The Miami Dolphins traded WR Jarvis Landry to the Cleveland Browns during the spring of 2018 for a 2018 4th-round pick and a 2019 7th-round pick. Throughout the 26 games Landry has played as a member of the Cleveland Browns, the receiver has logged 130 receptions for 1,671 yards and 7 touchdowns — and in Week 12 will take the field to play against his former team for the very first time.
Landry was a fan favorite during his tenure with the Dolphins. No, he wasn’t the most productive per catch and he didn’t consistently showcase a viable nose for the end zone. But Landry was the player whom, when the Dolphins offense needed a play, always stepped up. As a punt returner. As a blocker. As a receiver. Landry’s fire and energy elevated those around him and he was a reliable player week in and week out.
But yet the Dolphins, under the direction of Mike Tannenbaum and Adam Gase, elected not to pay him, instead choosing to pay WR Albert Wilson a 3-year, $24M contract in free agency to take his place. Wilson has played 14 of a possible 26 games for Miami since signing and has totaled 40 receptions for 475 yards and 5 touchdowns — plus one very big hip injury that seems to have derailed his career all together.
And then there’s the players Miami recouped in the deal of Landry via the Draft: TE Durham Smythe and RB Myles Gaskin.
In the grand scheme of things, Miami’s roster progression wouldn’t have been a great home for Landry long-term. But in all, which would you rather have? Jarvis Landry for $15M per season, or Albert Wilson, Durham Smythe and Myles Gaskin for $9M per season? That’s roughly what Miami’s dealings with Landry evolved into for the team.
Let the Landry dealings serve as a word of caution to GM Chris Grier, now that he’s fully in control and the Dolphins have moved back to square one with their rebuild. Once you draft good talent, keep it. The sacrifice of Laremy Tunsil was an example of a trade too good to be true and DB Minkah Fitzpatrick had mentally committed to not being a part of the team, so there was only so much to do on that front. But now? The Dolphins are officially at square one and must make sure that the next time a Jarvis Landry comes to town, the Dolphins are willing to play ball and keep him.
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