Dolphins agree to deal with former Cardinals tailback Chase Edmonds

Mike McDaniel’s rushing scheme has a history of turning unfamiliar tailbacks into recognizable names, and it appears the Miami Dolphins’ new head coach will put his rushing attack in the hands of a former Arizona Cardinals backup hoping to create a bigger name for himself.

The Miami Dolphins have agreed to terms with Chase Edmonds according to agent Drew Rosenhaus, committing to pay the former Fordham standout $12.6 million over two years, with $6.1 million of that deal being guaranteed.

Locking down Edmonds, who started 11 of the 12 games he played for the Cardinals last season while rushing for 592 yards, scoring two touchdowns on 116 carries and catching 43 passes for 311 yards, was the second order of business for the Dolphins as the legal tampering process of free agency began at noon on Monday.

The Dolphins also re-signed defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah to a four-year, $65 million deal that includes $32 million fully guaranteed Monday. Retaining Ogbah was critical to Miami’s offseason strategy, because it helps the Dolphins’ defensive front remain intact.

The impending signing of Edmonds, which can’t officially happen until Wednesday when the NFL’s new league year begins, is suppose to address Miami’s stagnant rushing game, which ranked 29th in the NFL last season after gaining 1,568 yards, averaging 3.5 yards per carry and scoring 12 rushing touchdowns.

He now joins a backfield that has had Myles Gaskin as its leading rusher for the past two seasons, and also includes Salvon Ahmed, whom the Dolphins tendered as an exclusive rights free agent last week, and Gerrid Doaks, a 2021 seventh-round pick the Dolphins developed on the practice squad last season.

Phillip Lindsay and Duke Johnson, two veterans who propped up Miami’s disappointing rushing attack late last season, are also free agents. It’s unclear what will happen to them with Edmonds onboard.

Edmonds has started 15 of the 57 games he’s played in his first four seasons, rushing for 1,551 yards and scoring nine rushing touchdowns on the 333 carries he’d had in regular-season games.

He’s also caught 128 passes for 921 yards and scored five touchdowns on receptions. Throughout his career, he’s caught 78 percent of the passes thrown his way and averaged 7.2 yards per reception.

It’s possible that Edmonds, a fourth-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft, could serve a role similar to the one Deebo Samuel filled for the 49ers last season, handling both carries and lining up as a receiver for the Cardinals during his All-Pro season.

Dolphins add receiver

It’s not Amari Cooper, as had been speculated last week, but the Dolphins are adding another former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver.

The Dolphins agreed to terms with budding wideout Cedrick Wilson Jr., an athletic, 6-foot-3 deep threat, according to a league source on Monday afternoon.

The deal, which can’t become official until 4 p.m. Wednesday when free agents are allowed to sign, is reportedly for three years and $22.8 million, with $12.75 million guaranteed, according to ESPN.

Wilson, in his third season out of Boise State, set career highs with the Cowboys with 45 receptions, 602 receiving yards and six touchdowns.

The Dolphins were believed to be in the mix for Cooper, the former Miami Northwestern High product, before the Cowboys ended up trading him and his $20 million-per-year contract to the Cleveland Browns. Miami did, however, land another former Northwestern Bull in quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to back up Tua Tagovailoa.

Wilson will be paired with the likes of fellow wideout Jaylen Waddle, who is coming off a record-breaking rookie season, and tight end Mike Gesicki, who signed his franchise tag tender on Monday. Oft-injured receiver DeVante Parker is also still under contract.

Dolphins general manager Chris Grier and coach Mike McDaniel are adding to the offensive playmakers Tagovailoa will have at his disposal between Wilson and Edmonds, the former Arizona Cardinals running back, who is a pass-catching threat out of the backfield.

Miami also has not yet addressed the even-greater need of offensive line help while their first three moves, aside from keeping Ogbah, added a running back, a receiver and the backup quarterback void. The three additions also haven’t broken the bank for the Dolphins, who entered free agency on Monday with $48 million in cap space.

High-end free agents remain available at the tackle position, including top option Terron Armstead of the New Orleans Saints. Various guards and centers, however, have agreed to terms elsewhere.

()

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/E250WK1