Dolphins bring back RBs Mostert, Wilson with two-year deals
The Dolphins on Tuesday maintained continuity in their backfield, reaching agreements on two-year deals with running backs Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr., league sources told the Miami Herald.
Sources said Mostert’s contract has a max value of $7.6 million and $2.2 million guaranteed, and Wilson’s deal has a max value of $8.2 million.
Mostert, who turns 30 in April, led the Dolphins in rushing after signing a one-year contract with Miami last season. He returned from a knee injury that prematurely ended his 2021 season and quickly assumed lead back duties, rushing for a career-high 891 yards, along with three touchdowns. His 4.9-yard average was tied for 11th in the NFL. Mostert also served as the Dolphins’ top kick returner, averaging 20.1 yards.
“Raheem is a speed demon,” fullback Alec Ingold said in October, “and it’s just so smooth when you watch him work, week in, week out, day in, day out.”
Miami acquired Wilson, 27, in a trade deadline deal with the San Francisco 49ers for a 2023 fifth-round pick, reuniting him with Mostert and coach Mike McDaniel.
In eight games with the Dolphins, Wilson ran for 392 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 4.7 yards per carry, and formed a 1-2 punch with Mostert.
“I think him and Raheem play off of each other extremely well. They always have,” McDaniel said in November.
Despite a rushing offense that averaged the seventh-fewest yards per game (99.2) this past season, general manager Chris Grier said at the NFL Scouting Combine last month that he was “very open” to re-signing Mostert and Wilson. And while Miami previously inquired about the Vikings’ Dalvin Cook — Minnesota has reportedly fielded interest in the Pro Bowl back and Miami Central alum — the Dolphins ultimately did not anticipate a trade developing. But Miami retained a pair of backs who have a familiarity with McDaniel and his scheme dating to their time with the San Francisco 49ers.
The Dolphins were set to enter free agency with all four of their running backs hitting free agency but have now reached agreements to bring back all but one. Last week, restricted free agent Salvon Ahmed signed a one-year deal worth up to $1.8 million. Myles Gaskin is the lone back set to become a free agent when the new league year begins, and deals with outside free agents can be finalized at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
Through the two days of the NFL’s legal negotiating window, the Dol
phins have addressed needs on both sides of the ball, bringing back their top running backs and reaching an agreement with a new backup to Tua Tagovailoa in former New
York Jets quarterback Mike White.
The team has also brought significant additions to a defense that will be reshaped under new defensive coordinator Vic
Fangio. Last Sunday, Miami agreed to a trade for Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey and then on Monday reached an agreement on a twoyear deal with former Tennessee Titans inside linebacker David Long Jr. Miami also agreed to resign inside linebacker Duke Riley to a two-year deal, retaining a special teams standout and reliable defender in coverage.
And the Dolphins freed up about $13 million in cap space by restructuring Ramsey’s contract. The extra room should allow Miami to target players at other positions of need, which include tight end, offensive line and safety, as well as re-sign free agents.
The Dolphins can continue to open more space through cuts, trades and extensions with multiple players, including defensive lineman Christian Wilkins, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract.
The Dolphins will also receive $13 million in cap relief by releasing cornerback Byron Jones at the start of the new league year but that space won’t be available until June 1 due to league-mandated cap stipulations. However, it is space that could be allocated toward filling out the rest of the roster during the summer and could also be held for flexibility during the season.
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