Dolphins address a key area late on Monday by agreeing to terms with two veteran defenders
The Miami Dolphins appeared to be having an absolutely disastrous Monday as the first day of the legal tampering period in free agency began. Four key Dolphins ended up reaching agreements with new teams in Christian Wilkins, Robert Hunt, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Brandon Jones. However, it appears that all was not lost. Miami managed […]
The Miami Dolphins appeared to be having an absolutely disastrous Monday as the first day of the legal tampering period in free agency began. Four key Dolphins ended up reaching agreements with new teams in Christian Wilkins, Robert Hunt, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Brandon Jones.
However, it appears that all was not lost. Miami managed to restructure the contracts of Zach Sieler, Durham Smythe, Alec Ingold, Jalen Ramsey, and Terron Armstead – who is returning in 2024 after considering retirement – to get under the salary cap before the new league year begins on Wednesday.
They also managed to stop the bleeding in free agency, reaching terms with a pair of linebackers in former Seattle Seahawk Jordyn Brooks and Cleveland Brown Anthony Walker, Jr. per multiple outlets.
Brooks is the bigger fish of the two, who agreed to a three-year, $30 million contract with Miami on Monday. He looks poised to serve as the new starting linebacker alongside David Long, Jr. following the release on March 5 of Jerome Baker.
Brooks was drafted by the Seahawks with the 27th overall pick in the 2020 draft. He started 6 of 14 games in played in his rookie season, starting in 4 of the last 5 games. He took over as the full-time starter in 2021, missing only two games over the next three seasons.
That's quite the incredible feat when you consider Brooks tore his ACL in Week 17 of the 2022 season. However, he ended up recovering in a remarkably quick fashion, returning in time for the start of the 2023 season. In four seasons, he's totaled 513 combined tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 16 passes defended, and one interception (returned for a 12-yard touchdown).
Walker should provide depth and serve as a rotational player along with Duke Riley behind Long and Brooks. Walker gives the Dolphins the luxury of having a (likely) reserve with extended experience to plug in for an extended stretch if needed.
Walker was drafted by the Colts in the 5th round of the 2017 draft. In his four years in Indianapolis and three years in Cleveland, he's started 75 of the 85 games he's appeared in. He started all 12 games he played in last year as a part of the Browns' formidable defense.
Miami needed major help at linebacker after the release of Baker and the impending loss of Andrew Van Ginkel to Minnesota. They got that in a significant way on Monday.
Miami Dolphins to reportedly lose DT Christian Wilkins to the Las Vegas Raiders
A brutal blow to Miami’s defense
