Category: Dolphins News and Notes

Breaking down the terms of new Dolphins DL Benito Jones’ contract

Contract details for new Dolphins DL Benito Jones.

With the Miami Dolphins losing Christian Wilkins and Raekwon Davis this offseason, general manager Chris Grier needed to find some potential replacements for the upcoming season.

Miami signed a number of players at the position early in free agency, including Benito Jones.

Jones, 26, re-joined the Dolphins on a one-year deal worth $1.79 million after spending the last two seasons with the Detroit Lions.

According to Over the Cap, Jones will receive a $1.54 million base salary (fully guaranteed) and a $250,000 signing bonus. His cap hit for the 2024 season is currently set at $1.79 million.

This contract, while not for an exorbitant price, likely means that the former Ole Miss Rebel will be on the roster in September as long as he’s healthy. Releasing Jones would not save the team any money, but they would incur a $1.79 million dead cap hit.

He’ll just have to be out some of the signees, re-signees and returning veterans to earn playing time behind or with Zach Sieler.

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Analyzing the terms of Dolphins DL Da’Shawn Hand’s new contract

Here’s what Dolphins DL Da’Shawn Hand’s new contract looks like.

With both Christian Wilkins and Raekwon Davis hitting the market this offseason, the Miami Dolphins needed to put forth a concerted effort to bring in veterans to play along the defensive line.

One of the moves that general manager Chris Grier made in the first week of free agency was re-signing defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand.

Hand, 28, agreed to a one-year deal worth $1.29 million to rejoin the Dolphins for his second season with the team.

According to Over the Cap, he will receive a $1.13 million base salary and a $167,500 signing bonus. His cap number for the 2024 season is currently set at $1.15 million.

This contract far from guarantees Hand a spot on the roster, as releasing him would save $985,000 while the team would incur a dead-cap hit of just $167,500 (the signing bonus).

Miami appears to be holding a competition for snaps next to and behind Zach Sieler for this upcoming season. Hand will have to beat out Benito Jones, Brandon Pili, Jonathan Harris, Isaiah Mack, Neville Gallimore and Daviyon Nixon to earn playing time.

It’s not impossible because he’s been here for a year, but he’s also playing in a new scheme after the team replaced defensive coordinator Vic Fangio with Anthony Weaver.

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Brian Flores had a lot to do with the Vikings pursuit of Andrew Van Ginkel

Miami’s former head coach was a big reason the LB left for Minnesota.

During the first few days of free agency, the Miami Dolphins lost a number of key players, including linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, who signed a two-year, $20 million contract to join the Minnesota Vikings.

Van Ginkel was an impact player for Miami despite having his opportunities dip at times. In 73 career games wearing aqua and orange, the former Wisconsin Badger recorded 250 tackles (31 for a loss), 57 quarterback hits, 21 passes defended, 17 sacks, four forced fumbles, three fumbles recovered and two interceptions.

Speaking during the NFL’s annual meetings, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell shared why they were so aggressive in targeting the edge rusher.

“I think [Brian Flores’] background with him and, obviously, a lot of my offensive coaches and myself on the offensive side have had some trouble playing against Gink over the past few years,” O’Connell said (transcribed by the South Florida Sun Sentinel). “I think, just the versatility of what he means to our team, really, what it means for Flo, their history together. Flo has built something unique, kind of 1-of-1 here in Minnesota, and I’m excited to see him use Gink and kind of where that takes us.”

Flores and Van Ginkel both arrived in Miami in 2019 and worked well together for three seasons before the coach’s firing. The linebacker’s 2020 and 2021 campaigns were some of his best, as he recorded 119 tackles (16 for a loss), 30 quarterback hits, 11 passes defensed, 9.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery (a 78-yard scoop and score).

Van Ginkel will likely be lined up all over the front in Flores’ scheme, allowing him to confuse opposing quarterbacks and offensive linemen to get pressure and potentially force some mistakes.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins have replaced him with veteran linebacker Shaq Barrett, who may be a more proven pass-rusher, but he definitely doesn’t have the versatility that Van Ginkel brought.

