Tag: Willie Jefferson

The Miami Dolphins’ pass rush woes won’t be getting any reinforcements from up north — at least not any time soon. After weeks of speculation regarding Winnipeg pass rusher Willie Jefferson and the Dolphins on the heels of a workout, we finally have a resolution. Jefferson will be staying in Winnipeg for the time being.

That’s the latest according to TSN’s Farhan Lalji.

Being told that Willie Jefferson has agreed to terms with #Bombers. The final few NFL possibilities didn’t materialize. I’m being told he’s taking less to stay in Winnipeg. Big news for the defending #GreyCup champions! @CFLonTSN @TSN_Sports @SportsCentre pic.twitter.com/hgxpL4WIGK

— Farhan Lalji (@FarhanLaljiTSN) February 10, 2020

Jefferson, who said in the aftermath of his workout with the Dolphins that he was optimistic about signing with the Dolphins, was the Blue Bombers’ best defensive player last season and helped them to their first Grey Cup championship in nearly three decades. But the failure to connect with Miami isn’t necessarily an indictment of the Dolphins or Jefferson — it seems as though the connection simply wasn’t there.

“If the opportunity doesn’t arise in the NFL I have no problem coming back to the CFL. Most definitely I’d like to come back to Winnipeg,” said Jefferson via the Winnipeg Sun in early January.

“It’s a good fit for me, with the coaching staff and the guys that are gonna be there. If I do have a chance to get back to Winnipeg, I want to get back with those guys and try to do something special.”

No word on whether or not the Dolphins failed to offer, if Jefferson’s expected cost was too high or what else might have impacted the failure between the parties to connect. But for now, the Dolphins’ focus will shift to NFL free agents and the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft, where the team can make some notable improvements to the outside pass rush all the same.

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The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson has reported that the Dolphins may soon have their next CFL sack master on the roster. The Dolphins hosted CFL star Willie Jefferson for a workout approximately one month ago, but the trail went cold on that front — until now. Yesterday, Jackson reported via the Herald that Jefferson has told the Winnipeg Sun that he’s “optimistic” a signing with Miami will soon fall into place.

“It’s really been just like a waiting game for me and my agent. I feel like when I did the workout, we spoke and everything and the coaches seemed to like me. So I’m just waiting,” said Jefferson via the Sun.

“I understand from when I did the workout with Miami, word got around how good the workout was. I was scheduled to go to a couple other places but my agent and I decided with the workout going so good in Miami, we were gonna try to not do so many other ones.”

It sounds as if the Dolphins want Jefferson, he’s theirs. And if the signing materializes, Dolphins fans would be wise to temper their expectations — considering the gold standard of CFL pass rushers is Cameron Wake. Wake came to Miami and posted 98 sacks in 10 seasons, a timeless wonder and fan favorite throughout a fairly uneventful and dark period of the Dolphins’ history.

To expect that from Jefferson would be unrealistic, to say the least. But assuming he could bring any semblance of life off the edge in rushing the passer, it would be a big win for Miami — give how little they have on that front currently.

For now, we — along with Jefferson — will continue to wait for this to materialize. And if it does, cautious optimism should follow.

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The Miami Dolphins are reportedly returning to a successful well of talent in search of more answers. The Dolphins were the team that infamously won the Cameron Wake free agency sweepstakes in the year 2009, inking the former Penn State product and CFL star to a free agent deal despite interest from half the league. Wake obliged by logging 98 career sacks for the Dolphins in 10 season before signing with the Tennessee Titans this offseason.

Now, the Dolphins appear to be interested in kicking the tires on the next CFL standout pass rusher, Willie Jefferson. According to a report from 3DownNation’s Justin Dunk, the Dolphins have scheduled a workout with the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player.

Jefferson helped to life the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to their first Grey Cup trophy this season, logging 12 sacks, 6 forced fumbles and batting down a CFL record 16 passes at the line.

There’s plenty that needs to be done before Jefferson is regarded as the “next Cameron Wake”, but the Dolphins should be commended for leaving no stones left unturned in their search for talent. Miami had success this past offseason in signing LB Sam Eguavoen from the CFL. Eguavoen is a solid role player for the Dolphins and has steadily come into his own throughout the course of this season.

The Dolphins’ issues in attacking the passer will need to be not just addressed, but rather invested heavily in this offseason. It’s currently a fatal flaw of the defense but one that will have no shortage of options to plug. And if all goes well with this workout, Jefferson may well be a piece of the puzzle.

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