Dolphins trade for LB Stephone Anthony from Saints

The Miami Dolphins have acquired linebacker Stephone Anthony in a trade with the New Orleans Saints, the team announced Tuesday. An undisclosed draft choice was sent to the Saints in return.

A first-round pick of the Saints in 2015, Anthony started all 16 games for the team his rookie season at middle linebacker. He played in ten games last year, starting three, and has 127 career tackles, with one sack, one interception, five passes defensed, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery for a touchdown.

Anthony, 25, was a standout linebacker at the University of Clemson. Recently, an ankle injury caused the linebacker to miss time during the preseason, but the Dolphins have reason to believe he is healthy and ready to contribute.

Adding Anthony to the Dolphins’ roster gives them some much needed depth at the linebacker position, where injuries and a suspension have decimated the position group. The team already lost potential starters Koa Misi and Raekwon McMillan to the injured reserve list, then suspended Lawrence Timmons, who they signed this offseason, indefinitely after the veteran left the team on Saturday and missed their Week 2 game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

UPDATE: According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Dolphins sent a 2018 fifth-round pick to the Saints for Anthony.