Miami Dolphins running back Damien Williams has ended his semi-holdout and signed his restricted free agent tender, according to multiple media reports on Thursday. Williams, a 2014 undrafted free agent signing by Miami, is set to earn $1.8 million on the original round tender the Dolphins placed on him prior to the start of free agency at the beginning of March.
Williams had been free to negotiate with other NFL teams until April 21. If a team had signed him to an offer sheet, Miami would have had the right to match the terms of the contract, keeping Williams in South Florida. When no offer sheets were signed by that April deadline, Williams’ rights became exclusive to the Dolphins.
The New England Patriots had hosted Williams on a free agent visit, but ultimately signed former Dolphins and Buffalo Bills running back Mike Gillislee instead.
Williams had been holding out signing the tender in hopes of receiving a long-term, higher salaried contract. The three-year veteran played in 15 games for the Dolphins last year, recording 35 carries for 115 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught 23 passes for 249 yards and another three scores. He has 296 career rushing yards with those three touchdowns.
Signing the tender now allows Williams to join the team’s voluntary offseason conditioning program.