New Dolphins OL Aaron Brewer shares insane diet he went on to gain 40 pounds in college

How Aaron Brewer gained 40 pounds in just months at Texas State.

College and professional athletes often have to undergo intense training programs to make sure they’re in the best shape to do their job on the field each and every week, but offensive linemen have a different type of challenge.

Those who are responsible for protecting the quarterback and providing lanes for their running backs need to maintain their mass, which can be difficult for a smaller player attempting to make it at a lesser-known program like Texas State.

New Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Aaron Brewer recently shared on “Drive Time with Travis Wingfield” that when he was in college he had to gain 40 pounds in just months to be ready to perform, and his diet to do so was crazy.

“I don’t know if many people know, but In college, I played underweight as well,” Brewer said. “When I first moved to college I was like 220, and so I had to put on about 40 pounds in the summer and got up to about 270… Here’s what they had me doing. I literally, I’d wake up in the morning. I’d eat two PB&Js and drink chocolate milk. I’d go eat breakfast and eat another PB&J and drink a protein shake. I’d finish that and go eat lunch – PB&J and a protein shake. Dinner – PB&J and a protein shake. Before I go to sleep – two more PB&Js and some chocolate milk. And, I was doing this every day. Chugging every day. PB&Js every day. Wake up go to sleep, same thing.”

Luckily, Brewer doesn’t have to go through that type of rigorous diet again to maintain his shape in the NFL, and his athleticism is actually one of the benefits of his smaller frame.

In Miami, he’ll have to continue being quick enough to beat defenders to the spot and also be strong enough to move their oftentimes much bigger bodies out of the way.

Breaking down the terms of new Dolphins TE Jody Fortson’s contract

Contract details for new Dolphins TE Jody Fortson.

With the Miami Dolphins struggling to get production from the tight end position in 2023, general manager Chris Grier added two in free agency, including Jody Fortson.

Fortson, 28, joined the Dolphins on a one-year deal worth $1.23 million after spending the last five seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and winning three Super Bowls.

According to Over the Cap, Fortson will receive a $1 million base salary ($400,000 guaranteed). The contract includes a $25,000 signing bonus and $200,000 in per-game roster bonuses. His cap hit for the 2024 season is $1.03 million.

If Miami were to release Fortson before the season begins, the team would save $600,000 while incurring a dead-cap hit of $425,000.

Durham Smythe was really the only tight end who did much of anything last year, so if Fortson stays healthy, he has as good of a chance as anyone to compete for opportunities this year.

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Analyzing the terms of new Dolphins CB Kendall Fuller’s contract

Contract details for new Dolphins CB Kendall Fuller.

With the Miami Dolphins releasing cornerback Xavien Howard this offseason, the team was in dire need of a veteran cornerback to play opposite Jalen Ramsey, and it seems that they’ve found that in Kendall Fuller.

Fuller, 29, joined the Dolphins on a two-year deal worth $15 million that includes three void years after spending the last four seasons with Washington.

According to Over the Cap, Fuller will receive a $1.21 million base salary (fully guaranteed) in 2024 and a $6.47 million salary (none guaranteed) in 2025. He also got a $6.77 million signing bonus which will be prorated ($1.35 million annually) through the 2028 season. The contract includes $510,000 in per-game roster bonuses (all in 2025) and $50,000 in workout bonuses ($25,000 in 2024 and $25,000 in 2025).

Fuller has cap hits of $2.59 million in 2024, $8.35 million in 2025 and $4.06 million in 2026.

This contract likely means that Fuller is tied to the team through 2025, but Miami could extend him after the first season if he plays well and shows no signs of decline in this new system and organization.

In 2024, Ramsey and Fuller should form a formidable duo with Cam Smith, Kader Kohou and Nik Needham filling in the depth chart behind them. If Miami’s secondary stays healthy, they could be one of the best in the league.

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Dolphins react to NFL banning hip-drop tackling

A few Dolphins sound off about new rule change.

During the NFL’s annual meetings, teams voted on a few issues, including the hotly-debated hip-drop tackling technique, which was used by a Tennessee Titans defender on Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, resulting in an injury.

