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The NFL's free agency period will officially begin today at 4pm ET, when the new league year officially begins. The "legal tampering" period will continue up until that point, during which teams will talk to player agents about possible contracts, but nothing can be signed until that 4pm mark. The Miami Dolphins have one move waiting for the start of the new year, a agreed to trade with the Philadelphia Eagles that will send cornerback Byron Maxwell and linebacker Kiko Alonso to South Florida.
The team also made their first free agent signing on Tuesday, bringing defensive end Mario Williams to the club. Williams, who was released by the Buffalo Bills earlier this month, was free to sign with a club prior to the start of free agency because he was not an expiring contract, but was cut by his former team.
We continue to update all of the rumors and news stories about the Dolphins on Wednesday here. You can find all of our free agency coverage from the entire legal-tampering and free agency periods, both Dolphins focused and around the league, by clicking the link to the right/below.
Must Reads
Here is the list of Miami free agents:
Dolphins free agents:
- Olivier Vernon, defensive end (
Transition tag) - Signs with Giants (5-yrs, $85 million, $52.5 million guaranteed) - Lamar Miller, running back - Signs with Texans (4-yrs, $26 million, $14 million guaranteed)
- Rishard Matthews, wide receiver - Signs with Titans
- Derrick Shelby, defensive end - Signs with Falcons (4-yrs, $18 million)
- Matt Moore, quarterback
- Kelvin Sheppard, linebacker
- Louis Delmas, safety
- Spencer Paysinger, linebacker
- Jacques McClendon, guard/center
- Shelley Smith, guard
- Brice McCain, cornerback
- Brandon Williams, tight end
- Robert Thomas, defensive tackle
- Jason Fox, tackle (Released)
- Quinton Coples, defensive end (Released)
- Greg Jennings, wide receiver (Released)
- Brent Grimes, cornerback (Released)
Dolphins visits:
Mario Williams, defensive end - Visited March 5-6
Dolphins signings:
Mario Williams, defensive end - Signed March 8
Isa Abdul-Quddus, safety - Signed March 9
Sam Young, tackle - Signed March 9
Dolphins rumors:
Tuesday's rumors thread: Alex Boone, J.R. Sweezy, William Hayes, Lamar Miller, Kelechi Osemele, Jordan Cameron
TRADE: Byron Maxwell shoulder injury may end possible trade with Eagles
Tracking all of the other AFC East rumors and news in free agency here.
Mario Williams salary cap numbers are in. Williams will make $8.5 million a season, with about $6.5 million against the cap in 2016.
The Dolphins pulled the transition tag off Olivier Vernon. It's not a surprise move, and gives the Dolphins back $12.7 million in cap space. This should also mean Cameron Wake is safe.
With the Dolphins expecting Lamar Miller to sign elsewhere this offseason, the question becomes: Is Jay Ajayi ready to be the feature back in Miami?
TRADE: Dolphins-Eagles trade appears to be back on
Updated: Miami Dolphins free agent shopping list 2.0
Alex Boone will sign with the Minnesota Vikings according to Adam Schefter. That takes a guard off the market, a position of need for the Dolphins. The team is still said to be interested in J.R. Sweezy, but Boone was someone the team could have added and filled one of their needs.
Dolphins have been linked to Matt Forte. The interest makes sense, given the tie between former Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase, now the Dolphins head coach, and Forte. No speculation of a contract or any talks, but the initial link has been reported.
Lamar Miller will sign with the Texans on a 4-year, $26 million contract, with $14 million guaranteed. The deal will pay him $6.5 million. There are reports that he actually turned down more money per year from someone else because they wanted to sign him to a 5-year deal.
Matt Forte is signing with the Jets. No word on if the Dolphins were serious contenders after the initial "interest" report, though signing Forte would have made sense for Miami.
William Hayes agrees to return to Los Angeles Rams. Had been a player of interest for the Dolphins.
As expected, the Dolphins have officially announced the release of cornerback Brent Grimes. Grimes rejected a request by the Dolphins to restructure his contract, then demanded a release when the Dolphins asked him if he would stay with the team without the restructure. Grimes' play on the field, which fell somewhat in 2015 compared to 2014 and 2013 despite being a Pro Bowl player all three years, was only part of the story with Miami, however, as Mike Grimes, Brent's wife, repeatedly used Twitter to rant against the team's fans, the media covering the team, and quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
NFL NEWS: Houston Texans agree to terms with quarterback Brock Osweiler. Along with Lamar Miller, Houston is completely reworking their offense this offseason. It also decimates the Denver Broncos' offense, as the Super Bowl champions lost Peyton Manning to retirement and now Osweiler to the Texans.
SIGNED: Dolphins sign safety Isa Abdul-Quddus to a three-year contract worth $12.75 million. Abdul-Quddus will likely take over the starting position next to Reshad Jones.
Olivier Vernon agreed to a 5-year, $85 million contract with $52.5 million guaranteed - or $17 million per season - from the Giants. It's the most guaranteed money, highest average, and largest 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year salaries for a defensive end.
Quarterback Matt Moore is visiting with the Dallas Cowboys. Starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill has had Matt Moore in the quarterbacks room with him since the Dolphins drafted Tannehill in 2012. It is time to get younger at the backup quarterback position, however.
The Dolphins were interested in guard J.R. Sweezy, but will not be signing him. Instead, Sweezy will join the Buccaneers.
Adam Jones is staying with the Cincinnati Bengals. Lots of talk of the Vance Joseph (Miami defensive coordinator and former Bengals defensive backs coach) connection with Jones, and Jones was apparently in Miami, but he will now return to Cincinnati.
Former Dolphins defensive end Derrick Shelby signs with the Atlanta Falcons. Shelby, the primary backup defensive end and the man who had to replace Cameron Wake when the Pro Bowl defensive end tor his Achilles tendon, will now head to Atlanta on a four-year, $18 million contract.
Rishard Matthews agrees to terms with the Titans.
SIGNED: The Dolphins have signed Sam Young, offensive tackle from the Jacksonville Jaguars.The contract is a one-year deal that is worth $910,000 and gives Miami some much needed offensive line depth. Young will likely serve in the same role as Jason Fox last year, the primary backup tackle.