Dolphins add long snapper Winston Chapman

The Miami Dolphins signed free agent long snapper Winston Chapman on Tuesday, the team has announced. This is the first NFL contract for Chapman, who tore his ACL as a senior at Mississippi State in 2015. He played in 40 games at Mississippi State.

Miami incumbent long snapper John Denney is scheduled to be a free agent this offseason, but is expected to re-sign with the club. Winston will likely serve as a training camp and preseason option to keep Denney, 38, fresh, while potentially giving the team a developmental player to take over the long-snapper duties whenever Denney retires.

Another potential free agent acquisition for the Dolphins, cornerback K’Waun Williams, signed with the San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday. Miami had reportedly offered Williams a contract, though no details were reported. Williams signed a one-year contract with the 49ers after missing the entire 2016 season with bone spurs. He played for the Cleveland Browns from 2014 through 2015.

Both Chapman and Williams were available for immediate signing as players who were not on a team’s roster at the end of the 2016 season. Free agency for players whose contracts will expire following the 2016 season will begin on March 9, when the new league year officially begins.