The league has decided to ban the technique from the sport despite the NFL Players Association opposing such a ban.

According to NFL executive Jeff Miller, the hip-drop tackle was used 230 times last season, resulting in 15 players missing time with injuries.

After the news was announced a few Dolphins took to social media to share their displeasure with the change.

Obviously, Holland, Neal and Nixon all make their living off of bringing down offensive players, and this will make their lives much more difficult.

However, even some offensive players are complaining.

The league should be doing what it can to make the game safer for their players, but it does feel like rules are continuing to favor offense, and defenders are the ones who have to adjust their game.

There needs to be more balance.

Former Dolphins OL lands in the NFC East

Former Dolphins OL finds new team in the NFC East..

While most Miami Dolphins fans are focused on who could be joining the team for the 2024 season and who have already committed to do so, it’s always good to keep up with some of the players who played for the team in years past to see where they end up.

One former Dolphins, offensive lineman Michael Deiter, is set to join a new team in 2024, as he’s agreed to a deal with the Washington Commanders.

Deiter, 27, was drafted by Miami in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft following a collegiate career at Wisconsin that included two First-team All-Big Ten seasons in his last two years.

The former Badger played four years for the Dolphins, appearing in 57 games for the team and starting 23. Deiter was originally a guard but started eight games at center in 2021.

Last year, Deiter played for the Houston Texans. After starting the season on the practice squad, he appeared in 16 games and started 10 for DeMeco Ryans’ team, mainly at center.

Dolphins salary-cap restraints won’t keep them away from Odell Beckham Jr.

Miami’s HC says they gave star WR an offer.

This was a bit of a reset offseason for the Miami Dolphins.

That’s not much of a secret, considering they were unable to retain a number of key free agents, including Christian Wilkins, Robert Hunt and Andrew Van Ginkel, who all left for better deals that Miami was willing to offer.

At the annual league meetings, head coach Mike McDaniel admitted the team has been working within the parameters set by the league’s salary cap.

“It all comes back to the fact that there’s a finite salary cap,” McDaniel said (transcribed by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel). “And sometimes, we can’t be the kid spending the money. We have to be the parents that have to look at our budget and make sure we can pay the water bill.”

Still, the parents sometimes want to get that dessert or that new toy. For Miami, that luxury right now is wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who the team had in for a visit last week.

“Things went great with him,” McDaniel said on Monday. “We did make him an offer, and business takes time, especially with players such as Odell, who’s had a phenomenal career, still has really good football in front of him and has options. So, I think those conversations will be ongoing. We’ll see where they go.”

Behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, the Dolphins lack experience at the position. At the moment, the rest of the room is filled by Braxton Berrios, River Cracraft, Erik Ezukanma, Braylon Sanders, Anthony Schwartz and Mathew Sexton.

Beckham, despite clearly not being the same player he was during his early years with the New York Giants partially due to age and injuries, could still bring a lot to Miami’s offense.

Last season, the three-time Pro Bowler recorded 35 receptions for 565 yards and three touchdowns. Cedrick Wilson Jr. held the third receiver role for the Dolphins last season and brought in just 22 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns.

Breaking down the terms of new Dolphins LB Shaq Barrett’s contract

Here’s what new Dolphins LB Shaq Barrett’s contract looks like.

The Miami Dolphins needed some help on the edge this offseason with Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb recovering from season-ending injuries and Andrew Van Ginkel joining the Minnesota Vikings.

Miami added some veteran talent to the position early in free agency by bringing in Shaq Barrett.

According to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe, Barrett’s deal is for one year (with four voidable years on the end) and is worth up to $9 million. He’ll receive a $7 million base salary ($1.46 million guaranteed), a $5.54 million signing bonus (prorated to $1.11 million per season due to void years) and $250,000 in per-game roster bonuses.

Considering the financial commitment, Barrett’s a lock to make the roster in 2024, but when the year is over the remainder of the prorated signing bonus ($4.43 million) will be left as a dead-cap hit in 2025 unless he’s extended.

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