Tag: Jibri Blount

Miami Dolphins add TE Carson Meier, waive Jibri Blount

Miami Dolphins add TE Carson Meier, waive Jibri Blount

General manager Chris Grier and the Miami Dolphins are all set to welcome back their players to the team’s training facilities in Miami Gardens today, marking the opening of their 2021 training camp. But there will be at least one new face throughout today’s opening salvo — as the team made a last minute roster change to their very full tight end room. The Dolphins announced on Monday that they were adding former Oklahoma TE Carson Meier and that their corresponding move was to waive tight end Jibri Blount with an injury settlement.

The move, for now, ends a short tenure with the team for Blount; who Miami added to the fray in early May in the immediate aftermath of the 2021 NFL draft after enjoying a successful basketball career at North Carolina Central.

No one expected a raw talent like Blount to make the team’s roster in 2021; as he was always going to be a developmental shot in the dark. And perhaps down the line he still will be. But in the here and now, Meier is getting that role entering into camp as a player with more football experience.

Meier, who participated in the East/West Shrine Game as an NFL draft prospect in 2019, logged 19 receptions for 327 yards and 4 touchdowns during his career with the Oklahoma Sooners. He’ll have his work cut out for him next month to make the team; but at the very least he appears to be all set to be a part of the team’s crowded tight end situation for camp.

Miami Dolphins announce signing of TE Jibri Blount

Miami Dolphins announce signing of TE Jibri Blount

The Miami Dolphins appear to have a plan for their revamped offensive attack in 2021. And it appears to be centered around collecting as many tight ends as possible. The Miami Dolphins, who entered the offseason with an established trio of Mike Gesicki, Durham Smythe and Adam Shaheen at the position plus the depth of practice squad player Chris Myarick, proceeded to add Cethan Carter to the mix in free agency and then Hunter Long in the 3rd-round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

That makes six. And it’s now officially seven.

The Dolphins announced this afternoon that they have signed Jibri Blount as their corresponding move to the release of veteran safety Bobby McCain.

Who is Blount?

The Dolphins’ seventh and newest tight end is the son of NFL Hall of Famer Mel Blount, who played 200 career games for the Pittsburgh Steelers and finished his career with 57 interceptions. Blount’s path to the NFL doesn’t jump come from his bloodlines, however — he’s enjoyed a successful career on the hardwood, too. Blount spent two seasons playing for Cleveland State before a transfer to North Carolina Central, where he averaged 19.2 points per game as a senior.

At 6-foot-7 and 230 pounds, Blount has a basketball player’s frame; but such athletes have made successful transitions to tight end before in the past. The odds are high that Blount won’t be making the Dolphins’ roster in 2021 but he feels like a contender to push Chris Myarick for the team’s tight end spot on the practice squad — if he’s got dynamic athletic skills, he may be well worth the flier the Dolphins appear set to take on him.

Notable undrafted free agents eligible for 2021 G League Draft

Among the eligible players for the upcoming 2021 NBA G League Draft are several of the notable undrafted players from the 2020 NBA draft.

The upcoming 2021 NBA G League season may give several players not selected in the recent NBA draft another opportunity in the pros.

The NBA G League is hosting a bubble tournament at the ESPN Wide World of Sport Complex in Florida. Once teams are assembled, they will arrive to the location by January 26 for physicals and onboarding. The first game is set for February 8 and teams are expected to play a “12-to-15 game schedule” before their single-elimination playoffs from March 5-March 9.

While teams may have the majority of their roster spots ready to go, they’ll supplement final spaces with the G League Draft. The event is scheduled for Monday, January 11, at 1:15 PM EST.

Some of the players with the most professional experience: Emeka Okafor, Mario Chalmers, Michael Beasley, Lance Stephenson, Hollis Thompson, Terrence Jones, Quincy Pondexter, Shabazz Muhammad, Tyler Ulis, Festus Ezeli, Allonzo Trier, Antonio Blakeney.

Also among the eligible players for the upcoming 2021 NBA G League Draft are several of the notable undrafted players from the 2020 NBA draft.

Some of the top prospects who did not hear their name called on draft night were signed on two-way deals, which allow the player to be active for 50 of the 72 games for their franchise. Many others were invited to training camps to compete for roster spots via Exhibit-10 contracts.

Typically, players with that type of deal end up playing for the G League affiliate of the squad that signed them. This year, however, eleven of the teams around the league are not sending their affiliate to the bubble:

Atlanta Hawks (College Park Skyhawks)

Boston Celtics (Maine Red Claws)

Chicago Bulls (Windy City Bulls)

Dallas Mavericks (Texas Legends)

Detroit Pistons (Grand Rapids Drive)

Los Angeles Lakers (South Bay Lakers)

Miami Heat (Sioux Falls Skyforce)

Milwaukee  Bucks(Wisconsin Herd)

Phoenix Suns (Northern Arizona Suns)

Sacramento Kings (Stockton Kings)

Washington Wizards (Capital City Go-Go; will utilize Erie)

That means, in addition to those who did not participate in an NBA training camp over the summer, any of the players who signed Exhibit-10 deals with these franchises are also sent into the draft pool for Monday.

While this draft will have three rounds, there will be a max of 26 players selected, though teams are not required to make a selection. All things considered, this is set to be an incredibly deep draft class on Monday.

Among the nearly 200 players who have NBA G League Standard Player Contracts but are not yet on a roster, here are some of the notable undrafted free agents who may have a chance to continue their professional journey: