seasons. Seeing as Davis’ starter work mostly occurred years ago, the Dolphins are most likely not done addressing their safety position. Melifonwu logged only four starts with the Lions, though the team had more in mind for him last season — when an ankle injury limited him to three games.